Is anti-shock technology built into the HDD itself, or is it software?

I run a SSD/HDD setup in my MBP, and my HDD is throwing a smart error and is basically dead for now. It's only 4 months old (WD 500GB) so it's odd. Sometimes I've kinda bumped my laptop or used it like on a plane where it was bumping around due to turbulence.

Anyways I remember seeing HDDs with anti something tech to help reduce damage, is this built into a specific model, or part of the laptop?

My MBP's original HDD area has little rubber things to stop it from bouncin around, while my optibay's HDD (where the spinner is) is solid which means that the HDD will get hit with every shock.

If I could switch the EFI so it would boot from the bay that'd be nice, but I don't really know how to do that. Then I could throw the SSD into the CD bay and run the HDD in the normal location.


Is there a better brand for something like this? In Beijing my WD Scorpio blue was probably $75ish for a 500gb. I'm just waiting a little longer to see if something bigger than 640gb comes out before I buy.

 

I'm pretty sure it's in the drive firmware.

 

It's both a hardware and software implementation. Typically, there is a sensor (accelerometer) and a chip which is coded to park heads and stop rotation of the HDDs if it detects a sudden change.

 

think about it.......

without a set of g-sensors on the hard drive, how would software alone accurately decide if it's time to pull the plug, so to speak.

And without software of some kind, how would a hard drive decide for itself or accept external commands to pull the plug?

So it's both. And the software is often in the drive itself (firmware) as well as in the laptop (bios) and in the OS (as a driver).

 

There are different ways to do it, including having everything built into the hard drive itself, which I feel is the superior way.

 

That's how Dell's latitude line's HDD protection works with the Seagate drives. The drive firmware reads the data from it's own accelerometer, then parks the heads accordingly. The Mac's use the same system, except the user can see the accelerometer's axis positions/g-sensing information, and they've come up with some really nifty apps that use that info.

 

I know, but there are drives that if powered on will do the same thing, regardless of the laptop or external case they are in.

 

Yep, all the Seagate 7200.4 250Gb drives from Dell will do that, because I replaced the one in my Dell and put the old 250Gb in my Acer, and everytime I bump it I hear the little beep and and the HDD switches off and back on. But I really think that's specific to Dell with that model, in that Dell requested the firmware be like that from the OEM. But I've not come across another one that does it (besides the drive that currently resides in my uMBP). Actually I hate the feature because Apple is the only one that has figured out how to properly use it. In every Windows install I've done, it seems like if the drive gets bumped or my laptop is sitting on my bed and I sit on the bed to quick and cause the laptop to move quickly, then Windows will freeze and need a hard restart.

 

Okay, so basically the accelerometer can either be in the drive (via firmware), in the computer (via software), or both.

 

The OP mentioned not laptop brand, hard drive brand or OS.

Just asked how it could be done.

 

Yeah I just wanted to know if there was a specific HDD that had really good anti-shock tech in it so I can avoid killing my new HDD.

I really like running a SSD/HDD setup but it sucks if it keeps killing drives. It just seems like there's no protection at all, like when you put a drive in an external enclosure, I bump my enclosure a tit and the heads make all sorts of noise and stuff, and that's with an also new WD Blue HDD.

 

Lol. WD is one of the companies that has shock protection built into the drive itself. If the hard drive is on, you are hearing that in action. Also it is normal for drives that are off to make noises like that when moved around. If the drive was on and the heads were really banging around the drive would be toast. Also you have nothing to fear with or without any anti-shock technology unless you are literally dropping the drive onto a hard floor or banging it against a desk.

And where are you buying your electronics in Beijing? If you go to the big shiny buildings you will get ripped off. The prices there are either the same or more than in the US with rarely anything actually being cheaper. You need to seek out mom and pop kind of stores in smaller and dirtier locations to get good deals and you also need to bargain.

 

Pretty much all companies have models like this. For example, Seagate models have a G at the end of their product code for those with anti-shock tech. Just check out each companies' websites to find out the details to which models have it.

 

well this might a little hijack but in the case of Dv5t with toshiba MK3252GSX , what will it be? Built in or software?

 

did you look up the spec sheet of that hard drive and does your Dv5 require anti-shock drivers to be loaded to the OS?

 

Trust me I know about ZGC's prices.
If I really have to get something I can't find in my favorite 'flea market' lookin places I go to there, but I walk in knowing the price and just look for the right seller that will give me that price. It's all in the negotiation.

HDD's arent hard I know a few different people that give good prices because I go there a lot.

 

You can have an accelerometer in the laptop itself too so that it will work with any HDD.

Vaio SZ is an example of that.

 

You do need to install Hp protectsmart hard drive software so yes software has to be installed.