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From: greg@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (greg Nowak)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Hard Drive Won't Spin Up
Message-ID: <10172@phoenix.Princeton.EDU>
Date: 30 Aug 89 20:52:33 GMT
References: <160700053@primerd>
Reply-To: bgwilkes@confidence.Princeton.edu
Organization: Cognitive Science Lab, Princeton University
Lines: 43

In article <160700053@primerd> barry@primerd.prime.com writes:
}
}This morning I turned on my Mac-II and discovered that my internal
}hard drive would not spin up.  I had powered the system down last
}
}   ... Now,  when I power up, I can see the LED flash brightly a few
}times;  it then flashes very dimly, almost too dim to be seen.
}Judging from the complete absence of disk noise, the drive is not
}rotating.  There are no diagnostics from the Mac.  It puts up the
}"give me a floppy" icon and boots properly from the floppy.  The
}Apple HD Setup utility did not think a SCSI device was present.
}
}
}Considering my current situation, I'm not thrilled with the thought
}of another Seagate.  I've heard Apple is now using Quantums, but I've
}seen a lot of traffic about similar problems with Quantums in SE/30s
}and II/CXs. If I have to get a replacement, I'd like to get an 80MB
}drive - are the recommendations the same here?
}
}Barry Wolman                      | barry@s66.prime.com
}Principal Technical Consultant    | 492 Old Connecticut Path
}Prime Computer                    | Framingham, MA 01701
}                                  | 508/626-1700, ext. 4187

This is exactly what happened with my drive.  I was miserable at first,
having made no recent backup.  However, a few days later I tried booting
the machine and the disk spun up.  I immediately ordered 30 HD floppies
from MacConnection, whose amazing service got them to me in 15 hours!
(with a little help from Airborne)

I backed up the whole disk, and when courage returned, I shut down and
tried a powerup.  Nothing.  Apparently, now, the disk succeeds in
spinning up about 1 time in 10, usually after waiting a period of time.
(I.e. if it doesn't work the first time I try, it's not likely to work
for the rest of the day.)  I haven't checked the supplier or SN of my
drive, but it's in an SE/30, so that probably means Quantum, no?  Odd
that drives from both Quantum and Seagate would have this problem...
ARE WE GOING TO GET SOME ANSWERS FROM APPLE?


Ben Wilkes
bgwilkes@confidence.Princeton.edu
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