M1530 - Ubuntu or Arch?

Hey all,

I'm thinking about install Linux on my Dell M1530. I'm currently running Vista (specs in signature) and have the well-known hard disk clicking problem. On Vista, I remedy this by using HDParm to set power mode 254 on my drive. I was wondering if I install Ubuntu or Arch (not sure yet), will I experience the same problem? I know about the issue with Ubuntu a few moths ago that had something to do with Debian's end of things with the constant load cycling of laptop hard disks, has this been corrected? I can't seem to find anything on the web about it a few 'quick fixes' not whether it's actually been fixed or not.

Also, whilst I'm here, are there any "gotchas" with the M1530 regarding installing either one of these distros? I've heard battery life under Ubuntu is appalling unless it's configured correctly. Can anyone verify this? Thanks.

 

Yes, the answer you're looking for is simple and not distro-dependent. Just issue

Code:

# hdparm -B 254 /dev/sda

as root.

 

I think that Ubuntu has fixed this problem. I had to apply the fix in earlier versions, but my HDD cycle count has increased very little with the newer version (8.10).

 

The command to actually see if ur drive is cycling like crazy is:

Code:

sudo smartctl -a /dev/sda | grep -i load_cycle

Where /dev/sda is your hard disk. The last number will be the load cycle count.

You can replace 'load_cycle' with 'power_cycle' to see how many times you've powered on the disk, although this is not *directly* related.

I have two disks in my current computer, the load cycles are 48689 and 10469. One is obviously older than the other (I took it from my last system). The newer one is less than a year old, the older one is maybe two or two and a half years old.

 

It's not a problem. It's just a setting.

 

Ok, so I shouldn't have that problem? Ubuntu it is then.