Total 61 bad sectors. The Drive is still under warranty. It is a WD Caviar Blue. What happens to the data on this Drive during RMA ? . I have nothing to backup , i should buy a 50 DVD set and fill them up with this.
As I said back up all the important data [this does not encompass movies rips and *AHEM* software setup], then do a zero-fill operation if this solves you problem [proving that the bad sectors are LOGICAL in nature] then continue maintaining the status quo of the backup with respect to the data on the failing hard-drive till the hard drive crashes OR till you purchase a new hard-drive.
If the bad sectors persist after the zero-fill operation they are PHYSICAL bad sectors and are a direct indicator that the hard drive platter has undergone physical degradation. In this case immediately apply for an RMA, but be warned it can take upto ~4 weeks for a replacement drive to find its way to you.
Steps in Western Digital RMA --
1) register your product;
2) apply for the RMA, via requisite online procedure;
3) they will note down the issue and provide you with an appropriate RMA / service challaan;
4) In WD's case a person will come to you and collect the hard-drive from you, in Seagate's case the user / owner is directed to the nearest affiliate service centre;
5) twiddle your thumbs and blow bubbles while the service centre guys poke around your devices ascertaining its death [that is why before you submit the drive for RMA please to a multi-pass over-write and fill the drive with junk data so that none of your personal memories / fetishes fall into someone else's lap];
6) twiddle your thums some more, go for a walk, read a book [in general kill time waiting for your replacement];
7) WD assigned courier will drop of the drive at your doorstep, Seagate will inform you that your replacement drive has arrived at the service centre and you go collect it.
8) Install OS and grouse that you lost all your '
maal'. OR install a new distro and start killing the drive again. Rinse. Repeat till whenever you need too.
Some important pointers for hard-drives whilst RMA-ing --
- your data is yours alone, you are responsible for it. So I reiterate format your drive multiple times before sending it to the service centre;
- the drive you get is mostly a refurbished piece and I think we have to register it to avail RMA on the replacement;
- thanks to the artificial inflation created by Seagate and Western Digital this procedure can take a long time and it is recommended that you buy a replacement just in case.
Hope this helps, Cheerio!!
