[ltp] [PATCH] 2.6.17: Unload disks heads before powering down

[Shem Multinymous]

On 9/22/06, Henrique de Moraes Holschuh <hmh@hmh.eng.br> wrote:
> The attached patch applies to 2.6.17.  It won't work with > They command the HDs to unload heads before the system is shutdown (hint:
> most BIOSes, including the ThinkPads, will NOT do it for you).

Is this needed?! I'm pretty sure all modern (i.e., recent decade)
drives do it themselves, using the energy left in the spindle.

If the head was left over the recording surface when the spindle slows
down then it would grind into the platter (no aerodynamic effect to
keep it floating), and I can't imagine anyone would ship a drive where
an abrupt power loss will cause that.

  Shem