🚀 go-pugleaf

jimc@iscuva.ISCS.COM (Jim Cathey) writes:
> The traditional cause of hard disk squeal is not the bearings, but a static
> discharge brush pressed against the spindle of the drive.  The 'fix' is 
> usually to just rip it loose.  No one seems to have an adequate explaination
> why you need/don't need this thing.  This squeal isn't harmful to anything

You might want to think twice before doing this, and be sure you back up the
disk real well if you decide to do it. As the disk spins, the action of the
air passing the platters causes quite a bit of static electricity to build
up. The graphite button that presses against the spindle allows the static
to discharge through a controlled path. If you remove the button, the
discharge will still occur, but through places you may not like. The upshot
of this is that data will start becoming corrupting or just disappearing
from your disk. This can occur quite rapidly, actually. Try it and see the
effects after a week or so. (This is where the backup comes in...).
   There ARE ways to resolve the squeal, such as moving the botton slightly
so that the contact point with the spindle is different. Some of the disk
manufacturers also have a silicon or graphite grease of some sort that
should eliminate (or at least quiet) the problem.
Hope this helps.  Jack Brindle.