Storage Solutions What Do I Do Of My Brand New 1TB WD Hdd With Bad Sectors ?

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Techie#1

Techie#1

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It's NOT even a week, that i purchased a New HDD "WD Caviar Green 32MB 1 TB SATA Hard Drives ( WD10EADS )" from our MH.In the while since i have been busy on other things & for it's a BIG hdd(1 TB), i could Not gather enough time to make any extensive thorough scan of the said HDD.But lo, when yesterday,i did that at last, i was surprised when the test came out negative with scans of BAD Sectors detection.

The scan results r given as below:
Event Type: Information
Event Source: Chkdsk
Event Category: None
Event ID: 26180
Date: 02/06/2009
Time: 05:59:03
User: N/A
Computer: KB-PC
Description:
Checking file system on \\?\Volume{ed8f1114-4ee3-11de-bf0f-0015f266ab65}
The type of the file system is NTFS.
CHKDSK is verifying file data (stage 4 of 5)...
File data verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying free space (stage 5 of 5)...
Free space verification is complete.
Adding 1 bad clusters to the Bad Clusters File.
Correcting errors in the Volume Bitmap.
Windows has made corrections to the file system.

976760000 KB total disk space.
20 KB in 2 files.
4 KB in 9 indexes.
4 KB in bad sectors.
95784 KB in use by the system.
65536 KB occupied by the log file.
976664188 KB available on disk.

4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
244190000 total allocation units on disk.
244166047 allocation units available on disk.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at Events and Errors Message Center: Basic Search.
Data:
0000: 20 00 00 00 16 00 00 00 .......
0008: 14 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0010: 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0018: 05 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0028: 5a 62 02 00 00 00 00 00 Zb......
0030: 0e 27 07 00 00 00 00 00 .'......
0038: 5a 62 02 00 00 00 00 00 Zb......
0040: 6c 89 77 4f 20 00 00 00 l?wO ...
0048: e0 5c 92 51 20 00 00 00 à\?Q ...
Click to expand...



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Now, i'm in a fix,what to do? .. since it's an Absolutely Brand New HDD gone Bad/developed Bad Sectors! & i in no case want to do a RMA as a priority & get a refubrished HDD as replacement from WD....so asking u pals & the knowledgeable here, what would be the BEST course/action that I should follow::huh:


1) Return to mediahome the HDD for replacement with another same New HDD( dunno if he can do that)

2) Send to WD for RMA for replacement with a similar but refurbished HDD :( :no:

3) Repair the HDD with the Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostics Software & be ignorably Happy:down:

Now,this is all PRE-Repair State for this WD HDD, neither have i used this HDD(completely Blank HDD),nor have i loaded any OS on it...so it's otherwise in a pristine state apparently....So help me Guys,i am totally down & pissed off right at this moment at the spate of BAd luck. i'm facing..more so, as i need extra storage space most urgently!

So Pals,Gurus & experts, plz put in ur GOOD advices & help me making a solution to the problem.
*5If i try to repair the HDD with the aforesaid WD Lifegaurd tool, so i do this with the Window based program or the dos based program,as WD itself claims the DOS version of DLGDIAG, provides a better repair function. so which version (if at all i do that on this new disk) ???

** If i finally (with No options Left) , have to send it for RMA to WD, what r the chances of them replacing my NEW BAd sectored HDD with another Brand New One of Similar Model & make???....& in the last case scenerio,if WDGuys do send me just a refurbished HDD of similar model & make,back to me... what r the chances of Trusting those refurbished HDD?..as for me,data security is of the out most priority & i have LOTS od datas to BAckup...

***Another thing,can HDD survive Surface shipment of Long distance? ...actually this aforesaid HDD was actually delivered to me by Surface shipment by the DTDC guys,even though Mediahome apparently booked it by Air (hence we see MH being equally pissed with the DTDC pplz as well..in another thread)..& so the BS mayb rooted to that reasons aslo..my guesstimate)

Now,but whatever, PlZ PLZ HElLP me here with the Most prudent & Best advices u have ASAP...I am Honestly looking forward to that!!!:help: :please:
 
3) Repair the HDD with the Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostics Software & be ignorably Happy

Use the dosmode software, that is definately better, although slower.

At the same time keep a close watch on the bad sectors, if they start to increase RMA the sucker, even if u dont get a new one in return, you will still be able to RMA it ahead if it gets any problems.

As for transport - no issues in any way anyhow as long as it is OFF.

RMA will almost always be with a new piece, as it is not possible to repair a bad platter without opening up the unit, and it is cheaper to scrap and provide a fresh piece.

If your data is really valuable use RAID 1, so u have a parallel copy always.
 
^^ THANKS so much Axeman,u have been of much Real Help,of late!

Repairing the HDD is sure Sweet & Quick, but what if Reliability of Data is a priority & i dont want to take any further chances of data loss in future!

See, formatting,partitioning & installing OS is a PIA job,i dont want to do everyday, so wouldn't it be better,if replacement was seeked when nothing is done on the HDD altogether!..that's logical i think!

As u say,"RMA will almost always be with a new piece, as it is not possible to repair a bad platter without opening up the unit, and it is cheaper to scrap and provide a fresh piece"..can u be 101% sure when u say that...'coz once RMA'd, i will have NOTHING under control for my selection of my HDD,all of whims& fancies of the WD RMA dept!..so seriously thinking that!

i would rather like to ask any1,what would have been the most natural course of action taken,had they faced such similar conditions....remain "ignorably haapy" with a quick fix as i said, or immediately seek a replacement, for any HDD,which is New & yet to undergo any usage!

* Honestly, i personally don't have money enough for Raid arrays..myBad!!!

** Would like more replies, this is an impending issue now.
 
When I RMA'ed my WD10EACS drive last month, I was sent a brand new WD10EADS by WD. It was not a refurbished unit.
 
There is nothing much to share. I created a RMA on WD site on the 26th April for my WD10EACS drive. Since we are not covered under their pickup service, I sent the drive myself which they received on the 2nd May. I waited for 10 days while the website was showing "Drive Received". Since I had an experience of WD delaying my earlier RMA, I shot a mail to them on the 12th inquiring about my replacement. In that mail, I mentioned that I am aware of a standard reply that WD gives about drives not being in stock. I also mentioned that this is unacceptable since the drive model in question is one of the latest and should be a fast moving item. The next day, the status on the WD website was changed to "Delayed". I gave up but it seems that my mail made a difference and on the 17th May, I received a new WD10EADS from WD.
 
So, summary WD RMA service is NOT Good at all!

canu also tell, what happened to ur HDD that u had to get it RMA'd & for how long did u use that previous EACS HDD.want to know also if u use this New replaced HDD as a system drive or a backup drive?
 
I had got this hdd from Amarbir. I was using it as my primary drive in my Windows Home Server. The temps were close to 45 degrees constantly. It ran 24/7. Then after 10-15 days, I could not boot the drive and it showed SMART failure. My data was at risk so I took the drive out and tried it on my Vista box. I could retrieve everything. Nothing was lost. Upon running some diagnostic tool, the message came up that the SMART is reporting that the drive is about to fail. I then got a new WD10EADS and sent this one for RMA. Then the above incident followed.

I ultimately ended up with 2TB of storage on my WHS box. Now I will soon be adding another 1TB to my storage pool. Hi Def content is addictive and a very expensive hobby :tongue:
 
RAID 1/ 0 are not very expensive today. Your motherboard would almost always support these, all you need are two identical hdd's.

As for HDD repair, my quote for a HDD repair recently was 1.6L, so it is VERY expensive and is not done unless the data is of much more value than that.

This was for a fujitsu 80gb 5400 rpm laptop hdd that had crashed (& crushed) a bit.

Hence cos. replace with fresh units than going through the hassle of repair.
 
axeman said:
RAID 1/ 0 are not very expensive today. Your motherboard would almost always support these, all you need are two identical hdd's.

As for HDD repair, my quote for a HDD repair recently was 1.6L, so it is VERY expensive and is not done unless the data is of much more value than that.

This was for a fujitsu 80gb 5400 rpm laptop hdd that had crashed (& crushed) a bit.

Hence cos. replace with fresh units than going through the hassle of repair.
Click to expand...

If you r so sure, that RMA'd HDD r nowdays straightway REPLACED & NOT repaired, then i will surely go the software repair myself for now & leave the hassles for RMA in future,if it requires. Who wuld anyday like to go through RMA wait & hassles,if that was NOT needed & a quick fix(HDD B-S s/w repair) was at hand,my only contention being how much GOOD that quick fix would be & how durable?
z0tdntknw.gif


Now as it is, the HDD,apart from a few Bad sectors,is in a pristine state,yet to make a complex thing like dual-triple bootable with different bit OS etc ,numerous third party apps,& the tons & loads of Personal Data!..so asking & seeking the fitness of the HDD becomes the numero uno priority b4 filling up the HDD & doing all this PIA job in a dubious state of mind!Moreover if there r Bad sectors detected(though a few) b4 all this,wouldn't it better to seek for a brand new replacement at the foremost!Hope u get my point & logic.

However,if the co really sends in fresh New pieces of HDD as replacement in the RMA,i can try the software repair for fixing for now &wait to see,how my HDD goes in future(develops more BAd sectors or not) & if happens for the worse, then can possibly send it for RMA,hopeful for a new HDD from the WD co!

Is this the final conclusion,I ought to draw for now regarding this Drive fitness-Replacement issue ?
signquestion3xd.gif


*btw, how do you know,the co's send u a Fresh New Piece of HDD of same model & make in the RMA( & NOT a repaired one)?...by the power on time or what or is there any special app for detecting that????

Plz send in correct & the best replies guys,as i would be honestly depending on them much!:)

P.S-I'm also lead to think similarly that since All HDD r replaced & NOT repaired & sent(i.e Not refurbished HDD's) under RMA,then sending back the aforesaid HDD to the seller(here MH) is also NOT the logical thing to do.what say..?
 
^^ coz,i'm NOT sure what surprises does the RMA corps up with..here atleast i have a BRAND New HDD at hand...if someone could have better assured me of my crucial doubts on the RMA issue & having a Fresh Brand new disc through it,the question wouldn't have left me in such double minds!

Yes, peace of Mind for securing any data loss & the value for my money spent, is where everything is rooted!
 
Nobody sems to answer one Big question " how do you know,the co's send u a Fresh New Piece of HDD of same model & make in the RMA( & NOT a repaired one)???? ...by the power on time or what or is there any special app for detecting that???? ".it would help me & others alike in the RMA process!
Thanks.
 
On a refurbished drive, repaired or refurbished is mentioned I suppose. I did see someone put up a RMAed seagate drive for sale recently on TE and it had the word repaired mentioned on it.
 
Thanks for that..never RMAed, so getting every kinds of thought here,more so for a Brand New HDD..just my bad luck i suppose!
..just got to knew, if damages r on the platter they never repair & replaced, else if damages r on the logic card, they r mostly repaired!..any idea on that?

&..sumit,did they i.e WD make any spefication of the method of shipment & of the packaging for the RMA?
 
Hi ,
Each HDD Internal Microchip Operating system Has a Area Called G List mThis Area is Meant to Store all Growing Defect Lists Like Bad Sectors .Please USe the WDC Software For Testing And Repair And Add The Bad Sectors To The G List ,This Way You Will Have a Perfect HDD .I Might Not Check This Thread again So PM Me If You Reguire More Assistance .
 
They give you new hard drives,not refurbished ones.
I've had 2 of mine RMA'd.

They repair the hard drive if its out of production n they don't have any stock.which are mentioned as refurbs on the invoice sheet itself.
Thats not the case with you.its a new model.
So go ahead,send it to wd.
 
THANK Friends, Amarbir & u all other peoples@TE have been of Real good Help to me in shaping my decision ..though yet inconclusive..when somebody says - "Go for the RMA" & some other says,remain Happy with software repair only..it's hard to draw a final conclusion.....so making an ultimate query,are there any WD official/staff out here@TE who can clarify the matters over RMA,once & for all!

....@the back of my mind,i would however like to make the RMA,if they replace with a BRAND new HDD, as many usrs feedback claims that!..dunno for sure..what's in store for me?
 
At last contacted the WD RMA dept & ordered for the RMA..though the WD guy i spoke of just now, assured me of a Brand New HDD as replacement & so i generated the RMA code. He told me the courier guy would be coming within the next 48-72 hrs for picking up the defective disc

though he assured me a fresh new drive & not a repaired/refurbished one, but who knows what i end up with???
icon_rolleyes.gif


*Now everything upon Luck!!!

Anyway, that's the story for now!

would update,when i have any more info to share!

(though they said,new hdd will be disatched & dlivered 2 me within 7-10 days of receipt of the same, i honestly expect that might take even more)

Thanks for bearing with me & also helping me make a decision!:)

Keeping fingers crossed till then!:cool2:
 
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