Deathstar Fix!

Omega65Omega65 Philadelphia, Pa
edited September 2003 in Science & Tech
<a href="http://www.storagereview.com/php/tiki/tiki-index.php?page=DeathStar&quot; target=_blank>StorageReview: Deathstar Fix</a>
It would appear so! Finder's credit goes to forum member 'jamespetts'.

In January this year, IBM made available a firmware fix for their infamous "Deathstar" (Deskstar 75GXP and 60GXP) series of hard drives that supposedly significantly enhances the reliability of these drives by moving the heads around when they idle.

The link to the firmware update is HERE.

<b>Anyone who has one of those drives should download the firmware update immediately to reduce the risk of hard drive failure and data loss.</b>

This page (cache) describes the supposed problem/fix in detail.

<a href="http://www.storagereview.com/php/tiki/tiki-index.php?page=DeathStar&quot; target=_blank>more info here</a>

Comments

  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Wow! Thanks for releasing a fix three years too late, you ****ing *******s!

    Now that every single Deathstar on the face of the earth has been RMA'ed at least once, we have this firmware update to utilize!

    *******s.
  • QCHQCH Ancient Guru Chicago Area - USA Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    This is like Ford doing a recall on Pinto's because they may explode on rear impact. DUDE!!!!! Most of the Pinto's already exploded from rear collisions....

    At least they are re-confirming that there is/ was a problem with the drives. A bit late but for those that still have one or two sitting around but were afraid to use them.... here ya go.
  • CaffeineMeCaffeineMe Cedar Rapids, IA
    edited September 2003
    The exploding pinto was limited to the first model years and a small redesign fixed it. The problem was not as widespread as urban legend has made it out to be.

    Still tho...bad design is ALWAYS bad design.
  • WuGgaRoOWuGgaRoO Not in the shower Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    talk about being lazy....sheesh:rolleyes:
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    Well, it's nice they got it fixed, but I still won't be buying IBM/Hitachi IDE drives for a while... their SCSI drives are fine, but I'm going to wait another year or so before I trust their IDE drives again...
  • maggie99635maggie99635 Alaska
    edited September 2003
    Has anyone done this? I have four of those drives. Two of them on raid1. I have firmware upgraded peripherals but never a HD. I think I should probably watch this thread. Hopefully someone answers. :eek3:
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Hehe, got rid of my Deathstars along time ago, and won't buy from IBM ever again. Or until I feel they have changed their methods completely around.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    RWB: you won't be buying IBM hard drives ever again, period. IBM doesn't make hard drives anymore- they sold out to hitachi. For the record, IBM/Hitachi SCSI drives are very good, and they have a 7200rpm 8mb 60gb 2.5" 9.5mm laptop drive out now...
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Maggie:

    Yes, I've upgraded firmware on several HDs and it's just as painless as upgrading the firmware on anything else.
  • maggie99635maggie99635 Alaska
    edited September 2003
    Thanks Primesuspect. I think I'll run the ID application and see if it will see the hidden drive and go from there. I have had to replace the boot drive but it ws a couple of years ago. I've been crossing my fingers and chdsking ever since then. That is why I never used the two 60 gigs I have.

    Well apparently it doesn't see the drives on my HPT. So I guess it is only good on regular IDEs.
  • SpinnerSpinner Birmingham, UK
    edited September 2003
    primesuspect said
    Wow! Thanks for releasing a fix three years too late, you ****ing *******s!

    Indeed, my pair of 75's are long gone. I fail to see why it has taken them this long to release a fix.:banghead:
  • maggie99635maggie99635 Alaska
    edited September 2003
    Update. I RMA'd 2-60 gig deathstars and Hitachi sent me new drives. They were fast and easy to deal with. They are called Hitachi Deskstar 180gxp AtA-6 7200rpm 8mb cache. Sounds good but I don't know anything about Hitachi drives. Time will tell.
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