Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ubuntu May Be Killing Your Laptop's Hard Drive

Posted by kdawson on from the saving-power-at-what-cost dept.

wwrmn writes "There's a debate going on over at bugs.launchpad.net on whether it's the Ubuntu, BIOS, hard-drive manufacturer, or pick-any-player's fault, but Ubuntu (and perhaps any OS) may be dramatically shortening the life of your laptop's hard drive due to an aggressive power-saving feature / acpi bug / OS configuration. Regardless of where the fault lies or how it's fixed, you might want to take some actions now to try to prevent the damage."

14 of 419 comments (clear)

  1. Ubuntu by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    but Ubuntu [...] may be dramatically shortening the life of your laptop's hard drive due to an aggressive power-saving feature I always thought that Gibbon was just a bit too gutsy!
  2. no problem, really! by loafula · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'll just buy another 4 hard drives with the money I saved not buying Vista!

    --
    FOXTROT UNIFORM CHARLIE KILO
  3. Prevent damage?? by kusanagi374 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah, sure. Whatever it is, it can't be compared to the damage done to Ubuntu's launchpad after it was slashdotted.

    Once they control the fire and get the backup server online, maybe I'll be able to RTFA. :(

  4. AHA! :D by Killjoy_NL · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's why I use windows. So I don't have to wonder who the culprit is ;)

    ^_^

    --
    This is the sig that says NI (again)
    1. Re:AHA! :D by Schraegstrichpunkt · · Score: 4, Funny

      You're a Windows sysadmin ...

      Doesn't sound like you're a very good sysadmin.

      Gasp!

      --
      http://outcampaign.org/
  5. Re:Thanks for slashdotting launchpad, guys. by FudRucker · · Score: 5, Funny

    here is a good workaround: http://www.debian.org/

    --
    Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
  6. Re:The Ubuntu by eln · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's only been about 10 minutes, but so far my Load_Cycle is sticking at 1 where it started. You have to pull the knob out to get it to start the other cycles. It won't start the Spin_Cycle until you close the lid, though.
  7. Re:Ubuntu by Hal_Porter · · Score: 4, Funny

    but Ubuntu [...] may be dramatically shortening the life of your laptop's hard drive due to an aggressive power-saving feature I always thought that Gibbon was just a bit too gutsy! You should have waited for Apathetic Ape. I hear that doesn't bother at all with power management.
    --
    echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
  8. Re:Effects on Dell/Ubuntu OEM? by internetcommie · · Score: 5, Funny

    Considering the HD failure rate on Dell laptops, I doubt anybody will notice a difference.

  9. Re:Confused.... by Joebert · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is that a button only for subscribers or somthing ?
    I can't find the Uncheck Crappy Authors option.

    --
    Wanna fight ? Bend over, stick your head up your ass, and fight for air.
  10. Re:Ubuntu by It'sYerMam · · Score: 3, Funny

    On the other hand it doesn't need it. It's permanently in Sleep mode.

    --
    im in ur .sig, writin ur memes.
  11. Re:Ubuntu? Slashdot! by geminidomino · · Score: 4, Funny

    Doesn't compare to what Video did... the scene at the Radio Star's apartment was BRUTAL.

  12. Re:The Ubuntu by kiddygrinder · · Score: 4, Funny

    No, i think it's fair to call this an Ubuntu problem, i mean 80% of the stories about linux these days are simply titled "Ubuntu" when they would apply to any distro at all. It's only a natural progression to start calling your computer and all the parts therein an Ubuntu :)

    --
    This is a joke. I am joking. Joke joke joke.
  13. Re:The Ubuntu by Rogerborg · · Score: 4, Funny

    God I hate incompetent comments.

    Then you must be a real masochist to keep hanging around here.

    --
    If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.