Didn't realize it was a laptop, but if there was one drive original, and 
now 2, it's possible that 2 low power drives use more power
at startup than the original. Can you put a scope or meter on the power 
to see if there is a sag? Never had noticed on XP, or other OS, the 
option of sequencing startup. I suppose one could write a driver to do 
that, but that's well beyond my humble mind. :)

I believe the current Ubuntu will handle NTFS drives, and the current 
download ISO CD image has on the startup menu to boot a "live", or 
install, with other options. And there is an option with "live" running 
to do the install. Big improvements over the last couple of years, but 
although I like Kubuntu feel when running, I have had nothing but grief 
with install and settings, especially the ATI video. They just can't 
seem to leave a stable situation alone. They change the kernel or 
something, and ATI is slow to react, and you are left hanging. :(

On 3/30/2010 3:19 PM, Dr Skip wrote:
> It's a laptop, so the PS is fixed, and the drive carriage has a pc board with
> soldered connectors - no cables. So far, with drive always on, no problems. I
> guess it could be power, but based on sound, I don't think both drives spin
> down at the same time, yet it still happens when one spins up. With both AC and
> battery on, one would think it would handle the 'surge'.
>
> I _thought_ I heard kind of a sagging spin up with a different higher-draw
> drive in there, but it could have just been the way it normally sounds. it
> didn't have problems as a single drive, only when 2 are present. Still, what
> would the sequence be if power sagged on spin up? I can't find a setting
> anywhere in the registry or online to tell XP to wait longer for spin-up. I
> assume there is a drive-ready indication and it would wait for that, then read,
> but it's been a long time since I did PC hardware design. I'm a dinosaur... :(
>   Yes, same as DVDs, etc. It works fine waiting for those.
>
> The only Linux I've got for it is on live-CDs so far. Just 2 NTFS drives right now.
>
> Of course there's the perennial debate on whether spinning the drive up/down
> all the time or letting it run is better for the drive. Maybe I'm being forced
> to do the best thing??? ;)
>
>
> On 3/30/2010 1:55 PM, Carl Denk wrote:
>    
>> Another thought, is the power supply adequate. Even then if it's not a
>> energy saving power supply, might consider swapping it out. I did
>> recently and the Kiil-a-Watt said the new on 12 hours a day would take 2
>> or 3 years to pay the $70 cost for around 450 watts. The old one was 350
>> watts, and cheaper power supplies are out there, but they use a lot more
>> power.
>>
>> XP should wait till there is drive ready, it does that also with DVD,
>> CD, floppies, etc. Might see what the reaction is with SATA connected,
>> but not power. SATA is supposedly hot swap. Maybe someone else can
>> comment on if it is safe to have SATA connected and plug/unplug the
>> power. The IDE and floppies have a drive ready signal, don't know how
>> SATA handles that.
>>
>> Googled SATA Drive Ready, here's one
>> http://www.mail-archive.com/linux-raid@vger.kernel.org/msg04257.html
>>
>> Note possible bad cable issue!
>>
>> On 3/30/2010 1:36 PM, Carl Denk wrote:
>>      
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