Storage Solutions Steps to make sure a new Hard Disk is error free?

[varkey]

I have bought about 3 hard disks in last two years and all three of them devloped errors / failed within few weeks after purchase and had to be RMA'd. I usually just do a quick format and start using the drive. Now my latest WD 1.5TB drive started to develop errors and responding slowly within one month of purchase So I think the drives I got were defective from the beginning.

So what do you guys do first when you buy a new hard disk? What all steps should I take so that I can be make sure that the hard disk doesn't have any errors before I start using it.

A full format / surface scan? How long will a full surface scan take for a 1.5TB Hard Disk?

Please post your views.

 

[thetechmind]

If I were to buy new HDD this is what I usually end up doing...

At the end of the day, it also depends a lot on luck!

This is what I normally do -

- Read Reviews regarding the hdd before buying. User reviews, comments, firmware updates, issues etc.
- I don't buy new hdd's that have just released in the market. (New revision, New Series)
- The HDD for the first time always undergoes a FULL Format. New HDD's don't allow a quick format, so I wonder how you said you do a quick format and start using them. To the best of my knowledge only portable hdd's are ready to go and internal disks arent. Now since u have mentioned WD, i've never bought one, so I dont know if they come pre-formatted/partitioned :s
- No old data gets 'migrated'/'moved' from old/other hdd on the hdd for atleast a weeks time.
- HDTune full scan and HDTach helps know the HDD health status and monitor the same at regular intervals.

 

[varkey]

^ Thanks for the info.

The hard disk doesn't come pre partitioned or formatted. But I usually just create one single partition and just do a quick format in Windows. Never got any warnings or messages.

So next time I will definitely do a full format and also a full scan.

Btw how much time does it take for a full format and full surface scan, say for a 1.5TB drive?

 

[saumilsingh]

The quick format is what you are doing wrong.
It's highly recommended to always perform a full format on new drives. A full format includes a surface scan.

Quick format is only for previously used drives which you know are free from errors.

 

[6pack]

what i do when getting a new drive is keep the data on it backed up as often as possible. With drives failing so fast now, best not to take chances.

btw, full format will take more than 5 hours.

 

[thetechmind]

The quick format is what you are doing wrong.

It's highly recommended to always perform a full format on new drives. A full format includes a surface scan.

Quick format is only for previously used drives which you know are free from errors.

and i actually went google'ing if my pills were acting up on me and i should have been to bed way earlier; when i read varkey's reply that new hdd's can undergo a quick format :S wondering if what i said was wrong

@ varkey : backup the data on ur existing hdd which is showing signs of issues and do a full format on it, maybe that should fix it for good.

 

[varkey]

^ Thanks for the replies guys. No more quick formats for me!!

thetechmind : I was saying that even though the hdd is new, it still allows me to do a quick format.

Anyway not taking any chances, will just RMA the hard disk after taking a backup