Comment 294 for bug 59695

Mathieu:
Yes, your load cycle count seems to be increasing rapidly. However, the tool
that is used to affect this is either being used improperly by you, or isn't
able to handle the disk you have (likely because the disk is nonstandard).

Using the disk manufacturer's tool to check the settings of that manufacturer's
hard disk in no way even vaguely implies that your disk is standard.

If your system cannot be controlled through hdparm, then there is nothing that
I know that can do anything for your clicking problem, even if it is the same
issue as everyone else is having -- specificly, hdparm is used to control your
APM settings. If the tool which is used to change such things is broken, then
there is little you can do other than talk to the toolmaker, and see if he knows
how to fix it. You have provided me, basically, with two pieces of information:

* Your HD is clicking like many others do
* The tool used to change your settings and modify this behavior doesn't work
  for you, even though it works for many other people.

therefore, your options are:
* Use another tool
* Check to make sure you are using the existing tool properly
* Go to the toolmaker(s) and ask if (s)he will fix it

Since I know of no other tools to change the low-level settings of your hard drive
while Linux is running, it might be a good idea to try the second and third options
mentioned above -- that is, verify that you are doing your part correctly, then go
to the toolmakers (file a bug report with the hdparm package).

> It would be very usefull to know how many people have similar problem
> than me, to see if "just" using hdparm is a "good" (clean) solution to
> that f*** bug.

No, it is not a great solution. But it is a solution that greatly
improves the situation, works in most cases, and has comparatively few
detriments. Apparently, yours is not one where it does work, because a
different problem interferes. Again, I would suggest that, after
verifying that you have followed fix instructions correctly, and that it
doesn't work, you should work with with the hdparm packager(s)/coder(s)
to try and figure out whether or not they can help you.