Is this dead hard drive month or something?

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Asha'man X

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Hi guys

I've noticed a few threads lately on here about hard drives kicking the bucket. Unfortunately, it seems that has hit me as well :(

I have 2 200GB Seagates I purchased over 2 years ago, which sat unused in my cupboard until my computer was finished. A week ago the computer was finished, and I installed both drives. One has XP on, takes up the entire drive. The other I left blank and unused.

From the start, it was rather noisy, compared to the SATA drives at work. In fact, I have the exact same 2 drives in the server, and they work like a charm. I have about 20 other Seagates in various capacities installed in new computers and again they all work well.

My home drives have lots of "on off" type clicks from the currently in use drive, which I know isn't a good sign. Then last night, I tried to install Vista x64 onto the second 200GB, and I had terrible clicking and grinding noises. Suffice to say, I know that one is going to hard drive heaven soon. Luckily I have no data on there so it's not a problem. I will also back up my stuff on the in use drive, I'm not taking chances.

I've sent an e-mail to my contact here at the school who is a reseller for Axiz, to ask what to do. I know Seagate has a 5 year guarantee, so I may be in luck. I don't fancy having to take a ride through to Axiz though, it's a long drive from my home.

Maybe I have bad voodo or something :p First my original motherboard dies on me, now the hard drives seem to be as well. Our family computer went through 2 20GB hard drives before we bought an 80 that is still lasting. At work, I've had any number of old 10, 13, 20 and 40GB drives click and die on me.

Anyway, let me know what you guys think
Thanks :)
 
McGuywer said:
Maybe dust on the disk? (internal)?
Click to expand...

Hi there

I don't think so, as the drives were sitting in the sealed anti-static bags, inside of the foam padded box they arrived in.

Forgot to add in my original post that the models are Seagate Barracuda ST3200827AS, part of the Barracuda 7200.9 range.
 
Last edited:
Vista switches off the hdds constantly (like after 20min). Switch that off in the powersaving to prevent constant powering up and powering down.
 
HavocXphere said:
Vista switches off the hdds constantly (like after 20min). Switch that off in the powersaving to prevent constant powering up and powering down.
Click to expand...

I wish it was that, but I can't even get into Vista on that drive. The grinding and clicking kills Vista before it gets a chance to load.

I left the drive enabled under XP, and did a quick format. Same grinding and clicking, so it leaves little doubt in my mind.

I've just downloaded Seagate's SeaTools now, and will run it when I get home. Maybe it can tell me something about the condition of the drives.

I probable got from a bad batch or something, sigh
 
I got hold of Seatools yesterday, and took it home to run on my pc.

The one hard drive passed all tests, but the other clicking one encountered hundreds of errors, without even going through the full disk. So that drive is definitely on it's way out.

I spoke to my contact this morning about getting the one replaced, and he'll let me know. He also suggested maybe letting Axiz look at both, just for safety reasons.

Maybe I just got from a bad batch, anything is possible. This is my first problematic Seagate in years.
 
My 20GB Hard Drive died on me :(
And all it did as well was also sit in a cupboard, gave me rthe 'ol blue screen of death when I tried loading it....
 
boramk said:
My 20GB Hard Drive died on me :(
And all it did as well was also sit in a cupboard, gave me rthe 'ol blue screen of death when I tried loading it....
Click to expand...

Our family P3 had it's first 20GB die, it was a Fujitsu drive. Started the click of death and shortly afterwards, it died. Then the Western Digital 20 they put in also went to hard drive heaven after a while. Got an 80GB Western Digital, and it's still running after 5 odd years now.

I guess everyone has had dead hardrives, but it really is a pain when the click of death starts.

Well, since Axiz no longer seem to stock the 200GB model of my drive, mayber they'll replace with 250GB, as the price of the 250 is about the same now than when I paid for the 200GB.
 
I don't think so, as the drives were sitting in the sealed anti-static bags, inside of the foam padded box they arrived in
Click to expand...

It happened to me, drive sat in its bag, in my cupboard for 14 months. I took it out to use it and it died during Windows install, with clicking and grinding.

Rectron swapped it out no problem because I could check the warranty on Seagate's site and it was still valid. Printed it out and took that to Rectron. No quibble.
 
Turiko said:
It happened to me, drive sat in its bag, in my cupboard for 14 months. I took it out to use it and it died during Windows install, with clicking and grinding.

Rectron swapped it out no problem because I could check the warranty on Seagate's site and it was still valid. Printed it out and took that to Rectron. No quibble.
Click to expand...

Luckily I have kept all my invoices from all the computer parts I bought. My contact phoned Axiz, and I will be taking the drives to them next week to sort out.

I wonder why the drives just "die" when they sit unused like that? Talk about odd lol
 
Asha'man X said:
Luckily I have kept all my invoices from all the computer parts I bought. My contact phoned Axiz, and I will be taking the drives to them next week to sort out.

I wonder why the drives just "die" when they sit unused like that? Talk about odd lol
Click to expand...

some drives have super high viscosity lubricant on the central spindle. When unused for a long period of time that lubricant can congeal and cause the spindle to stutter. Might explain the noises you have been hearing. The motor is trying to get the spindle to spin up to optimum speed, but it is getting stuck on the lubricant.
 
Garyvdh said:
some drives have super high viscosity lubricant on the central spindle. When unused for a long period of time that lubricant can congeal and cause the spindle to stutter. Might explain the noises you have been hearing. The motor is trying to get the spindle to spin up to optimum speed, but it is getting stuck on the lubricant.
Click to expand...

That's quite interesting to know, thank you :) I looked at Wikipedia the other day just out of interest, and there was nothing mentioned about this. But it does make sense. Hard drives were meant to be used, not sitting idle for over 2 years waiting for a computer to be built.

My other drive is working ok, with the performance of a 7200rpm, but the noise of a 5400rpm. Boy, that generation of drives were horrible. Have plenty at work, and they take forever to do anything.
 
Saule said:
In 6 years at work we've had only one crashed hard drive and one fried by a power surge. The one that crashed wasn't giving any noises before it crashed:confused:.
Click to expand...

I must be unlucky or have been cursed in a previous life lol. Both of our family P3 hard drives developed the click and scrape of death before dying, as has that one Seagate of mine.

At work, I haven't had the click of death that I can recall, the hard drives just usually silently die and refuse to work. The noises I'm referring to were the loud seek and other noises on the 5400rpm generation. If you've ever used a 10 or 13GB Maxtor, you may understand what I'm speaking of.

Funny enough, I have an ancient old Seagate Medalist 2.1GB hard drive in the cupboard, which still works fine. Loud as hell, but it just keeps working fine every time I try it out.
 
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