LinuxQuestions.org
Download your favorite Linux distribution at LQ ISO.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Slackware
User Name
Password
Slackware This Forum is for the discussion of Slackware Linux.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 12-27-2010, 11:55 AM   #1
rmjohnso
Member
 
Registered: Mar 2006
Location: Wisconsin
Distribution: Slackware64-Current
Posts: 294

Rep: Reputation: 43
Hard Drives Contantly Spinning Down when on Battery Power


I'm running the latest slackware64-current on my Dell laptop (Inspiron 1420). I rarely run it on battery power, so I don't know when this behavior started, but now it seems when I'm on battery power the hard drive likes to spin down and then spin up. This is not after 5 minutes or so of inactivity. This is 30 seconds of inactivity because I'm reading a web page or something. There is a noticable delay in the response of the system as a whole when the drive is having to spin back up.

I'm also using xfce-4.6.2 with the xfce power manager. I've checked the settings, and I don't see anything about spinning down the hard drives. I've also looked through some ACPI rules, but I'm coming up empty. I could have easily missed something, so if anyone has any ideas, it would be much appreciated.
 
Click here to see the post LQ members have rated as the most helpful post in this thread.
Old 12-27-2010, 12:22 PM   #2
guanx
Senior Member
 
Registered: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,172

Rep: Reputation: 227Reputation: 227Reputation: 227
hdparm -B 254 /dev/YOUR_DISK

or sometimes (only if the above does not work)

hdparm -B 255 /dev/YOUR_DISK
 
Old 12-27-2010, 01:23 PM   #3
rworkman
Slackware Contributor
 
Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama (USA)
Distribution: Slackware
Posts: 2,559

Rep: Reputation: 1351Reputation: 1351Reputation: 1351Reputation: 1351Reputation: 1351Reputation: 1351Reputation: 1351Reputation: 1351Reputation: 1351Reputation: 1351
I've noticed this also, and I've worked around it locally by creating and populating /etc/pm/power.d/harddrive -- see /usr/lib(64)/pm-utils/power.d/harddrive for details.

That being said, we're looking into changing those defaults to something a bit more reasonable. Stay tuned.
 
2 members found this post helpful.
Old 12-27-2010, 05:09 PM   #4
rmjohnso
Member
 
Registered: Mar 2006
Location: Wisconsin
Distribution: Slackware64-Current
Posts: 294

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 43
Thanks, Robby! That seems to have solved the problem.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
power down hard drives/hibernation/etherwake/wake up compute lindylex Debian 3 09-01-2008 11:24 AM
why do hard drives die on power failures ? doublehp Linux - Hardware 2 05-25-2005 01:30 AM
Power supply fan not spinning mfitzpat Linux - Hardware 2 01-10-2005 10:40 AM
spinning down hard drives cleff Linux - Software 4 06-20-2004 11:09 AM
Hard drives spinning up and down continuously r_jensen11 Linux - Hardware 2 02-26-2004 04:45 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Slackware

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:06 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration