New V+ box - disk spinning constantly!
 

I've just had my first V+ box installed and I'm pretty happy with it except for the hard disk noise.

The disk noise is quite noticable, but when watching the TV its not too obtrusive. However, when the unit is placed in Standby the disk never powers down.

This means the noise is noticable at night when not watching the TV and its a waste of electricity and will no doubt shorten the life of the hard disk.

I called the faults departments and was told that they all do this!

Surely that is not the case?

Can you all tell me if your hard drive ever powers down, in standby, and if so, after what time period?

It looks like mine has a Western Digital 160Gb drive- when I look throuh the holes in the case, if that makes any difference.

thanks

Blonks

Re: New V+ box - disk spinning constantly!
 

AFAIK, the disk should shut down when the unit is Standby. It should shutdown at night, as the box goes into a "resting" mode unless it is recording or downloading an update.

Re: New V+ box - disk spinning constantly!
 

The disk does not power down in standby, only after a certain time will the unit go into a "resting" mode.

I do not know if the disk goes into "resting" mode while the box is on standby. I don't think so, because I have never seen the "please wait" startup message when exiting standby. if you see what I mean.

Re: New V+ box - disk spinning constantly!
 

Ocassionally my V+ box hard disk doesn't sipn down when put into standby, pressing 'RESET' on the front of my box usually cures it (until it happens again)

Re: New V+ box - disk spinning constantly!
 

That's normal. It still needs to use the disc from time to time even when in standby.

Re: New V+ box - disk spinning constantly!
 

Yeah, mine's always busy. Mildly annoying but liveable with.

Re: New V+ box - disk spinning constantly!
 

Thanks all, however I don't see why the disk cannot power down when in standby, then wake up if a firmware update is needed, or to do a recording It only takes a split second to power up a disk. Its annoying and a waste of electricity to have the disk spinning constantly.

Re: New V+ box - disk spinning constantly!
 

Are you ex-NTL or ex-Telewest Blonkster?
I see that ShadowTD is ex-NTL and is having the same problem as you and i'm wondering if it just affects ex-NTL areas.

I am ex-Telewest and my hard disk spins down within 2 minutes of me putting the V+ box into standby and it also spins down if i leave the box on all night when it goes into resting, ocassionally the hard disk doesn't spin down and a quick press of the RESET button cures it.

Re: New V+ box - disk spinning constantly!
 

I am ex-NTL, and my box "rests" at night.

Re: New V+ box - disk spinning constantly!
 

I'm ex-NTL. I'll try a reset tonight.

---------- Post added at 15:38 ---------- Previous post was at 13:40 ----------

I was told by Virgin CS that it is the cooling mechanism that makes the noise! Strange, as there is no fan in the unit ;-)

Re: New V+ box - disk spinning constantly!
 

Hmmm, I must admit I've never heard a cooling fan making seek noises before.

Re: New V+ box - disk spinning constantly!
 

To be fair to them, it is not a seek noise, but a constant disk-spinning noise, which could be confused with fan noise.

However, I would expect somebody at VM to know what is inside thier boxes and give a real answer as to what is causing this and if they intend to stop it!

Re: New V+ box - disk spinning constantly!
 

My V+ Box "rests" at night too, but I wish there was a dimmer on the display. It lights up the whole room!

Re: New V+ box - disk spinning constantly!
 

The box is designed to be left switched on and the hard disk should power down overnight

The halo lightning up the whole room in standby can be a pain if its in a bedroom but if you put blu-tack over the halo to cover the bright light that's one way of solving it.

Re: New V+ box - disk spinning constantly!
 

Just to report back. My V+ box HD never powers off. I put a power meter on it and these are my findings.

1. Normal active operation 28 watts, HD active
2. "Resting" 28 watts, HD does not spin up when the box is woken, I just hear it seeking.
3. "Standby" mode 27 watts, HD does not spin down/up.

To be honest the HD powerdown seems to be a myth.