.....and another WD drive bites the big one!
- Thread starter Rich Gibson
- Start date
I've used WD drives for several years and never had any problems at all.
My current system uses a couple of Seagate 180Gb SATA drives (simply because I couldn't find any WD down here) in RAID 1 - so I'm not too bothered about a single drive failure.
Drives are now cheap enough that, unless you're really on a budget I'd build a RAID set every time.
My current system uses a couple of Seagate 180Gb SATA drives (simply because I couldn't find any WD down here) in RAID 1 - so I'm not too bothered about a single drive failure.
Drives are now cheap enough that, unless you're really on a budget I'd build a RAID set every time.
Dear Rich,
I have always used Maxtor - good price and have always worked for me - sorry to hear you and Maxtor don't mix......are you using an UPS to both filter your power and make sure you receive constant power?
Love your signature pic - your halloween outfit was better.........
I have always used Maxtor - good price and have always worked for me - sorry to hear you and Maxtor don't mix......are you using an UPS to both filter your power and make sure you receive constant power?
Love your signature pic - your halloween outfit was better.........
Thank you..I like the Dr. Evil costume. To whom do I have the pleasuire of commnicating with?....a first name mayhaps?
About UPSs..I'm sorry but I don''t agree. Most UPSs don't filter anything, other than a lightning strike...maybe.
The concensus is that heat destroys drives. In any case I avoid both the bottom of the line Maxtors (Compusa, Micro Center, Best buy...etc.) and ALL Western Digital drives. These drives are remanufactured from their return drives. I lost a WD 90 days after I bought it then the replacement failed 5 months after that. I scrutinized the label and found that the replacement had been remanufactured. Sheesh! That stinks.
You can tell they're cheap by the whining sound they make (reminds me of my A7E I used to fly...ruined my hearing...but that's another story).
Any way I've switched to these external 300gb stackable Seagates. They are like the Energizer Bunny.
Rich
About UPSs..I'm sorry but I don''t agree. Most UPSs don't filter anything, other than a lightning strike...maybe.
The concensus is that heat destroys drives. In any case I avoid both the bottom of the line Maxtors (Compusa, Micro Center, Best buy...etc.) and ALL Western Digital drives. These drives are remanufactured from their return drives. I lost a WD 90 days after I bought it then the replacement failed 5 months after that. I scrutinized the label and found that the replacement had been remanufactured. Sheesh! That stinks.
You can tell they're cheap by the whining sound they make (reminds me of my A7E I used to fly...ruined my hearing...but that's another story).
Any way I've switched to these external 300gb stackable Seagates. They are like the Energizer Bunny.
Rich
Ups
Hello,
I use a APC Backups-Pro UPS unit. Vienna is known for having 'dirty' electricity. I can be using my PC and hear the UPS 'kick-on' - my understanding is if the 110V fluctuates, the unit will bring the power back to 110V 60Hz. Not sure if this is your problem - never heard of anyone having that much problem with HDs.
Good luck with your next HD - Mark
Hello,
I use a APC Backups-Pro UPS unit. Vienna is known for having 'dirty' electricity. I can be using my PC and hear the UPS 'kick-on' - my understanding is if the 110V fluctuates, the unit will bring the power back to 110V 60Hz. Not sure if this is your problem - never heard of anyone having that much problem with HDs.
Good luck with your next HD - Mark
Battery UPS
One more thing - the UPS has a battery to take up the slack if the power drops below spec.
One more thing - the UPS has a battery to take up the slack if the power drops below spec.
Rich,
Here is some techno info on what the UPS unit helps resolve:
Sags:
Also known as brownouts, sags are short term decreases in voltage levels. This is the most common power problem, accounting for 87% of all power disturbances according to a study by Bell Labs.
CAUSE -
Sags are usually caused by the start-up power demands of many electrical devices (including motors, compressors, elevators, shop tools, etc.) Electric companies use sags to cope with extraordinary power demands. In a procedure known as rolling brownouts, the utility will systematically lower voltage levels in certain areas for hours or days at a time. Hot Summer days, when air conditioning requirements are at their peak, will often prompt rolling brownouts.
EFFECT -
A sag can starve a computer of the power it needs to function, and cause frozen keyboards and unexpected system crashes which both result in lost or corrupted data. Sags also reduce the efficiency and life span of electrical equipment, particularly motors.
Blackout:
Total loss of utility power.
CAUSE -
Blackouts are caused by excessive demand on the power grid, lightning storms, ice on power lines, car accidents, backhoes, earthquakes and other catastrophies.
EFFECT -
Current work in RAM or cache is lost. The hard drive File Allocation Table (FAT) may also be lost, which results in total loss of data stored on drive.
Spike:
Also referred to as an impulse, a spike is an instantaneous, dramatic increase in voltage. Akin to the force of a tidal wave, a spike can enter electronic equipment through AC, network, serial or phone lines and damage or completely destroy components.
CAUSE -
Spikes are typically caused by a nearby lightning strike. Spikes can also occur when utility power comes back on line after having been knocked out in a storm or as the result of a car accident.
EFFECT -
Catastrophic damage to hardware occurs. Data will be lost.
Surge:
A short term increase in voltage, typically lasting at least 1/120 of a second.
CAUSE -
Surges result from presence of high-powered electrical motors, such as air conditioners, and household appliances in the vicinity. When this equipment is switched off, the extra voltage is dissipated through the power line.
EFFECT -
Computers and similar sensitive electronic devices are designed to receive power within a certain voltage range. Anything outside of expected peak and RMS (considered the average voltage) levels will stress delicate components and cause premature failure.
Noise:
More technically referred to as Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) and Radio Frequency Interference (RFI), electrical noise disrupts the smooth sine wave one expects from utility power.
CAUSE -
Electrical noise is caused by many factors and phenomena, including lightning, load switching, generators, radio transmitters and industrial equipment. It may be intermittent or chronic.
EFFECT -
Noise introduces glitches and errors into executable programs and data files.
Here is some techno info on what the UPS unit helps resolve:
Sags:
Also known as brownouts, sags are short term decreases in voltage levels. This is the most common power problem, accounting for 87% of all power disturbances according to a study by Bell Labs.
CAUSE -
Sags are usually caused by the start-up power demands of many electrical devices (including motors, compressors, elevators, shop tools, etc.) Electric companies use sags to cope with extraordinary power demands. In a procedure known as rolling brownouts, the utility will systematically lower voltage levels in certain areas for hours or days at a time. Hot Summer days, when air conditioning requirements are at their peak, will often prompt rolling brownouts.
EFFECT -
A sag can starve a computer of the power it needs to function, and cause frozen keyboards and unexpected system crashes which both result in lost or corrupted data. Sags also reduce the efficiency and life span of electrical equipment, particularly motors.
Blackout:
Total loss of utility power.
CAUSE -
Blackouts are caused by excessive demand on the power grid, lightning storms, ice on power lines, car accidents, backhoes, earthquakes and other catastrophies.
EFFECT -
Current work in RAM or cache is lost. The hard drive File Allocation Table (FAT) may also be lost, which results in total loss of data stored on drive.
Spike:
Also referred to as an impulse, a spike is an instantaneous, dramatic increase in voltage. Akin to the force of a tidal wave, a spike can enter electronic equipment through AC, network, serial or phone lines and damage or completely destroy components.
CAUSE -
Spikes are typically caused by a nearby lightning strike. Spikes can also occur when utility power comes back on line after having been knocked out in a storm or as the result of a car accident.
EFFECT -
Catastrophic damage to hardware occurs. Data will be lost.
Surge:
A short term increase in voltage, typically lasting at least 1/120 of a second.
CAUSE -
Surges result from presence of high-powered electrical motors, such as air conditioners, and household appliances in the vicinity. When this equipment is switched off, the extra voltage is dissipated through the power line.
EFFECT -
Computers and similar sensitive electronic devices are designed to receive power within a certain voltage range. Anything outside of expected peak and RMS (considered the average voltage) levels will stress delicate components and cause premature failure.
Noise:
More technically referred to as Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) and Radio Frequency Interference (RFI), electrical noise disrupts the smooth sine wave one expects from utility power.
CAUSE -
Electrical noise is caused by many factors and phenomena, including lightning, load switching, generators, radio transmitters and industrial equipment. It may be intermittent or chronic.
EFFECT -
Noise introduces glitches and errors into executable programs and data files.
Rich Gibson said:
The local radio computer guru says that 'big drives' suck! Go small and be happy!
JohnG
I have a LaCie 160gb for my back up. Anybody know much about these?
Jon H said:
La Cie has a very good reputation.
At the moment I also use an external WD 200Gb, which has not failed me so far, although it sounds quite ominous at times and gets rather hot. In addition, W-explorer sometimes fails to find it.
If I should upgrade to a new computer in the near future and I have enough money for a high capacity redundant system I would probably try to get something like that:
http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10662
Cheers
Lacie doesn't make much of anything themselves, I don't think. I'm pretty sure their HD's are just rebranded from another manufacturer so your best bet would be to find out who.
S
shootman
Guest
I have an external Seagate I use for back up with Retrospective, all good so far.
Links on this page may be to our affiliates. Sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.Nikon Cafe is a fan site and not associated with Nikon Corporation.Forum post reactions by Twemoji: https://github.com/twitter/twemojiForum GIFs powered by GIPHY: https://giphy.com/