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Test programs to run on IBM Deskstar 40g

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!

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Registered: Sep 2000
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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.

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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

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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).

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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.

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Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Twin Cities, MN
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Here's the website to download IBM test software http://www.storage.ibm.com/hdd/support/download.htm

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<FONT size="1">GBL - 1 Sony (75hrs), 2 Philips (60 and 75hrs)
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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: San Jose, CA
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quote:

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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).

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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).

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Registered: Feb 2001
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quote:

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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).

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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)...

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 261

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

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Registered: Sep 2000
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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...

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: San Jose, CA
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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

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Registered: Sep 2000
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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 .

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