[ltp] Harddrive Clicking

[Henrique de Moraes Holschuh]

On Sat, 20 Sep 2008, Sebastian Geiger wrote:
> 1. The problem is only present when the drive is in idle mode
> 2. The problem seems to be present on most (all) hard drive types
> (manufacturers) and might not be related to the drive it self.

It is the hard-disc flying-heads auto-park ("unload").  Of course it only
happens in idle mode, it is supposed to let the disc shut down the power to
the head assembly linear motor, AND to secure the heads against shock.

It is a DISC function.  It is in the ATA standards.

The whole deal is that some drives are too aggresive about it *given the
parameters the ThinkPad BIOS sends to them*.

If something tells the disc to save power (hdparm APM) too aggressively, it
does just that.  Even if it will shorten its lifespan.

-- 
  "One disk to rule them all, One disk to find them. One disk to bring
  them all and in the darkness grind them. In the Land of Redmond
  where the shadows lie." -- The Silicon Valley Tarot
  Henrique Holschuh