Talk:How to protect the harddisk through APS

Harddisk firmware updates from IBM might solve unload issues

Are we sure that there isn't an IBM update to the firmware on the following disks that provide the proper cabability response?

• Hitachi HTS726060M9AT00 (7K60)

IMO we should be listing firmware revision along with any ThinkPad HDs we flag as problematic, as IBM does indeed offer firmware updates to their disks often...

-- hmh 2006-03-24 11:45:00 UTC-0300

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My Hitachi 7K60 doesn't report park capabilities, even though parking does work. A month ago I tried updating my Hitachi 7K60 with the latest firmware on IBM's site; while the version string in the release note was different from that reported by the drive, and the upgrade program told me no upgrade is available for my disk.

--Thinker 16:39, 24 March 2006 (CET)

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Well, if your Hitachi 7K60 comes from IBM directly, I think it is time to report a bug to them requesting a firmware update, then. It is certianly a bug they could fix.

We really should start a database of known-good and known-bad harddisks, also marking if the firmware correctly reports the (lack/presence) of the feature, so that a whitelist can be added to the driver. We want this thing added to the stock kernel eventually after all, and the usual way to deal with it is a device whitelist and blacklist (which obviously will have to go down to firmware release granularity :( ).

-- hmh 2006-03-24 19:06 UTC-0300

The disk firmware upgrades have much graver problems (some discussed in this wiki) that have gone unaddressed for years. I seriously doubt any help will come from IBM or Lenovo; from their perspective, it's all working as designed (i.e., the Windows driver ignores the reported capabilities). Heck, last time I tried to report a problem of this kind they refused to talk to me until I pay up for extended support.

--Thinker 13:17, 25 March 2006 (CET)

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