Thinkpads Forum

hi, i'm sure i could find this info, but i'm overseas and could use an easy answer.
using win XP Pro,
when i put my computer to sleep, either via Fn F4, or standby option in shut down menu. is my hard drive still active? and or spinning?

i've heard it's not good to move your laptop around while it's sleep because the harddrive can be damaged, i've also heard to make sure to put it to sleep before moving it,

what's the myth and what's the truth??

thanks
allen

The hard drive shuts down when in standby. As far as hard drive health is concerned, carrying the notebook while in standby is no different than carrying the notebook turned off altogether.

Your ThinkPad model has an active Hard Drive Protection system that will park the drives if the computer is moved even slightly. So to temporarily pick it up and move it to another room, say, presents no problem for any TP with APS.

To move (as in to stuff in your briefcase and move), you can suspend, hibernate or power down, and in all three cases the hard drive will stop (as has been noted prior). ... JDH

Perhaps the HD protection is just for when you're moving around, but it is no good for sudden drops.

I was showing a coworker my T43 before I sold it, with the HD protection system showing on the screen- showing which way I was tilting the machine...So he lifts it up 6 inches and drops it. I punched him.

But the thing is, the HD didn't park until after it had settled on the ground.

dsigma6 wrote:Perhaps the HD protection is just for when you're moving around, but it is no good for sudden drops.
<snip>

I disagree. I cannot say for sure when the HD parks, but I can say this: I pulled my T41 off a beside table in a London hotel (3 feet approx). The machine was open, connected, on AC and running. It hit the floor, fortunately did not damage any plastic or the display. I picked it up, let the APS settle, and kept right on going. That was in 2005. ... JDH

JD,

I certainly should have added that maybe my experience was unique, or the fact that the drop was so short the system couldn't respond. I do believe it's made to know when it is falling from a substantial height, and then react, as that's where serious damage can occur.