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Western Digital (WD800JB) 80GB-8MB Cache ATA Disk weird behaviour
I do not know if anyone with this disk type (the whole exterior casing of the disk is black) had any problems but I have two of them and they both have the same problem. The disk seems to slow its spinning cycle, stop completely, the windows freeze for some seconds and then the HD starts spinning again making the same sound like you have just opened the PC! After HD spins up again, Windows unfreeze and behave normally. This happened for quite some time and often eventhough both disks have adequate cooling. The only way to completely solve the problem was to turn them upside down and screw them back to position. Has anyone faced this problem before? Is this partiqular batch of disks from Western Digital defective in anyway?
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When upside down the stress on the contact could be different.
Are the drives fairly old? It could be that the motor is wearing out and turning them upside down relieves the stress. Funny to have 2 going the same way though. the case isn't to blame is it? ie, the HD enclosure is such that pressure is being brought to bear on the casings when the drives are oriented in one direction?
the other possibility is that the cooling is to blame - The fans were blowing directly onto a part of the HD which was causing component stress, and now they're sheilded by being upside down. Conversly there was a hot spot which is now addressed.
the other possibility is that the cooling is to blame - The fans were blowing directly onto a part of the HD which was causing component stress, and now they're sheilded by being upside down. Conversly there was a hot spot which is now addressed.
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I can't speak for this drive in particular; however, I have had drives in the past that didn't like being mounted in certain positions. An old Maxtor drive I still have doesn't like being mounted sideways, which is a pain because that is the way the hard drive cage is designed to hold it. I have to just let the drive sit freely at the bottom of the case in the cage.
My suggestion is to just leave them upside down as it will not hurt them to do so.
My suggestion is to just leave them upside down as it will not hurt them to do so.
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Question for all experts related to this: Isn't "upside down" actually right side up? I always believed the controller is truly upside "up" when sitting on top of disk. When I took apart an old samsung, that put the head above the platter, like a record player.....I agree with Pyroman1, it definitely will not hurt the drives, I've had them this way for years.... :=)
@jdietrich - Interesting question. Personally, I think that as long as the label is up or down it should have very little effect on the drive from a centrifugal force standpoint. But perhaps having the head below the platter reduces the risk of the head crashing into the disk by removing the strain from gravity. Mounting a drive sideways introduces the risk, albeit likely very small, of additional strain to the drive if it is not perfectly straight. Try spinning a bicycle wheel and hold it diagonally without moving it. It's very hard and is the concept behind why motorcycles don't fall when leaning into a turn. The force of the spin makes the wheel want to turn so it doesn't fall.
On a side note, I am venturing into water cooling this weekend and will water cool my hard drives. The block I am using requires one drive to be "upside down" so that it can cool two hard drives at the same time.
On a side note, I am venturing into water cooling this weekend and will water cool my hard drives. The block I am using requires one drive to be "upside down" so that it can cool two hard drives at the same time.
The heads are usually both sides of the platter(s), so for that there is no difference how the disk is oriented. The single thing that defines up or down is the screw holes used for mounting the disk in the case.
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Well I bought a brand new PSU 350W (peak output 400W) and problem solved! Thanks.
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