Parking the hdd heads.
 

Hi:
In the days of the PC-XT and AT (8088 and 80286) certain programs had the ability of "parking" the heads of the hard drive. One did this when one was about to transport or move the PC from one place to another. In this way, one made minimal the probability of damaging the drive.

My question is: with a desktop computer such as those that are sold nowadays, is there such a thing as parking the HD heads or the like?

Hello,

I think HDAPS might be what you're looking for. I remember that option from back in the early days too ;)

Kind regards,

Eric

Yes, I remember reading that in the past that parking may have to be done to minimize problems during moving the computer. Today's mechanical hard drives always parks the heads when they are powered down. I think my 80386 contains hard drives that automatically park the heads when it powers down. Though with all computers with mechanical hard drives, it is best to always be careful handling them and notebook computers are no exception.

If you are scared about your data when moving the computer around, use a disk-on-chip or solid-state disks. Even with these types storage mediums, you still will have problems such as power problems.

Thanks Electro. In fact, I am changing my residence, so I must move every thing in old house to the new one, computers included. And I wonder what's best: move the computer with every thing inside it or take away the HDs from it and move them separately. Well, thanks again.

HDs are a lot more rugged than you seem to think. I had two computers shipped from CA to IN when I moved up here. The only problem with either was that the CPU cooler had bounced off in transit.

But then the cooler must have done a mess in the motherboard!

Hi,

Newer hdd systems have the capability to park the heads without user intervention. Current Head transports do not move large spans of disc media plus fly at a very low height as compared to older drives. Head/Assemblies mass on newer drives are a lot less as compared to older drive technology to eliminate head bounce. Plus the head position controls are controlled/sensed logically to park. When a speed trigger level condition is met then the park mechanism engaged.

:hattip:

Actually, no. I only retired one of those motherboards this year when I got the Phenom. The other one is still in service. :)