Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!csn!boulder!tramp.Colorado.EDU!gordon
From: gordon@news.colorado.edu (GORDON ALLEN R)
Subject: Re: "STICTION" and seagate ST251 and ST250R drives
Message-ID: <gordon.675534212@tramp.Colorado.EDU>
Keywords: Disk, Seagate
Sender: news@colorado.edu (The Daily Planet)
Nntp-Posting-Host: tramp.colorado.edu
Reply-To: gordon@tramp.Colorado.EDU
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
References: <1991May28.154437.19596@progress.com>
Date: 29 May 91 16:23:32 GMT
Lines: 18

I have a 20MEG drive that came with my AT and is about 4 years old.  I don't
know the manufacturer, but it is a half height drive.  I suffered from a pro-
blem which I assume is stiction, in that upon power up, I would get a drive
error, with the light on the drive flashing wildly.  I solved this problem not
by sending it in for repair but by parking the heads prior to powering down
the system.  To date, it has never failed to start properly when I remember to
park the heads, but will fail when I don't.  When it does fail, it is because
the platter is not turning.  I then have to turn the system off, and rotate the
drive with a pencil point and then power it back up.  There is a space in the
PC board to reach in and manually rotate the drive.  It doesn't need to be 
opened up.


--
Allen Gordon 
University of Colorado, Boulder
gordon@tramp.colorado.edu 
gordon_A@cubldr.colorado.edu
