Will Active Protection System enhance or worsen HD lifetime?

Message

msafi · #1 Post by **msafi** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:00 pm

I know it's supposed to protect the HD from crashing if the laptop were dropped or shocked while the HD is active, but suppose non of that happens, that is, no shocks or drops, is AP going on and off all the time increase or decrease the overall lifetime of the HD?

What sensitivity level do the users of this forum recommend, low, medium or high?

Thanks,

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:22 pm

Think about your statement for a moment. If you do not move the ThinkPad, the APS does not activate. I can have my TP on a desk for a working day and it never activates.

If it activates, then the ThinkPad is moving and it is doing what it is supposed to do. I set mine for high sensitivity (default) and to accommodate repetitive movement.

I pulled my TP off a table in London whilst on holiday last year, and I was most pleased to have APS in action.
... JD Hurst

msafi · #3 Post by **msafi** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:35 pm

Thanks for the reply...

If my TP is set to go to hibernation when lid is closed, and I close the lid and immediately put the device in the bag and get moving, will this impact the HD?

christopher_wolf · #4 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 6:01 pm

msafi wrote:Thanks for the reply...

If my TP is set to go to hibernation when lid is closed, and I close the lid and immediately put the device in the bag and get moving, will this impact the HD?

No, it won't; even in suspend mode, it will not affect the HDD. Keep in mind that the armature that has the heads ramps whenever the system is shut down, goes into hibernation, goes into suspend, or the APS activates. Once it parks on the ramps off the HDD platters, you are pretty safe.

msafi · #5 Post by **msafi** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:07 pm

Wow, I never realized how much my English suck....so in simple English...is it safe to move the laptop when it is in the process of going into hibernation?

christopher_wolf · #6 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:17 pm

msafi wrote:Wow, I never realized how much my English suck....so in simple English...is it safe to move the laptop when it is in the process of going into hibernation?

Yes, perfectly safe; I don't think I misunderstood you. Your English is not that bad, don't worry.

K0LO · #7 Post by **K0LO** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 8:12 am

I think msafi was asking a different question. I think he wanted to know if he can pick up his laptop and walk away with it while it's in the process of writing the hibernation file to disk. In other words, is the IBM Active Protection System (APS) still active during the time the hiberfile is being written? Good question; does anybody know the answer?

If I had to guess, Windows is shutting down at this time and a lot of the device drivers have been halted. Unless IBM has specifically programmed the APS to continue to be active even while Windows is in the process of hibernating, I would be wary of jostling a laptop around while it's busy writing the hibernation file to disk. Of course it's safe after the head is parked.

#8 Post by **jdhurst** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 8:30 am

You make a good point. I do not move the computer while it is in the process of suspending (or hibernation - except that I don't use hibernation). I actually wait for the disk light to go out before suspending. Thank you for clarifying that. ... JD Hurst

#9 Post by **Kyocera** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 8:38 am

Some information i found in reference to this (not sure if it was right from ibm or not) supports the contention that it is not good to move the machine when hibernating or suspending. Unfortunately for a couple of years now i've been shutting the lid and sticking it right in the case. This practice has been suspended (pun intended).

K0LO · #10 Post by **K0LO** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 11:15 am

Actually, the answer is here:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-53167
and here:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4KLT8F

Notes:

* The Active Protection system is enabled by default whenever the computer and operating system are operating.
* It is automatically disabled while the computer is:
o Loading the operating system
o Entering Standby or hibernation mode
o In standby or hibernation mode
o Resuming normal operation after being in standby or hibernation mode
o Being shut down
o Turned off

So it's not a good idea to pick up and walk off with a laptop that's entering hibernation!

Will Active Protection System enhance or worsen HD lifetime?

Will Active Protection System enhance or worsen HD lifetime?

Who is online