Problem with harddrive from Take2

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grantt

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Hi guys,

Bought an external harddrive from Take2 about a year ago. It stopped working recently (Windows fails to recognise /access it; it intermittently makes a light a grinding noise - have tried on several PCs) and I returned it as it is still under warranty. The problem is now, however, that they insist there is nothing wrong with it, whereas whenever I try use it it doesn't work.

It is currently sitting with them but my question is: is there anything else I can do to get a refund? What happens in a case like this when it's basically my opinion vs. their's?

Ta.
 
lolc is that how they handle warrantys. what brand was the hard drive and the casing? was it bought as a whole unit or how was it bought
 
benitok said:
Look at the comments at the bottom of the site:

http://www.take2.co.za/electronics-verbatim-47562-2-5-inch-portable-hard-drive-250gb-3960513.html

"..Thing works but beware they (being verbatim) package this thing with one low power usb cable that creates intermittent problems on any pc.

Luckily I had some high power cables extra lying around. Works perfectly with the right cable is all I'm saying and the right cable aint being shipped with it.."
Click to expand...

Hmm... do you get USB cables with varying degrees of power? I didn't know that. I've got a Lacie 320GB external USB powered HD, that comes with a USB cable, and an additional USB to AC power cable. I thought that all USB cables were created euqally, but it depended on the USB bus, and how much power it outputs... ??
 
High powered usb cable WTF?

Learn something new everyday. Gonna phone my suppliers in jan and ask for the high powered cables and see the reaction :D.
 
You don't, but cables use different quality wiring and internal solder points. I have that issue with a mini USB cable here that I use with my card reader. With the proper one connected the reader works fine, but the other cable is dodgey.

As bekdik says, have them send you a directory listing of the drive if you cannot go see the item working.
 
Firstly, try another USB cable. I have a similar Verbatim drive (400Gb) and it also had access problems after a few weeks until I used another cable. If that doesn't work scan the drive with a hdd diagnostic tool such as Western Digital Diagnostic (works on all drives) and send them a screenshot of the error summary or tell them to do the same.
 
ToxicWazte said:
Hmm... do you get USB cables with varying degrees of power?
Click to expand...

I believe you get a USB cable that uses two ports on the PC to power the device, like this. Strange how some companies only ship a 'single' USB cable with a large capacity drive that does not use AC power.
 
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Slootvreter said:
I believe you get a USB cable that uses two ports on the PC to power the device, like this. Strange how some companies only ship a 'single' USB cable with a large capacity drive that does not use AC power.
Click to expand...

+1

Those cables do exist, on the PC side they have 2x USB connectors. The problem is usually a single USB port cannot supply enough current to the device so you get current from 2 ports instead. The second connector usually does not have signal pins, only power pins.
 
TheRift said:
As bekdik says, have them send you a directory listing of the drive if you cannot go see the item working.
Click to expand...

I've asked them this and they completely dodged the question, saying they sent it to Western Digital, who returned it together with a technical report that said no fault was found.

They also say they've sold 'over 50' of these drives and have had four returned under warranty and 'only' two complaints about the usb cable. The cable is nonetheless packaged with the harddrive though and surely if it is defective the entire product (i.e. hdd + cable) should be replaced.

I guess if I'm unable to get them to refund it I need to try an alternative cable, however, I can't do this easily without them shipping the hdd back to me (likely at my cost)...

Unsure as to what to do next in order to get a replacement / refund. Thanks for the help so far.
 
grantt said:
I've asked them this and they completely dodged the question, saying they sent it to Western Digital, who returned it together with a technical report that said no fault was found.

They also say they've sold 'over 50' of these drives and have had four returned under warranty and 'only' two complaints about the usb cable. The cable is nonetheless packaged with the harddrive though and surely if it is defective the entire product (i.e. hdd + cable) should be replaced.

I guess if I'm unable to get them to refund it I need to try an alternative cable, however, I can't do this easily without them shipping the hdd back to me (likely at my cost)...

Unsure as to what to do next in order to get a replacement / refund. Thanks for the help so far.
Click to expand...
Did you see the report?
4/50 is not a good defect rate.
Make a fuss and threaten to take them to small claims court in your town. Tell everyone you can about it, HelloPeter, newspaper (SMS), radio station, forums ... just keep going until you get a result.
 
grantt said:
The cable is nonetheless packaged with the harddrive though and surely if it is defective the entire product (i.e. hdd + cable) should be replaced.
Click to expand...
Nope. USB cables are almost never warranted by suppliers. Don't forget if you buy something cheap, then don't expect great quality.

You should examine the USB ports on your PC - chances are one of them have blown or your PC can't supply enough power to them. Something has to be wrong on your side if it's now working on their's.
I had the same problem with a Vizo 2.5" enclosure not too long ago. Turns out that the USB cable had gone so I bought a new one.

grantt said:
Unsure as to what to do next in order to get a replacement / refund.
Click to expand...
The majority of shops will only give you a replacement or refund IF the item is faulty. Taking a shop to small claims over a non-faulty item is just silly.
 
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MazerZA said:
You should examine the USB ports on your PC - chances are one of them have blown or your PC can't supply enough power to them. Something has to be wrong on your side if it's now working on their's.
Click to expand...

No, I've tried it on every USB port on several machines. Other devices work on ports that this hdd does not work on.

It's not Take2 themselves who do the test, turns out they just send it to Verbatim, who then send them a report saying it is supposedly OK...
 
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grantt said:
No, I've tried it on every USB port on several machines. Other devices work on ports that this hdd does not work on.

It's not Take2 themselves who do the test, turns out they just send it to Verbatim, who then send them a report saying it is supposedly OK...
Click to expand...
But you didn't buy it from Verbatim, you bought it from Take2.

It is Take2 who has a sales contract with you and they are obliged to supply you with goods that are in working order.
 
It's not about "high powered" cables, it's simply getting more power to your HD.

USB ports don't always give sufficient power [especially with laptops] , and often the only way your HD is going to tell you this, is by making strange noises and not working properly :). So those split cable jobbies basically provides power from either 2 USB ports , or at least power from one port and the data-transfer on another port...but it's not always a solution if your PC isn't outputting enough power to begin with.

I've had this issue quite often, and which is why i have a multiport USB-hub that draws its power from the mains [and not from the PC/Laptop] . You can get them for like R300 or so, always worth a shot .

I guess it also depends on the kind of PSU you have, laptops are not known for their 1000W units ;)
 
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