IBM 120GXP annoying periodical buzzing noise (DFT OK!)
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2002 10:38 am
Anyone of you are experiencing the annoying buzzing noise made by my brand new IBM 120GXP, also known as "Idle Time Function" ?
It happens every 10 minutes exactly and sounds very intrusive, lasting about 2 seconds.
This function only stops if the disk is intensively accessed when the 10 minutes timer expires...
I've also been told that this function cannot be disabled !
Here is what IBM told to me (quite long):
Dear Sir,
Thankyou for your email.
This will be the Idle Time Function of the drive, which is a feature to
improve the reliability of the drive. I do not believe this was a feature
in the DTLA harddrives.
Regards
------------------ In Response To ------------------
Delivered Date: 11-28-2002 07:31:37+6
Subject: Re: IBM Technical Support Center Request #228-619-162-3
Thanks for your prompt answer.
I ran DFT both quick and advanced and the result was OK (return value 0) in both cases.
I was just wondering if that brief buzzing noise emitted periodically
every ten minutes ) is done intentionally by the firmware to improve the
reliability of the drive recalibrating it.
In my previous disk (IBM DTLAXX) this periodic calibration wasn't present
so this is why I ask.
Is this calibration feature present in my hdd model IC35L080AVVA07-0 ?
My disk drive's firmware version is VA40A52A40.
Thanks in advance,
Roberto
----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, November 28, 2002 1:49 PM
Subject: IBM Technical Support Center Request #228-619-162-3
Dear Sir ,
for the 120 GXP we do not have a firmware update.
In order to gain more information about your problem you need to run a
utility called Drive Fitness Test on the drive. This will establish the
cause of your problem.
Please download Drive Fitness Test from the following URL:
http://www.storage.ibm.com/hdd/support/download.htm
If possible we would recommend backing up any important data at this time before running the test.
Run the quick test first, and if you receive the result 0x00, then run the
advanced test.
Best regards
M.Pampinella
IBM Technology Group
------------------ In Response To ------------------
Delivered Date: 11-28-2002 05:17:42+6
Subject: Firmware feature ?
Dear Sirs,
I recently bought an IBM GXP120 model IC35L080AVVA07-0.
My question is:
I hear an annoying buzzing sound coming from the hdd (that noise
is resembling a micro-gearbox running) lasting for about 2 secs and
happening periodically every 10 minutes and wondering if it's an idle
time function intended to recalibrate the heads and/or prevent heat build-up due to excessive dwelling of heads above the same area of disk when idle.
I found no mention of this hdd function in the manual, in fact I got the
above info from internet newsgroups.
Is this feature absolutely necessary or is it possible to disable it via
software/firmware update or jumpers.
Thanks in advance,
Best Regards,
Roberto
It happens every 10 minutes exactly and sounds very intrusive, lasting about 2 seconds.
This function only stops if the disk is intensively accessed when the 10 minutes timer expires...
I've also been told that this function cannot be disabled !
Here is what IBM told to me (quite long):
Dear Sir,
Thankyou for your email.
This will be the Idle Time Function of the drive, which is a feature to
improve the reliability of the drive. I do not believe this was a feature
in the DTLA harddrives.
Regards
------------------ In Response To ------------------
Delivered Date: 11-28-2002 07:31:37+6
Subject: Re: IBM Technical Support Center Request #228-619-162-3
Thanks for your prompt answer.
I ran DFT both quick and advanced and the result was OK (return value 0) in both cases.
I was just wondering if that brief buzzing noise emitted periodically
every ten minutes ) is done intentionally by the firmware to improve the
reliability of the drive recalibrating it.
In my previous disk (IBM DTLAXX) this periodic calibration wasn't present
so this is why I ask.
Is this calibration feature present in my hdd model IC35L080AVVA07-0 ?
My disk drive's firmware version is VA40A52A40.
Thanks in advance,
Roberto
----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, November 28, 2002 1:49 PM
Subject: IBM Technical Support Center Request #228-619-162-3
Dear Sir ,
for the 120 GXP we do not have a firmware update.
In order to gain more information about your problem you need to run a
utility called Drive Fitness Test on the drive. This will establish the
cause of your problem.
Please download Drive Fitness Test from the following URL:
http://www.storage.ibm.com/hdd/support/download.htm
If possible we would recommend backing up any important data at this time before running the test.
Run the quick test first, and if you receive the result 0x00, then run the
advanced test.
Best regards
M.Pampinella
IBM Technology Group
------------------ In Response To ------------------
Delivered Date: 11-28-2002 05:17:42+6
Subject: Firmware feature ?
Dear Sirs,
I recently bought an IBM GXP120 model IC35L080AVVA07-0.
My question is:
I hear an annoying buzzing sound coming from the hdd (that noise
is resembling a micro-gearbox running) lasting for about 2 secs and
happening periodically every 10 minutes and wondering if it's an idle
time function intended to recalibrate the heads and/or prevent heat build-up due to excessive dwelling of heads above the same area of disk when idle.
I found no mention of this hdd function in the manual, in fact I got the
above info from internet newsgroups.
Is this feature absolutely necessary or is it possible to disable it via
software/firmware update or jumpers.
Thanks in advance,
Best Regards,
Roberto