My PC with Windows XP occasionally locks up while 
writing to the hard disk and continues to write to 
it unceasingly.  Programs running do not respond to 
normal close or exit commmands, the task manager 
does not respond, and the computer does not respond 
to CTRL-ALT-DELETE.  The only other way of regaining 
control that I know of - turning the computer off 
with the power button - causes physical damage to 
the disk since the disk is being written to.  Waiting
does not help.  Is there a way to regain control of 
the computer or shut down the computer without causing 
physical damage to the hard disk?  If so, what must 
be done?  If you find good reason to believe there is
no way, please cite a reliable source which supports 
this conclusion.

---

Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 26 Dec 2002 19:22 PST

bugleboy...

How old is the drive, and what leads you to believe
that it might not be the harddrive itself failing
in the write process? Have you run a surface check
on it, especially in light of the fact that you 
believe some damage has already been caused by
powering down?

If your hard drive is of the "voice coil" design, you're safe from
unexpected power-offs.  Once power is removed, "the actuator coil
springs the heads into a landing zone and lock position" [1]; this can
be described as "auto park" [2].  Hard drives driven by a stepper
motor are, unfortunately, not subject to such benefits; however,
they're also apparently not in heavy use these days.

If you'd like to provide the model number of your hard drive(s), I'd
be happy to research their specific designs.

Now, if you're not fortunate enough to have a voice coil hard drive,
your motherboard may be of the sort where, "with the reset button,
only the computer's motherboard has to reset" -- the part that's
locked up with Windows.  As it doesn't reset the power to your hard
drive, no damage occurs.  It seems to be the common practice for AT
and ATX motherboards [4], and yours is likely these days to support
this.

The Reset button is a viable alternative to voice coil hard drives, in
case yours are of the stepper motor variety.

I suggest the Reset button over the Power button, when it's an
available option; it's easier on the power supply and various
components to have their power retained.  Once in a while, it may need
a powering off; generally, though, Windows responds well to the Reset
button.

If your drives aren't of the auto-parking variety (or even if they
are), most of today's uninterruptible power supplies can shut your
computer down when there's an extended power outage -- look for
Windows XP compatibility (USB or Serial Port).  It'll help for when
you're away and power goes out.  APC sells several that work with XP
[5].

The worst case scenario.  You don't have a motherboard with a reset
switch, your hard drives don't auto park.  There is a solution! 
Purchase an ATX power supply, run the power cord to the wall, and use
the power connectors for hard drives that don't auto park.  There'll
be two power supplies manage, now, with two A/C connectors -- but your
hard drives will stay on even when you have to reset your computer. 
Add a UPS, and you have a virtually unstoppable hard drive.

[1] http://www.pcmech.com/show/internal/65/2/ (page 2)
[2] http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=57
[3] http://216.239.53.100/search?q=cache:crbIiVBJj9gC:www.kclug.org/old_archives/linux-activists/1992/apr/3/0371.shtml+%22stepper+motor+hard+drives%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
[4] http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:7aqEu45O0qMC:www.thesandiegochannel.com/sh/technology/thehelpmenu/thehelpmenu-88726620010724-160706.html+atx+motherboard+%22reset+button%22+how+it+works&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
[5] http://www.apc.com/windowsxp/