Momentus XT, Momentus, Momentus Thin, MobileMax, and other notebook drives

[tinkererguy]

This thread started with:

"Looks like the SD24 firmware upgrade fixed most of the new Momentus XT bugs but a few of you are still experiencing some beeps, BSOD and a few other items in certain systems."  My 2 laptops are definitely in that category, here's the story.

2 identical Lenovo ThinkPad T61p laptops (model 6459-CTO), with Windows 7 Ultimate, 64 bit, same BIOS, and latest/identical device drivers from Lenovo.

Dec 26 2010, tried replacing both stable traditional 320GB Seagate drives with 2 Momentus XT hybrid drives bought from NewEgg 12/19/2010, using the Windows Home Server restore wizard from previous day's daily full backup, it has no hidden partitions and one simple big C: drive, which is the same procedure I used when moving from smaller drives to larger drives with success, on a dozen different occasions these past 3 years.  These drives were in OEM packaging (plain box), ST95005620AS from NewEgg.  Both had pauses, strange sounds, and 1 to 5 BSOD crashes per day, with random BSOD messages.  Went to SD24, didn't seem to help.  Made sure latest Lenovo Toolbox installed, didn't help.  Uninstalled Lenovo Toolbox, didn't help.  Talked to 2 different Seage support folks, letting them know Seatools for DOS tests passed (no errors) and the whole story above, only suggestion was to use latest drivers from Intel instead of Lenovo for disk drive (there weren't any that I could find), or re-install entire operating system and see how that goes (a many dozen hour proposition, frankly, no time for that, my Windows 7 build is totally stable on any other drive).

Reinstalled traditional/stable 320GB drives, then returned both drives to NewEgg before 30 days were up, lost restocking fee.

Feb 15th, spotted Seagate web site:
http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/products/internal-storage/momentus-xt-kit/
which states for new model STAN500100:
"Works in any standard laptop with any OS"
inquired with Seagate support, was assured with these words:

"The new model of drive should work fine you as it will have better support for new operating systems, as well as the newest technology we have"

Feb 15 2011, bought 2 more Model STAN500100 drives regular retail packaging from local Best Buy, on sale.  Once installed, realized they're the same ST95005620AS drives as the NewEgg OEM packaged once I had back in Dec 2010, but had already opened them (nowhere on the external stickers on the box do you see ST95005620AS).
 
Restored (same procedure) laptop 1 to new Momentus XT, that had arrived with SD23 firmware.  It wouldn't boot first 2 times, hung on initial Windows screen, eventually it booted completely, then I flashed to SD24 from within Windows 7, but still crashy (random BSODs, about 2-5X per day).  Then restored (from last 320GB drive backup on Windows Home Server) again, still random BSODs, about once every other day, time will tell.
 
Restored (same procedure) laptop 2 to the second newly purchased XT, that had also arrived with SD23 firmware, but this time, I had already booted from SD24 flash CD, PRIOR to that restore.  And this one seemed more stable, well, at first.

After about 5 hours of operation, that laptop 2 also had its first crash (random BSODs, about once every other day as well).  Yes, hybrids are much faster for 2nd boot or second start of commonly used applications, but still somewhat crashy for my family, for some not-yet-known reason.

I have already sent a private message with case #s a couple of days ago, serial #s, and my phone # and email address, hoping STX_NB can reach out to me soon, as I do love the speed boost, and am obviously very interested in getting this problem closed down, once and for all.  Even if that means trying a beta of SD25, or whatever other workaround seems to help figure out the root cause, and get us all to a complete solution.

Thank you!

[redfox76]

I discovered that hdparm parameters will reset after rebooting your PC...

If you don't want to input that command every time you turn on your PC, I have found this utility on the internet.

It creates a service that will input hdparm parameters for you every time windows starts. Look at the bottom of the page, in the last response there is a step by step guide to use this service on a 64 bit Windows 7. Remember to edit the xml script to fit your needs.

I tested it this morning on my Asus G73JW with Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit and it works great!

If you have Linux you will not need the utility: search "hdparm permanent" and you will find a lot of stuff.

See ya!!

[STX_NB]

Redfox76, your data is safe but if you want to talk more directly about this send me your contact info.  I'll give you call.  Thanks, J

[CesNet]

hi there

I’m a Macbook pro user and suffering like almost everyone here of poor baterry perf. lets say 30% loss.

I think this is far too much even for a first generation.

So before removing that drive Mr Seagate employee, can you tell me when SD25 can be expected and if you think that this aspect in particular would be improved.

all the rest of little problems are minor for me although I have to say that vibrations are much higher than in your non hybrid HD and that it gets a bit hotter too. 

I could live with that if power consumption were not that high.

In any case thanks for the efforts your doing

regards

[STX_NB]

Hi CesNet,

The issue is a tough nut to crack but we've got some ideas that we'll be trying.  If it were just the SSHD then we've have more control but this issue is a combination of the OS requesting/commanding and our drive wanting to do something else.  Now that being said, we've taken the ownership since it's our drive and no one else is having this issue.  I've been meeting with the team every couple of days and they are calling folks like yourself to understand how and when the irregular behavior occurs.  You have been extremely helpful in the discovery and troubleshooting of this - that being said, we are two - four weeks away from delivering SD25.  Forum users will be the first to know when this is released and many folks have signed up to help with early testing of this.

Thanks for the questions and comments.  j

[bbm]

No it did not fix my issues. Check out these two beautiful benchmark graphs.

Btw, SeaTools did not report any errors. I have massive stalls while working in windows (xp-32/7-64), i tried both ide and ahci mode. FW is SD24. Problem even persists with APM completly disabled.

1st run:

2nd run:

[Picchioni]

I've been running the firmware update for the last few days with the drive in my MBP 6,2.  I'd say that the issue is better but not solved.  If I can provide any logs, troubleshooting, etc.. I'd be more than happy to, just let me know what you'd like.

One other tidbit, whether relevant or not, my user directory is encrypted w/ FileVault.

[otooto]

For your engineers who may want to have a database of all Macs and their details, to reference when users post their config such as a MacBook Pro 2,2. (It's shareware or donationware):

http://www.mactracker.ca/

T

[tinkererguy]

Similar HD Tune Pro results here, see attachment (2nd run), haven't changed power management, and left Windows 7 x64 at AHCI mode.

[bbm]

That looks really super. What is odd is that my Momentum XT from above did not even have any background access during the benchmark. It was wiped clean with no partitions and attached as an auxiliary drive on sata port 2. The system disk was a Scorpio Black 160 GB with these results taken at the same time: