Z60 5k100 HD crashes with Hitachi Feature Tool

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Tinus · #1 Post by **Tinus** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 1:04 pm

I started to think Lenovo's z60m (2529-EPG) isn't as good as I thought it was. Listen to this story:

My HD was making too much noise just a stationary buzz, nothing scarry though). First I thought it was my fan (see topic http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... &start=360)
After I downloaded the Hitachi feature tool (http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/download.htm) and checked if it was meant for my HD, I booted my z60m and the tool recognized my HD (HTS5410xxG9SA00).
So far, so good.

I changed the acoustic level: the tool said it worked. My ears didn't hear any difference. I tried APM. Set the options to minimal and applied it.
The HD crashed. Hard clicking sounds and I couldn't boot anymore. I even couldn't get into my BIOS.
Lenove also thought it was a bit strange and send me another drive. The same type offcourse. Again, too much stationary sound.
Again I tried the feature (yes, a bit scarry...but come on!). Acoustic level worked. APM minimal: the tool says it worked.....but I couldn't boot. Again the tool destroyed my HD!!

After 2 weeks I haven't been able to use my thinkpad !!! Why this trouble with the HD's? Why do they make more noise when doing totally nothing? More noise than my girlfriends old Toshiba with celeron processor. This should be Pentium M silence!
I'm sorry, I'm a bit confused. I almost think there's something wrong with the laptop itself. So: anyone tried this tool on the 5k100 's ??? Anyone encountered any problems with the HD not stopping/making too much stationary noise?

--Tinus (The Netherlands)

a31pguy · #2 Post by **a31pguy** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 1:42 pm

I have three of those hard disk drives in my z60m. I'm not hearing the issue that your speaking of. My drives are silent. All I hear is the docking station fan. However, I'm not playing around with the hitachi tool either. Personally - I would take this up with Hitachi instead of Levono.

Tinus · #3 Post by **Tinus** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 3:37 pm

Three? Where do you hide them in the z60?

I just send an email to Hitachi Support;
But I must tell that I wonder if it's due to the drives or to the motherboard or Bios (last version 1.05) of my z60. Isn't it to much of a coincidince that both the drives died with a tool that was made for them?
It look like if the APM control doesn't work properly.

About the noise: if your fan is quiet, do you hear nothing at all? My HD's were both making a noise as if a little fan was spinning. Pretty annoying when working in silence. I only hear the HD's of the old notebooks when I lay may ear on the keyboard.

a31pguy · #4 Post by **a31pguy** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 5:28 pm

One in the dedicated bay, one in the ultrabay slim, and one in the advanced dock.

Nope. No excessive sounds. But I checked the website - the drives are fully supported by the Tool. However, they do say that not every pc maker support the SATA-150 spec completely.

On another note - do you know if the z60m supports spread spectrum clocking on the SATA interface?

Tinus · #5 Post by **Tinus** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 3:46 am

No sounds at all?
Could it be the Intel Speed Step tool in the bios that isn't working properly? I still have a feeling that it's something with the notebook itself. As if the power-amanagement isn't working with the HD.

In the manual of the tool they explicity mention that the tool is designed for Hitachi/IBM products. And, with the APM-feature, they mention that if the disk drive is not supported, the tool will recognize this.

On another note - do you know if the z60m supports spread spectrum clocking on the SATA interface?

I don't know. But they have a warning related to this feateure:

WARNING! SWITCHING YOUR DRIVE TO SUPPORT 3.0Gb/s OR ENABLING SPREAD SPECTRUM CLOCKING ON YOUR DRIVE AND THEN USING IT IN A SYSTEM THAT CANNOT SUPPORT THESE FUNCTIONS, MAY RENDER YOUR DRIVE UNUSABLE IN THAT SYSTEM.

So I didn't change these settings.

own6volvos · #6 Post by **own6volvos** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 3:49 am

Another thing you must consider is that the HD could be faulty. Since it is obviously pretty new, it should still be under warranty, and I would consider exchanging it for a new drive.

Tinus · #7 Post by **Tinus** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 4:16 am

and I would consider exchanging it for a new drive.

That would be my third drive!

The thing is, if I ask them to send me another type, they can't realize it because of strict rules in these offices. The guy at Lenovo already warned me ' it's possible they send you a repaired second-hand drive' That's no service, is it? I really want another type, because I'm afraid I will spending my time ordering new drives which will crash all the time. I just want to work with my z60!

sugo · #8 Post by **sugo** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 8:45 pm

What is the model number and firmware version of your 5K100? I have a PATA 5K100 80GB that used to be under firmware A53J. I played with Acoustic control a lot and never had an issue. I recently upgraded firmware to A60A.

The idle spinning sound of my 5K100 is indeed louder than the T42 fan at low rpm.

Tinus · #9 Post by **Tinus** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 3:11 am

Model: HTS541080GBG9SA00

I'm not sure which firmware version it has. Can I find it somewhere on the label? Can't check the drives in BIOS anymore.

I played with Acoustic control a lot and never had an issue.

Did you also play the the Advanced Power Management?

The idle spinning sound of my 5K100 is indeed louder than the T42 fan at low rpm.

Does your HD stop spinning after the 3 minutes (after you change the settings to 'turn off HD after 3 minutes' in power management of your OS)?
Personally. I think it's very strange when (idle spinning) HD's of notebooks are louder then the fans.

sugo · #10 Post by **sugo** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 10:30 am

Tinus wrote:Model: HTS541080GBG9SA00

I think you meant HTS541080G9SA00

So you have a SATA 5K100 80GB. Yes I did play with APM to force early spin down but ended up reverting back to default setting.

My 5K100 does stop spinning after 3 minutes of idle time (my current XP HDD turn off timeout).

Having the HDD louder than the fan is indeed strange. As the fan is off 90% of the time now (thanks for fancontrol utility), the HDD is the only noise coming out of the thinkpad. Someday I may try the single platter Seagate 5400.3 80GB or Flash-IDE drive.

Tinus · #11 Post by **Tinus** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 2:05 pm

So you have a SATA 5K100 80GB

Well, yes, I'm sorry. When somebody ask for model nr. I really don't know which of the 543 digits I have to write down.

Someday I may try the single platter Seagate 5400.3 80GB or Flash-IDE drive.

In the meanwhile I ordered myself a Samsung 40GB SATA. I hope it's more silent. http://www.silentpcreview.com/article29-page2.html
And...I can finally work with my notebook while Lenovo is taking care of the Hitachi drives.

danda821 · #12 Post by **danda821** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 12:05 am

Tinus,

I think the fan-like rotating noise is the platter rotating sound from the hard drive. I have compared 5400 40G (single platter) and 5400 80G (two platter). 40G is very quiet. Probably you can try some single platter one, eg. Seagate 5400.3 80G.

Tinus · #13 Post by **Tinus** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:15 am

Thanks for your reply Danda821, this is very useful information.
Lenovo already send me another drive. It's a Toshiba MK8032GSX 80GB.
Also with 2 platters. Here is a sample of the noise I hear:
http://home.wanadoo.nl/vanderwijst/sound.html
I recorded it with my z60 build-in microphone in a quiet office environment.
Could you tell me, although a bit subjective offcourse, if the sound of a single platter will be less than this noise?

Because there aren't any 4200 rpm sata drive (besides a very expensive one), I'm still planning to buy a samsung M40 (40 GB/single platter), very silent according to silentpcreview.
Less storage space, but more comfort while working in silent spaces.

Z60 5k100 HD crashes with Hitachi Feature Tool

Z60 5k100 HD crashes with Hitachi Feature Tool

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