OK, I've checked the FAQ, I've done a search on the board, yet I'm
still clueless about three things.

1) How do I know if I'm failing the stress test when running the drivebuilder image?
2) How do I interpret all those statistics on the display during the stress test?
3) I'm occasionally seeing some stuff like the following scroll across my
hyperterminal screen.

Should I be concerned about these errors?
What do I do about them?
Do I need to exchange this (brand new) drive?
Do I just need to re-run the formatting?
Should I take a chill pill and assume that lack of smoke emanating from
the drive indicates it is passing the stress test?

Here are the errors I occasionally see scroll by:

Stressing /dev/hda: Spinning up.
hdstress.cpp 189 ( 29): Poll result=0 on fd=5
hdstress.cpp 189 ( 29): Poll result=0 on fd=5
Drive length is 78140160 blocks, seek testing
hda: read_intr: status=0x59 { DriveReady SeekComplete DataRequest Error }
hda: read_intr: error=0x40 { UncorrectableError }, LBAsect=25870016, sector=2587
0016
end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 25870016
Failed to read
: Input/output error
hdstress.cpp 189 ( 29): Poll result=0 on fd=5
Abnormal response (-3) errno=5 'Input/output error'
hdstress.cpp 189 ( 29): Poll result=0 on fd=5
Stressing /dev/hda: Spinning down.
hdstress.cpp 189 ( 29): Poll result=0 on fd=5
Stressing /dev/hda: Spinning up.
hdstress.cpp 189 ( 29): Poll result=0 on fd=5
hdstress.cpp 189 ( 29): Poll result=0 on fd=5
Speed checking /dev/hda3

I realize that with many of the poobahs "going Dutch" this weekend I may
be somewhat at a loss for suggestions here.

Send my regards to the low countries, all you fortunates at the big Empeg party!

music

P.S. Am I the only one to completely destroy one of the screws holding the
shock-mount cradle due to the extreme (factory) use of threadlock compound?
I dont think I'm that ham-fisted with a simple screwdriver....
Hopefully the screw is easily replaceable.
(No Amsterdam jokes, please.)

Am I the only one to completely destroy one of the screws holding the
shock-mount cradle due to the extreme (factory) use of threadlock compound?
I dont think I'm that ham-fisted with a simple screwdriver....
Hopefully the screw is easily replaceable.

You're not the only one - about a quarter of the players I got in for repair had damaged screws.

The trick is to use a larger screwdriver than you'd think would be appropriate. I use an M4.

Due to the rather underwhelming response to this post,
I have assumed that I have a unique problem.

So I returned the drive.
The replacement one doesn't exhibit these symptoms.
So, I still don't know if the old one was actually bad, or if it was a
software problem. Either way, I'm up and running now.
Ironically, the replacement drive was somebody else's return,
since the store didn't have any "fresh" drives left.

Now I'm busy ripping another couple hundred CDs and putting
them on my newly enlarged Empeg.

music

...

Wait a second...

I know I responded to this post.

I recommended running another build, and that it was probably just a fluke.

But my post is gone.

Either that, or my marbles are...

Edit: Okay. I am not insane (in that manner). I responded to the cross post.

Yes, Paul, your marbles are still fully intact.
And I appreciated your assistance.
Words from the grand master of Empeg disk upgrades are definitely given heed.
(I'm still in awe of someone possesing multiple 160GB Empegs.)
I had done as you suggested and re-run the builder, producing similar
results as before on the stress test.
I opted to install the developer image after that just to see what happened.
Result: player either didn't work or worked in a manner which clearly
indicated something was badly awry (can't remember which now).

That's when I decided that those particular log outputs do indeed indicate
a failing of the stress test and exchanged the drive.

Now, all is good with the world.

/music

Greetings!

Cool! I am glad you were able to work out the problem. As long as everything is working as it should.