Ask The Trades - Bloody Computers 2

CWatters Super Member Offline "Daddy fick it" says James Posts: 5150 Total Thanks: 58 For This Post: 0 Gender:	Bloody Computers 2 Sep 11^th, 2005, 10:37pm Grrrrr My hard drive failed again. The first one lasted 18 months and now it's replacement has also failed after 18 months. Grrrrr Let's just hope my backup strat works out. This is the third Western Digital drive we've had fail in three years.
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Lurch GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 58 For This Post: 0	Re: Bloody Computers 2 Reply #1 - Sep 11^th, 2005, 10:52pm [quote author=CWatters link=1126474655/0#0 date=1126474655]This is the third Western Digital drive we've had fail in three years. [/quote] Erm, logic would say stop buying Western Digital then.
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The_Trician Trade Member Offline Posts: 7721 Total Thanks: 8 For This Post: 0 Gender: Trade: Electrician	Re: Bloody Computers 2 Reply #2 - Sep 11^th, 2005, 10:57pm I've always used Quantum or IBM/Hitachi drives with no probs. Never used Seagate or WD drives - sounds like I ought to steer well clear! TT
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billythekid Trade Member Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 3402 Total Thanks: 0 For This Post: 0 Trade: Plumber	Re: Bloody Computers 2 Reply #3 - Sep 11^th, 2005, 10:59pm my big drive is a WD and my small one is maxtor, both are great, did you update the firmware? btk
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CWatters Super Member Offline "Daddy fick it" says James Posts: 5150 Total Thanks: 58 For This Post: 0 Gender:	Re: Bloody Computers 2 Reply #4 - Sep 12^th, 2005, 11:01pm No I've not tried updating drive firmware. They all failed after making "unusual" noises - eg head crashes. Today I've ripped the WD drive out and installed a Samsung Spinpoint. Will restore from backups tomorrow.
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CWatters

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Re: Bloody Computers 2
Reply #5 - Sep 14^th, 2005, 2:37pm

Well that was painful. I wasn't able to restore any of the regular backups that I'd made using Power Quest Drive Image. The restore appeared to work but the PC crashed everytime on reboot. I even tried 2 new hard drives. Finally I fixed it using a last resort backup that I made with Ghost while the hard drive was failing.

Moral of the story - you will never know if your backups can be restored until you actually have to restore them. Testing the restore process is not enough.

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Lurch GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 58 For This Post: 0	Re: Bloody Computers 2 Reply #6 - Sep 14^th, 2005, 4:35pm I don't bother with anything so complex as an imge of anything, just backup important files. Everything else just gets reinstalled as and when, also means that I can switch OSes and not have to arse around with an image of something I don't want.
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MarkS GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 58 For This Post: 0	Re: Bloody Computers 2 Reply #7 - Sep 21^st, 2005, 7:35pm Have you checked on the warranty ? http://support.wdc.com the warranty term varies depending on the channel, but if you put your serial number in you might find you're covered.
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CWatters Super Member Offline "Daddy fick it" says James Posts: 5150 Total Thanks: 58 For This Post: 0 Gender:	Re: Bloody Computers 2 Reply #8 - Sep 23^rd, 2005, 7:32am Yes the warranty is still ok but would they send me another make of drive if I asked nicely I'd love to know why I wasn't able to restore my DI backups on the new drive I fitted. Very worrying. A years worth of nightly backups appear to have been a waste of time.
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MarkS

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Re: Bloody Computers 2
Reply #9 - Sep 23^rd, 2005, 7:40am

They certainly should send a replacement. They may want you to run some of their diagnostic software on it and send them the results - or worst case they might want the old drive returning first.

The site should give details of how to claim. Again depending on how/where/when you bought it they might ask you to go through the people you got it from.

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CWatters

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Re: Bloody Computers 2
Reply #10 - Sep 24^th, 2005, 1:07pm

Yes I 've been through the WD warranty return process twice before. They are going to send a replavement but I've allready decided I want to try another make as my primary drive. Now got a Samsung and it's happily installed. Temperature monitor says its steady at 30 degrees so the case cooling is ok.

Will probably install the replacement WD in an external USB enclosure and hook it up to my wifes PC.

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supersparky Administrator Trade Member Author Offline Posts: 6097 Total Thanks: 3 For This Post: 0 Gender: Trade: Electrician	Re: Bloody Computers 2 Reply #11 - Sep 24^th, 2005, 1:50pm the server runs a seagate drive, it has never(touch wood) crashed and runs 24/7/365 the only time the forum goes down is because of the router! and both hard drives in this computer are seagate no problems so far(touch wood!) ss
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MarkS GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 3 For This Post: 0	Re: Bloody Computers 2 Reply #12 - Sep 24^th, 2005, 4:43pm Little known fact that disk drives get made to different standards depending on the use. disks to go in servers are higher quality, longer mtbf.
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supersparky Administrator Trade Member Author Offline Posts: 6097 Total Thanks: 3 For This Post: 0 Gender: Trade: Electrician	Re: Bloody Computers 2 Reply #13 - Sep 24^th, 2005, 4:46pm yeh but the server isnt a purpouse built server! just a computer stripped down and streamlined, bit extra memory and a new o/s also its kept running very cool due to being in the loft, gets hot in summer but some fans up there to keep it all cooooollll! ss
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Twobarrows GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 3 For This Post: 0	Re: Bloody Computers 2 Reply #14 - Dec 30^th, 2005, 7:33am Letting a hard drive run hot is probably the worst thing you could do to it.....besides dropping it. It WILL reduce the life expectancy (in many cases significantly).
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TIMBA-WOLF Board Moderator Offline Timba-Wolf..... Var@*sh, should be banned!! Posts: 7158 Total Thanks: 15 For This Post: 0 KENT,(under a tree!!!!) United Kingdom Gender: Trade: Joiner	Re: Bloody Computers 2 Reply #15 - Dec 30^th, 2005, 2:50pm All the compies, i have made have always had SEAGATE BARRACUDAS in, all still whizzing around happily, and one in my wife's embroidery computer, is in excess of 7 years old (just a std 40gig seagate-not barra!!) only ever used a WD in a compy for my boys mate(well he bought the bits,) and it failed during the first ever boot up!!
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