Hard Disk Drive Myths Debunked!

Adrian Wong · 16th Mar 2004, 01:02 AM

This guide was written in response to the numerous fallacies about the hard disk that are still being propagated in many forum discussions. Although many articles have covered these topics, it is apparent that hard disk urban legends are still more popular than the simple truth.

So, let's get down to basics and examine some of these common fallacies or myths and debunk them!

Link : The ARP Hard Disk Guide!

masita · 16th Mar 2004, 02:12 AM

great guide!

it is nice to leave ignorance...

LOL

PY 222 · 16th Mar 2004, 03:44 AM

This article is a good one.

I also have learned a few things that i had thought to be real but was not.

Great job Adrian.

TungstenBoy · 16th Mar 2004, 11:36 AM

waaaaaa.........adrian.........u realli going 2 so much trouble juz 2 help those lowyat ppl????????

he is writing dis guide coz of st00pid posts in the lowyat forums.............

Max_87 · 16th Mar 2004, 09:57 PM

A really nice article

Dashken · 16th Mar 2004, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TungstenBoy

waaaaaa.........adrian.........u realli going 2 so much trouble juz 2 help those lowyat ppl????????

he is writing dis guide coz of st00pid posts in the lowyat forums.............

LOL! He told me it was you. LOL!

No wonder he told me he just wrote a guide and was very tired. Then he pointed me to those threads...

TungstenBoy · 17th Mar 2004, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dashken

Quote:

Originally Posted by TungstenBoy

waaaaaa.........adrian.........u realli going 2 so much trouble juz 2 help those lowyat ppl????????

he is writing dis guide coz of st00pid posts in the lowyat forums.............

LOL! He told me it was you. LOL!

No wonder he told me he just wrote a guide and was very tired. Then he pointed me to those threads...

got so many st00pid posts in lowyat forums...........i juz show him 1 post..........dunno why he go & help them..........

..............very dangerous coz got dat psycho god admin.......& many lowyat members who juz talk cock & flame other ppl..........

..........now they call him hdd god...........

DST · 17th Mar 2004, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Cheap power supplies will "slowly kill" your hard disk.

I think they do.

Couple of years ago I had an el cheapo 250W PSU. It caused bad sectors on three harddrives:

30GB Barracuda II - bad sectors after about four months, RMA'd
next 30GB Barracuda II - bad sectors after a few weeks
20GB WD drive - bad sectors after 1 week

Switched to a 350W Enermax and installed a 40GB Deathstar - no bad sectors even after 1 year. I also ran a 120GB WD off that PSU with absolutely no problems. Coincidence maybe? Idunno.

Adrian Wong · 17th Mar 2004, 09:37 PM

Thanks for your kind comments, everyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TungstenBoy

got so many st00pid posts in lowyat forums...........i juz show him 1 post..........dunno why he go & help them..........

..............very dangerous coz got dat psycho god admin.......& many lowyat members who juz talk cock & flame other ppl..........

..........now they call him hdd god...........

Hey TB, don't be so harsh.

They try to help each other and that's really admirable. It's just that they got their facts wrong. Had to butt in otherwise they will keep propagating those urban legends.

Of course, there are some whom I suspect have ulterior motives in spreading those urban legends...

Adrian Wong · 17th Mar 2004, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DST

Quote:

Cheap power supplies will "slowly kill" your hard disk.

I think they do.

Couple of years ago I had an el cheapo 250W PSU. It caused bad sectors on three harddrives:

30GB Barracuda II - bad sectors after about four months, RMA'd
next 30GB Barracuda II - bad sectors after a few weeks
20GB WD drive - bad sectors after 1 week

Switched to a 350W Enermax and installed a 40GB Deathstar - no bad sectors even after 1 year. I also ran a 120GB WD off that PSU with absolutely no problems. Coincidence maybe? Idunno.

I have used cheap power supplies for years. While I don't advocate using them, today I still have one system running on a 4 years old cheap power supply (Kobian). None of my hard disks have developed bad sectors using this power supply just yet.

Just as my case should not be taken to mean that using cheap power supplies is good for the hard disk, the same goes for your case. It truly sounds like your power supply may be the cause in your case but I really do not know how that can be possible.

16th Mar 2004, 01:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 30,124 Reputation: 3081 Rep Power: 67	Hard Disk Drive Myths Debunked! This guide was written in response to the numerous fallacies about the hard disk that are still being propagated in many forum discussions. Although many articles have covered these topics, it is apparent that hard disk urban legends are still more popular than the simple truth. So, let's get down to basics and examine some of these common fallacies or myths and debunk them! Link : The ARP Hard Disk Guide! __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? Keep Tech ARP free! Visit our sponsors! We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

16th Mar 2004, 02:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
masita Just Started Join Date: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 62 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	great guide! it is nice to leave ignorance... LOL __________________ Masita

16th Mar 2004, 03:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
PY 222 DF King Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: Look behind you! Posts: 3,080 Reputation: 24 Rep Power: 10	This article is a good one. I also have learned a few things that i had thought to be real but was not. Great job Adrian. __________________ Signature is currently disabled. Please contact the Administrator for more information.

16th Mar 2004, 11:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
TungstenBoy Hold me back! I can't stop posting!!! Join Date: 5 May 2003 Posts: 6,260 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 12	waaaaaa.........adrian.........u realli going 2 so much trouble juz 2 help those lowyat ppl???????? he is writing dis guide coz of st00pid posts in the lowyat forums............. __________________ lowyat forum got a dictator god admin...... <^>(>.&lt<^> hieeeee se7en!!!!! .....come check check again?????

16th Mar 2004, 09:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Max_87 h@x! Join Date: 11 Aug 2003 Location: Sarawak, Malaysia. Posts: 11,288 Reputation: 2024 Rep Power: 37	A really nice article __________________ Max_87 Tech ARP http://www.techarp.com P4 630 / Abit IP35 Pro / G.Skill F2-8000CL5-4GBPQ / Radeon X1800 / Barracuda 7200.9 120GB / 7200.10 320GB x2 / Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS / WD6400AAKS x2 / Dell 2007FP x2 / Silverstone ST56F

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hard Disk Drive Myths Debunked	Dashken	Reviews & Articles	56	7th Oct 2008 11:49 AM
Seagate Unleashes 750GB Desktop PC Hard Drive!	Dashken	News	50	25th Jun 2007 03:29 PM
NEW 12GB 1-INCH HARD DRIVE FROM SEAGATE ENABLES MORE AUDIO AND VIDEO IN MOBILE DEVICE	Dashken	News	0	19th Feb 2006 04:05 AM
Seagate Momentus Hard Disk Giveaway Contest!	Dashken	Contests!	280	30th Sep 2005 12:40 AM