[SLL] Can linux drivers damage hardware?

[Jerry Horvath]

"...Even further back, there was a rumor that you could send an op
code to a harddrive that could cause the head to dive into the platter
(I think it slowed the platter down just enough to lose..."

In the ancient times, this was allegedly called the "seek and score
disk" instruction.  The "instruction" dates back to the times when
programmers were closer to the machine.  It was also allegedly
possible to take control of the magnetic tape drives and spin the
reels in opposing directions thus breaking the tape.

Within IBM 7090/7094 and SYS/360 assembler language was a Data Channel
instruction Set.  The languages, used at the time were, Assembler with
a bit of Fortran.  Of course, "real programmers" didn't use FORTRAN.

The first commercially viable Hard drive was the IBM 305 RAMAC (Random
Access Method of Accounting and Control).  The 305 RAMAC was
introduced in 1956.  The cost of storing a gig of data was estimated
to be around ten million dollars.  Since the device was leased, and
had enormous operational costs, it is difficult to get a precise
estimate of the cost of storage.  One other measurement was $7000 per
megabyte per year.

Regards,

Jerry Horvath



On 10/2/07, Chuck Wolber <chuckw at quantumlinux.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 2 Oct 2007, Eric wrote:
>
> > I am looking to test Ubuntu Gutsy on a new laptop but wondered if there
> > is a possible chance of any damage to hardare such as the internal
> > wireless card, video card, .....
>
> In the olden days, you used to have to worry about frying your monitor
> with bad XF86Config settings. Even further back, there was a rumor that
> you could send an op code to a harddrive that could cause the head to dive
> into the platter (I think it slowed the platter down just enough to lose
> the air bearing and cause the head to plow into the platter, but anything
> I ever heard about it was always 3rd or 4th hand).
>
> There was also some code in lm-sensors that would brick certain IBM
> laptops. I'm not sure of the details.
>
> These days there has been some major concern about opening up wireless
> drivers because technically speaking, some (all?) wireless cards can be
> tuned to different frequencies if you know how to do it. That won't
> necessarily break your card, but it could get you in trouble with the FCC.
>
> As for physical damage, I can think of some theoretical things, but I've
> never seen or heard of anything happening in real life.
>
> ..Chuck..
>
> --
> http://www.quantumlinux.com
>  Quantum Linux Laboratories, LLC.
>  ACCELERATING Business with Open Technology
>
> "The idea that any one of us [presidential candidates] can bring about
> this change is a fantasy, it is not the truth! We need you to bring about
> the change on all these issues, we need you involved, we need you taking
> responsibility!"
>                 --John Edwards
>


-- 
Jerry Horvath

aka -  jerrypenguin The Linux Longshoreman
mathematics/philosophy/computers/maritime

"It is cheering to see that the rats are still around - the ship is not sinking"
Eric Hoffer - Philosopher/Writer/Longshoreman