will laying a tower on its side cause HD problems?

[Gomer]

Pretty straightforward question. I know it doesn't cause any problems short term. However, due to space constraints this summer, I may need to lay may tower down flat on its side. Just curious if that will cause any problems. Gut instinct tells me it will be fine, but gut instinct doesn't replace dead hard drives.

[Warthog]

I remember a thread awhile back on this same subject. I recall the general consensus being that it doesn't matter.

Warthog

[AuraEdge]

I think a harddrive can be situated in any 90 degree angle without harm.

[fshanda]

My hard drive is on it's side in a drive rack and my Wife's Dell computer has it's drive sitting up on edge with the IDE on top. Never had a problem with either. You should be ok.

Fshanda

[bhess]

Just be prepared to catch the cd when you open the tray. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Gomer]

Thanks for the quick replies http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif. On its side it shall go. As for the cd's, both my pioneer dvd and plex CDRW have little clip jobbers for just that purpose.

[Fingers]

This one Warthog? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/008852.html

[Roy]

I've used WD drives in every imaginable position. It gives new meaning to Kama Sutra. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[MiKe85]

Good to know guys http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Target]

Only caveat I would throw out that nobody else has mentioned is that you should avoid moving the position of your case while the drives are spinning.

Even that should not be a problem unless you rough-house the case around and shock/impact the case or the drive, but if you can avoid doing so (moving the box while drives are spinning) you should.

[Warthog]

Yes that's the one I think http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

lol Mike http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
(you haven't changed much, have you http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif)

Warthog

[Andy_L]

Bhess, Thats not funny, you should have seen us trying to put a CD in our SUN server after someone mounted the CDROM sideways. You can do it tho, on about the 100th attempt.

[SysOpt]

I'm not providing a warranty on this info, but I've operated hard drives in every orientation imaginable - hanging from their cables in mid air, on their sides, upside down, etc.. I even had a case on its side one time with the ATX power supply on top of the case and the hard drive on top of the ATX power supply http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif.. Trust me, they're pretty much capable of running well in any configuration as long as you don't move them or jolt them too much. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[RustyGT]

All of the above.
Remember to give the fans some air!
R.

[vintron]

hey there http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

i was concerned about the same thing i did a readthrough of the diffrent manufacturers pages.

The answer is COMPLETELY depended on ur drives specification. If it's OK to make it work in different than a usual position, then the manufacture WILL specify it. DO NOT try it otherwise, they probably can identify what went wrong....


Btw, most of the new harddrives, the 2000 and newer ones, can be used in a regular and upright position... some have more flexible restrictions.

[Fingers]

Seagate (http://forum.seagate.com/SERVICE/Email%20Forum.nsf/aac7d56ca8fd884b852563be00610639/b778d45d809ee1f08625693f00675685?OpenDocument)
Is it OK to mount my drive upside down?

Seagate Technician's Response:

Most new drives can be mounted in any orientation. Typically, drives are mounted with the printed circuit board side down, and for best performance, it is recommended that the drive be mounted in a flat, or perpendicular (on its side) orientation. Information on any drive's specific mounting requirements can be found in the product manual or installation guide for that specific drive

Western Digital (http://www.westerndigital.com/service/tip_dir/tip0298.html)
Hard Drive Mounting Positions
---------------------------------------------

A common question we receive concerns the mounting restrictions for Western Digital hard drives. Basically, you can mount your WD Caviar hard drive in any X, Y, or Z axis direction without affecting the drive’s performance or operation. In other words, the drive will function normally whether it is mounted sideways or upside down.


Quantum (http://www.maxtor.com/quantum/support/csr/product%5Fmanuals/fireball%2Del%5Fproduct%5Fmanual.pdf)
Drives can be mounted in any orientation. Normal position is with the PCB facing down

IBM (http://www.storage.ibm.com/techsup/hddtech/install/djna-dpta-dtla_digw.pdf)
Drive bays and other enclosures vary in size and orientation from system to system. They may be oriented vertically, horizontally, upside down, or sideways. The IBM DeskStar can be mounted with any side or end vertical or horizontal, but must not be mounted in a tilted position.

[prexaspes]

Use logic...

The disk spins and is therefore balanced perfectly. Imagine an imbalance at 7200 RPM...

Only possible problem would be the read heads, but if they're affected by gravity (besides the obvious), then I dont't want that hard drive.

Just don't drop it too much, even though they're supposed to be able to take a beating, like 300 gees of acceleration over a very short period of time...

[hawkeye177]

Most of the computers at my dad's work. their hard drives are side ways. Like this | not this -.

[elroy]

Many of the older factory built systems that used desk top cases had the HD installed standing on it's edge. Compaq, Dell, HP etc.

[surrealchereal]

I had a gateway at work, it got put on its side (looked like it was able to do that) after a bit the CD dumped. Put in a new one and .... After a while the CD dumped. I set it back up upright got tired of waiting for a department "official" to do it. Ran fine.
$.02

[Richard_Cranium72]

From Fingers Post

Seagate

" for best performance, it is recommended that the drive be mounted in a flat, or perpendicular (on its side) orientation "

BEST Performance,, hmmmm ??

and

IBM

" The IBM DeskStar can be mounted with any side or end vertical or horizontal, but must not be mounted in a tilted position."

MUST NOT be tilted.

me chisels mental note into Cranium's Skull of Pure Granite. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[surrealchereal]

block head?

[prexaspes]

I'd call IBM friggin' liars, If I KNEW I was smarter than them http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif