got an ibm deskstar... affraid to use it

Davidgt · Sep 29, 2003, 03:52 PM

Doing my willin and dealings around here I have gotten a brand new imb deskstar 46.0 gig hdd 7200rpm production date is June 2003 . Is it safe it install anything on it?

Davidgt · Sep 29, 2003, 04:00 PM

pics!

mjh8227 · Sep 29, 2003, 06:10 PM

Here's a utility from IBM to tell if your deskstar needs a firmware update...http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview...psg1MIGR-44195 .

Edit:
Found the DH News article....http://www.hardwareheaven.com/showthre...threadid=25150

Davidgt · Sep 29, 2003, 06:48 PM

ekkkkkk im scared to install a os on it....

krazy1 · Sep 29, 2003, 07:23 PM

Well install the OS on there and then once you have your system the way you want it use Drive Image . That way if the drive dies you have a back-up of it. That is what I do with all my systems.

Matth · Sep 29, 2003, 08:35 PM

Well from the date - and the WWW.HGST.COM - it ought to already have the required firmware - since it was this debacle that was widely thought to be the reason the IBM HD manufacturing was sold off to Hitachi.

As I understand it, the firmware resolves one "software" issue, where the action of SMART could cause a mis-write, and patches around a hardware issue, by adding the "wear levelling" feature which wanders the heads when idle.

The HGST Drive feature utility can also be used to set the drive for power management, with the option to unload the heads with full or reduced RPM when idle.

Other suggestions, were that one problem was a local heat buildup, particularly if the heads remained tracked on an inside area (one common wisdom, was that the drives were less troublesome if not used to full capacity). The problems also tended to be worse on multiplatter models, with the single platter 15Gb being less troublesome - suggesting that thermal equilibrium may have been a major issue - remeber, these are GLASS platters, so the platters do not help to equalize, and the air is mosly trapped and moving with the platter (otherwise the heads wouldn't fly).

Good cooling is also important for these drives, as running hot aggravates any thermal issues.

Firmware update if required, and use it - and if it WILL have time to idle, use the power manage mode.

Davidgt · Sep 29, 2003, 11:35 PM

well i formated the hdd and i got 32gig??? wtf its a 46gig hdd.......

DriveEuro · Sep 30, 2003, 05:05 AM

I was just gonna mention the firmware update also. After the update the drives don't go to trash anymore

merry · Sep 30, 2003, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Davidgt
well i formated the hdd and i got 32gig??? wtf its a 46gig hdd.......

Look for a misplaced jumper - on the jumper map it is named "2GB clip" or "32GB clip", I can't remember (and anyway, I have the true DeathStar, made by IBM

).

Stormy · Sep 30, 2003, 08:06 PM

that drive sounds nightmarish!

***Veridian3*** · Sep 30, 2003, 08:33 PM

Been running a 40gb deskstar for at least 2 years...flawless.

Stu

Al_Vampyre · Sep 30, 2003, 09:47 PM

I had one for about 2 years as well...no probs here!

Matth · Sep 30, 2003, 10:45 PM

A friend got one as a replacement for a diiferent failed drive in a system.

When I saw what they replaced it with, I made sure it was firmwared as soon as possible.

They can be fast, reliable drives, treated right - not sure if they're absolutely 100% with the update, but a helluva lot better than without.

merry · Oct 1, 2003, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Veridian3
Been running a 40gb deskstar for at least 2 years...flawless.

Stu

Yeah, well mine lasted 1 year, three months, and I have to say I still miss it over the WD800JB (80G/8M). It was more silent, not significantly slower, and A LOT cooler; it would reach 45C while defragmenting during a heatwave... and the WD reaches 52...

But it just died on me, all of a sudden; there are three "holes" in it, obviously headcrash(es). Funny, I could partition "around" them, lost some 1.5GB (from 40), and now all SMART info (speedfan) shows perfect

although before that "reallocated sector count" had reached 1, well below the threshold.

Sep 29, 2003, 03:52 PM	#1
Davidgt Car Audio Guy Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 499 Rep Power: 0	got an ibm deskstar... affraid to use it Doing my willin and dealings around here I have gotten a brand new imb deskstar 46.0 gig hdd 7200rpm production date is June 2003 . Is it safe it install anything on it? __________________ Sales/Support Manager Taraautosound.com wonderful sig by tastyweat

Sep 29, 2003, 04:00 PM	Thread Starter #2
Davidgt Car Audio Guy Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 499 Rep Power: 0	pics! __________________ Sales/Support Manager Taraautosound.com wonderful sig by tastyweat

Sep 29, 2003, 06:10 PM	#3
mjh8227 DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 56 Rep Power: 0	Here's a utility from IBM to tell if your deskstar needs a firmware update...http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview...psg1MIGR-44195 . Edit: Found the DH News article....http://www.hardwareheaven.com/showthre...threadid=25150 Last edited by mjh8227; Sep 29, 2003 at 06:32 PM.

Sep 29, 2003, 06:48 PM	Thread Starter #4
Davidgt Car Audio Guy Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 499 Rep Power: 0	ekkkkkk im scared to install a os on it.... __________________ Sales/Support Manager Taraautosound.com wonderful sig by tastyweat

Sep 29, 2003, 07:23 PM	#5
krazy1 Live from the Dungeon Join Date: May 2003 Location: Between the SubWoofers Posts: 1,395 Rep Power: 0	Well install the OS on there and then once you have your system the way you want it use Drive Image . That way if the drive dies you have a back-up of it. That is what I do with all my systems. __________________

Sep 29, 2003, 08:35 PM	#6
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	Well from the date - and the WWW.HGST.COM - it ought to already have the required firmware - since it was this debacle that was widely thought to be the reason the IBM HD manufacturing was sold off to Hitachi. As I understand it, the firmware resolves one "software" issue, where the action of SMART could cause a mis-write, and patches around a hardware issue, by adding the "wear levelling" feature which wanders the heads when idle. The HGST Drive feature utility can also be used to set the drive for power management, with the option to unload the heads with full or reduced RPM when idle. Other suggestions, were that one problem was a local heat buildup, particularly if the heads remained tracked on an inside area (one common wisdom, was that the drives were less troublesome if not used to full capacity). The problems also tended to be worse on multiplatter models, with the single platter 15Gb being less troublesome - suggesting that thermal equilibrium may have been a major issue - remeber, these are GLASS platters, so the platters do not help to equalize, and the air is mosly trapped and moving with the platter (otherwise the heads wouldn't fly). Good cooling is also important for these drives, as running hot aggravates any thermal issues. Firmware update if required, and use it - and if it WILL have time to idle, use the power manage mode.

Sep 29, 2003, 11:35 PM	Thread Starter #7
Davidgt Car Audio Guy Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 499 Rep Power: 0	well i formated the hdd and i got 32gig??? wtf its a 46gig hdd....... __________________ Sales/Support Manager Taraautosound.com wonderful sig by tastyweat

Sep 30, 2003, 05:05 AM	#8
DriveEuro HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gurnee Illinois Posts: 4,677 Rep Power: 0	I was just gonna mention the firmware update also. After the update the drives don't go to trash anymore __________________ [color=orange]ASUS P4P800 Deluxe [color=black]-[/color] 2.4C --> 3300mhz [color=black]-[/color] Mushkin PC3200 at 220 5-2-2-2 (cpu limited) [color=black]-[/color] BBAti 9800Pro at 430/375 [/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]01[/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]03[/color] 16001200 12801024

Sep 30, 2003, 08:06 PM	#10
Stormy DH Mafia Don Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: DH Mafia Manor Posts: 296 Rep Power: 0	that drive sounds nightmarish! __________________ AMD Barton 2500+ Gigabyte 7NNXP ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon 8500DV 64mB w/ Catalyst 4.10 Windows XP Home Service Pack 2 Onboard Nvidia Audio Toshiba 16x DVD-ROM 32x10x40x CD-RW Drive 2x 512mb DDR Sticks

Sep 30, 2003, 08:33 PM	#11
*Veridian3* Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cloaked Posts: 5,028 Rep Power: 181	Been running a 40gb deskstar for at least 2 years...flawless. Stu

Sep 30, 2003, 09:47 PM	#12
Al_Vampyre HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,532 Rep Power: 72 System Specs	I had one for about 2 years as well...no probs here! __________________ "Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad" - Brian O'Driscoll - Ireland Rugby Team 2009 Grand Slam winning Captain.

Sep 30, 2003, 10:45 PM	#13
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	A friend got one as a replacement for a diiferent failed drive in a system. When I saw what they replaced it with, I made sure it was firmwared as soon as possible. They can be fast, reliable drives, treated right - not sure if they're absolutely 100% with the update, but a helluva lot better than without.