[comp.sys.mac.system] SE/30 Hard Disk

v119mb9h@ubvmsa.cc.buffalo.edu (Phillip C Ng) (11/04/90)

Hi.  I have a SE/30 with 5Mb memory and 40Mb HD.  Occasionally,
my HD (internal) does not boot up.  I see the HD light blinking
dimmer than usual, then I get the disk icon with the "?" asking
for a disk.  Is there something wrong with my HD, or is my system
file somehow damaged?  Are there any public domain softwares
that I can get from FTP sites which can test/detect the HD or
System file for defects?  Thanks in advance.

Phillip Ng
v119mb9h@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu

russotto@eng.umd.edu (Matthew T. Russotto) (11/05/90)

In article <44254@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> v119mb9h@ubvmsa.cc.buffalo.edu writes:
>Hi.  I have a SE/30 with 5Mb memory and 40Mb HD.  Occasionally,
>my HD (internal) does not boot up.  I see the HD light blinking
>dimmer than usual, then I get the disk icon with the "?" asking
>for a disk.  Is there something wrong with my HD, or is my system
>file somehow damaged?

When this happens, does the disk spin up (you can hear it)?  I've seen an SE
that has this problem (usually after being moved), and the disk itself does
not spin up-- it's some sort of stiction problem.  (a bad power supply can also
cause the same problem)
--
Matthew T. Russotto	russotto@eng.umd.edu	russotto@wam.umd.edu
Tax the rich, and feed the poor -- until there are, rich no more.

rob@cs.mu.oz.au (Robert Wallen) (11/05/90)

In article <44254@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> v119mb9h@ubvmsa.cc.buffalo.edu writes:
>Hi.  I have a SE/30 with 5Mb memory and 40Mb HD.  Occasionally,
>my HD (internal) does not boot up.  I see the HD light blinking
>dimmer than usual, then I get the disk icon with the "?" asking
>for a disk.  Is there something wrong with my HD, or is my system
>file somehow damaged?

Mine too.  My guess is that the disk is timing out because the memory check is
taking too long since the problem got worse when I put in more memory.  There
was some talk about a problem with internal Quantum drives a while back but no-
one I talked to knew what it was and Apple ignored any correspondence I sent 
them...

boris@world.std.com (Boris Levitin) (11/05/90)

rob@cs.mu.oz.au (Robert Wallen) writes:

>In article <44254@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> v119mb9h@ubvmsa.cc.buffalo.edu writes:
>>Hi.  I have a SE/30 with 5Mb memory and 40Mb HD.  Occasionally,
>>my HD (internal) does not boot up.  I see the HD light blinking
>>dimmer than usual, then I get the disk icon with the "?" asking
>>for a disk.  Is there something wrong with my HD, or is my system
>>file somehow damaged?

>Mine too.  My guess is that the disk is timing out because the memory check is
>taking too long since the problem got worse when I put in more memory.  There
>was some talk about a problem with internal Quantum drives a while back but no-
>one I talked to knew what it was and Apple ignored any correspondence I sent 
>them...

Apple has acknowledged the problem with Quantum drives and announced a
repair plan.  See your dealer.  (To find out the manufacturer of your
head-disk assembly without opening the Mac case, use the SCSI Probe 2.03
cdev, on many BBSs.)