davidk@dartvax.UUCP (David C. Kovar) (01/03/84)
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Does anyone have any data on the life expectancy of a hard
disk, a 10MB Winchester in particular? If I want to use an IBM XT
for a CBBS, for example, what will leaving the machine on for days
on end do to the hard disk? How long will it put up with such things
before it complains? From what I understand, it is usually better to
leave a machine on than to turn it on and off several times a day.
Does this apply to hard disks? Thanks in advance.
--
David C. Kovar
Usenet: {linus, decvax}!dartvax!davidk
ARPA: kovar@MIT-ML (Infrequent)
U.S. Snail HB 3140
Dartmouth College
Hanover NH
03755
"The difficult we did yesterday, the impossible we are doing now."fair@dual.UUCP (Erik E. Fair) (01/10/84)
I trust that by `10Mbyte disk', you meant a 5.25 inch winchester. If
that was the case, read on. If not, hit the 'ol delete key...
Most 5.25 inchers in the 20Mb and under class are built el cheapo,
without automatic landing, landing zones and head locks. The upshot
being, that it is indeed better to leave it running than to start/stop
it. The only worry you have there is the cooling system used (and some
of the 5.25 inchers run fairly hot), and the length of time you're
going to be away from the system. If you're going away for a week,
shut it down. If you're coming back tomorrow, leave it on.
The serious mfgrs in the 20Mbyte and up class are a different story...
Erik E. Fair {ucbvax,amd70,zehntel,unisoft,onyx,its}!dual!fair
Dual Systems Corporation, Berkeley, California