Re: HD Size Limit on RamFAST?

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

In article <0U9da.1444$eb1.96672@typhoon.sonic.net>, Andy McFadden
<fadden@fadden.com> writes:

>Glenn Jones <rg.jones@rogers.com> wrote:
>> Andy, any idea what part of the HD goes when it won't spin up anymore? Can
>> ity be fixed? Probably cost more than getting another one.
>
>The problem was most likely "stiction", where lubrication breakdown
>prevents the drive from spinning.  I was able to recover two out of
>three drives by performing minor mechanical feats (spinning it quickly
>and abruptly by hand to try to loosen it; tapping on it with a screwdriver
>while applying power), but I only kept them running long enough to get
>the data transferred over.

In fact, since the problem is almost always lubrication, compounded
by the static friction of the super-smooth head with the super-smooth
disk, if you get it going, then let it run, so it warms up, you will usually
experience a good life extension.  This was a case where turning the
disk off was much worse for it than leaving it running.

BTW, modern disks have no such lubrication problem, and the static
"stiction" problem has been engineered around, too.

-michael

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