TiVo Community Forums Archives - Test programs to run on IBM Deskstar 40g

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Test programs to run on IBM Deskstar 40g
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Posted by: dockb

Hi, I'm going to upgrade my Directivo (Philips). I've bought an IBM Deskstar 40gb hdd. Does someone know the recommended programs to run to test the HDD for bad sectors, etc? I've found some on IBM's website, but not sure they are the ones I should run. I've searched the site but didn't find the answer. If someone has done this using the IBM drive as the 'A' drive, please let me know. Thanks!

Posted by: Worf

Well, the IBM ones are the only ones that you can run on your IBM drive. You'll need a program that'll work out the drive - I think the drive fitness test is what you want. The other large utility is one to help you install it by walking you through the setup & formatting procedure, which you don't need.

Posted by: Rebel2000

Please tell me how the IBM 40g Deskstar works for you. I have just ordered two of them and should be in shortly. I plan on using them as a and b drives. Are they running quitely as well?

Thanks

Posted by: Worf

Just make sure you take the temperatures of the drives if they're 7200 RPM drives - sometimes the IBMs run hot, othertimes they run cool. Else invest in a hard drive cooler... I've found bad things happen when the IBM drives overheat (namely, last time I tried it, my TiVo just crashed - after an hour of use).

Posted by: Rebel2000

Thanks for the advice. The drives that I purchased are 5400 rpm drives. I chose them because I have never had a problem with an IBM drive and because the price was MORE than right for this application. I got 3 40Gig drives at $85.00 each then tack on 19.93 for shipping making the effective price per unit $91.65.

Posted by: GBL

Here's the website to download IBM test software http://www.storage.ibm.com/hdd/support/download.htm

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GBL - 1 Sony (75hrs), 2 Philips (60 and 75hrs)
unpaid volunteer, TiVo army

Posted by: cwerdna

quote:
Originally posted by Worf:
Just make sure you take the temperatures of the drives if they're 7200 RPM drives - sometimes the IBMs run hot, othertimes they run cool. Else invest in a hard drive cooler... I've found bad things happen when the IBM drives overheat (namely, last time I tried it, my TiVo just crashed - after an hour of use).

I bought a 75 gig IBM 75GXP and it does a litle warm outside of the case (haven't checked how hot it is when inside the Tivo), but I've been using it in conjunction w/the original Quantum 30 gig for about 2 months w/o any prob. I haven't permanently wired the fan to on, drilled more holes, etc. I do feel that the fan does run a lot more often than when it had a single drive though...

Personally the hottest drive I've ever owned was a Panasonic JU128A 40 meg MFM drive, man those things got burning hot.

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Sony hacked SA w/123 hours, 2.0.1-002-010

Posted by: Worf

Oddly, my 46GB GXP75 (same drive model as the 75 GB drive you have, just different amount of space), and it runs extremely hot - if I didn't punch out the hole in the case, it would really overheat. I know when I was testing my backup, it caused my TiVo to crash numerous times after some time (and was burning hot when I popped the cover off).

But an older 20 GB IBM drive runs really cool... (also 7200 RPM, 3 platters).

Posted by: cwerdna

quote:
Originally posted by Worf:
Oddly, my 46GB GXP75 (same drive model as the 75 GB drive you have, just different amount of space), and it runs extremely hot - if I didn't punch out the hole in the case, it would really overheat. I know when I was testing my backup, it caused my TiVo to crash numerous times after some time (and was burning hot when I popped the cover off).

But an older 20 GB IBM drive runs really cool... (also 7200 RPM, 3 platters).

Wow! The only scare I had was a GSOD after I restarted it, that was maybe after almost a month of uptime. It fixed itself within 10 minutes though. After that I enabled backdoors and check bits of the logs (and all of tverr) and found nothing unusual. So far my uptime after that last reboot/scare is 31 days according to System Information.
The room where my Tivo is probably fluctuates between 65-85 degrees F (I'm not 100% positive about the upper bound since I work during the day) and the unit is on a modular thick metal wire shelf on top of my CD changer. It's definitely not in a cramped, closed entertainment center. I can put up a pic later if you'd like to see my setup.

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Sony hacked SA w/123 hours, 2.0.1-002-010

Posted by: Worf

Well, my setup was with the TiVo on the floor, where I was testing my backup. When it crashed, I unplugged it, popped off the cover, and touched the drive. Ouch.

Of course, you should see my setup (a mess)...

Posted by: cwerdna

As promised (although really late), here's a picture of my AV setup: http://home1.gte.net/res02wrs/myavsetup1.jpg

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Sony hacked SA w/123 hours, 2.0.1-002-010

Posted by: Worf

Whoa, cooling heaven! Although, if I were you, I'd put the TiVo under the LD (?) player just to get the extra bit of bottom-cooling. But it does look like a tight squeeze, but it may work.

Wow, though - them wire racks are great for cooling...

Posted by: cwerdna

Hahaha... it's actually a 5 disc CD changer. The width of the drawer makes it look like a LD player. The Tivo came way after everything else, so that's why it's on top of the CD changer, as an afterthought. I almost never use the changer though, so it's almost never on.

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Sony hacked SA w/123 hours, 2.0.1-002-010

Posted by: Worf

Yeah, but the TiVo would be able to suck up the cooler air if it's on the bottom - nothing below it to impede the flow of air http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif.

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