On 5/29/07, Julian Wolfe <fireflyst at earthlink.net> wrote:
So, I 've got this IBM AT, which is strangely
enough, fairly rare in its
currently equipped form (EGA, 30M HDD). I'd like to keep it original if
possible. There is a weird problem with the hard disk. When I turn the
machine on, the hard disk makes this 'CLOK' sound, like the head is trying
to retract or something but can't.
One CLOK or multiple CLOKs?
When the machine tries to boot the hard
disk, it just sits there with the light on and then says it had a seek error
or could not detect the disk.
OK... that's consistent with the drive not coming up right.
Any ideas what's wrong? Is it supposed to make
that noise when you turn it
on? It's awfully loud.
I have heard loud noises on startup from Priam V60 drives, but that's
the headlock releasing. Seagates didn't make loud noises.
Otherwise the platters spin freely and quietly, no
bearing noise there.
Good.
There isn't a head lock on this drive is there?
What drive? An ST-251? I don't know what they shipped and called
30MB, if it was an ST-238 (RLL version of ST-225), or some other
drive, or even an ST-251 restricted to 30MB for marketing reasons.
The only way to know what noises are normal is to know what brand and
model of drive you have. There are natural variations that can be
easily explained away when one knows what one has.
-ethan