Blazing Hot!! 120G Dell Hard disk, 142 shipped!(seems like WD120JB)

[jaeger66]

DOS will not read NTFS.
FAT32 is only faster, and not by much, on drives smaller than 32GB. You should not use FAT32 on drives larger than 32GB.
NTFS should always use 4K clusters.

In short, the ONLY reason to use FAT32 is if you need to dual-boot to an OS that can't read NTFS.

 

[kaiotes]

i got only a gig left on hd, shoulda jumped in on one of these deals
ne one wanna sell it?~~

 

[Devistater]

<< DOS will not read NTFS.
FAT32 is only faster, and not by much, on drives smaller than 32GB. You should not use FAT32 on drives larger than 32GB.
NTFS should always use 4K clusters.

In short, the ONLY reason to use FAT32 is if you need to dual-boot to an OS that can't read NTFS. >>



FAT32 can be used with much much larger sizes than 32 gig. I use fat32 on my 80 gig partitions and 100 gig partitions. With FAT32, cluster sizes remain basically constant so it doesn't matter the size of the partition.

NTFS has a number of advantages, especially in server situations since you can do per file permissions and stuff, but for me personally and my personal computer and given how much windows screws up on me, I need the possibility for DOS to access my harddrives when all else fails.

Anyway, I triple boot, win98se, winxp, mandrake linux, so yes, I do need fat32

 

[Lark888]

From Maxtor's guide for their 120GB drive:

Applies to Window 98SE (& probably Win95 OSR2)

File System: FAT32

FAT32 operates properly with partition up to 160GB

FDISK, FORMAT:
Two known bugs - see my earlier post for Microsoft's updated FDISK/FORMAT files

Defrag and ScanDisk:
Limited to partition <127 GB

Bottom Line - FAT32 will work with these drives. It is also important that your BIOS support the large drives or use WD's LifeGuard BIOS tools. Another recommended alternative is a PCI ATA Controller Card (like the ones many got for free - AR, of course) that will have later BIOS support.

 

[jaeger66]

I didn't say you couldn't use FAT32 on large drives, I said you shouldn't. After 32GB the FAT becomes so bloated that all aspects of performance are negatively impacted. Plus the 32K clusters can be very wasteful, although this depends entirely on what you're storing.

 

[cherrytwist]

I think my drive is DOA.

I formatted it originally FAT32 but decided to go NTFS instead. Tried to format it in w2k but it wouldn't finish the format (which I thought a bit strange).

Anyway, I ended up ghosting the drive (with the corporate version) and upon bootup it just started clicking and wouldn't boot up. After several restarts, sometimes it will spin up, sometimes it won't. I even tried it as a slave, but just clicked and now my mobo won't even recognize it .

Anybody have experience getting an RMA from Dell?

The only drive I ever had to RMA was a Maxtor, and it was totally painless.

 

[Cable God]

<< Dos can't read NTFS >>




THat's what Winternal's NTFS for DOS is for www.winternals.com

 

[Cable God]

Cherry Twist, your drives do sound dead, the famous WD CLick Of Death is what that clicking sound is.

 

[claffeyb]

Had a lot of hopefully self-inflicted problems with my Dell Western Digital 1200JB. I had another non-Dell WD 1200JB that I attached as a slave and installed as an NTFS drive without problem. But the Dell drive failed as a slave while preparing as NTFS with partition magic, so I tried it as a master and as CS. Knowing that these are sold for installing in Dell systems, I recalled that my Dell at work with it's IBM drive only worked if set as CS for some odd reason, so I thought maybe Dell had these working the same way. Then I tried installing WIN2k when it was attached as a slave and that bombed out during the process and hosed up my master Win2k install boot partition. After getting my master working again [lengthy idiotic non-Ghost reinstall], partition magic allowed me to get the Dell WD set up as an NTFS slave, but I haven't tried to get Win2k on it as a master again yet. I'm still recovering from how messed up everything got just trying to get the Dell drive working!

Anyway, at least I didn't have a DOA with click of death! Best of luck on RMA - shouldn't have a problem with that, especially if you ship to them using the same box and innards. I remember how particular IBM is on their packing, just looking for any excuse to blame the drive failure on your improper return packing. The way it worked with the IBM drive was that if it was less than 30 days they expect you would RMA with vendor, otherwise you'd RMA with them. Don't know how WD and Dell handle that. I would think you'd prefer RMA with Dell as you should get a new drive. If you RMA with mfr, usually you get a remanufactured unit.

 

[swimmersteve]

Dell is bad ass

 

[cherrytwist]

Just as a FYI in case somebody else needs to RMA the drive (or another Dell part for that matter):

Call customer service at 1-800-624-9897 and follow the menu to speak to a CSR. They'll ask for your customer or part number.

Make sure you tell the CSR that you need to exchange the drive and you need an RMA number. She asked me if I needed to speak to a support technician and I told her I was one (which I am...sorta ) and I was sure the drive was dead.

They gave me a confirmation number and said that a postage paid return sticker would be included with the drive. If you decide to return the drive for credit, you need to ship it to them via Airborne Express, FedEx, or UPS (a service that tracks the package) at your own expense.

Just thought I'd post this info in case somebody else gets a drive that's DOA.

 

[worms]

Don't mess with the jumpers claffeyb. All drives should always be left CS everytime always regardless. If you have an old MA/SL drive in the system, it needs to be on it's own cable because modern drives are incompatible with older drives, cables, and jumpers.

 

[pillage2001]

I think problems with formatting and drive going missing undetected in BIOS are solved when the jumper is put to CS. I had those problems when I was installing the drives and everything went off after I put it to CS. Give it a try guys. it's not dead yet. The drive is ULTRA quiet. I can't hear it spin. maybe because I have 6 fans.

 

[GregANDTCH]

Well, I got my drive in Monday.
Wish me luck!

 

[dyn0]

Hey guys.

I got my drive, and I ended up putting it on my promise controller (Asus A7V133), with an updated bios and it is reporting that the drive is 111 gigs. I thought it might just be reporting the error but when I get into windows and take a look at it after the format, it will be 120, but when I did, it still says 111 gigs. Anyway know why this might happen. Thanks..

 

[GoCalBears]

120 gb is the unformatted disk capacity. 111 gb sounds about right. I got 2 of these puppies and set them up as a raid0, and it is showing 223.5gb.

 

[TeMpT]

<< Hey guys.

I got my drive, and I ended up putting it on my promise controller (Asus A7V133), with an updated bios and it is reporting that the drive is 111 gigs. I thought it might just be reporting the error but when I get into windows and take a look at it after the format, it will be 120, but when I did, it still says 111 gigs. Anyway know why this might happen. Thanks.. >>



Going off on a slight tangent...I've posted this question elsewhere, but figure maybe there is strength in number here

I did the same thing as dyn0 and plugged one 1200JB on the onboard promise controller and one on the standard secondary ide and noticed a huge difference (Promise was faster writing by 1M/s but slower by 10M/s reading). Anyone else seeing this? I am wondering if XP is the cause of this....

 

[Salvador]

I thought that Cable Select was only for prebuilt boxes like Dell, Gateway, etc.. Shouldn't I be using Master/Slave configuration with the AMD system I built myself?

Also.. I have one of each of the JB drives. I have the 3 yr warrantee drive and the cheapie with the Dell warrantee. I did notice that on the label of the 3 yr warrantee drive, there is a little diagram showing that you leave the jumper off all together if have a Master without a Slave present (which is what I have set up with the drives on their own IDE channel).

My question here is that should I use the instructions on one drive for the other drive? They are the same drive, aren't they?

TIA,

Sal

 

[huesmann]

Got mine this morning.

 

[paulzebo]

My DELL 1200JB gave out in 47 days of use. I called DELL and several customer service agents told me this drive has only a 30 day warranty with them. THIRTY DAYS!!!! The advertised 1 year is only in a DELL system!!! No DELL system....No 1 year warranty.

"Paul, I would like to inform you that we can replace the hard

drive only within 30 days from the date of invoice. Since it

is outside 30 days, so we cannot replace the hard drive.Respectfully,



** Steve xxxxxxx **

** ~DTC41078 **

** Wednesday - Sunday 7:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. **

Dell eSupport and Services





:disgust:

In My Book... DELL SUCKS!!

 

[huesmann]

What's the advantage of having the 8MB buffer as opposed to the usual 2MB buffer? Would it be better to replace my existing boot drive and use this drive as the main boot/OS drive or just use this one as storage?

 

[GLudlow]

Regarding the 30-day thing...
You couldn't have the latest 120JB drives from Dell, since the deal hasn't been around for over 30 days yet! You probably bought a refurbished or OEM drive with a 30-day warrenty. Did you keep your receipt and product description from the website?

 

[grappa]

<< My DELL 1200JB gave out in 47 days of use. I called DELL and several customer service agents told me this drive has only a 30 day warranty with them. THIRTY DAYS!!!! The advertised 1 year is only in a DELL system!!! No DELL system....No 1 year warranty.

"Paul, I would like to inform you that we can replace the hard

drive only within 30 days from the date of invoice. Since it

is outside 30 days, so we cannot replace the hard drive.Respectfully,
>>



Even so, every credit card I've seen doubles warranties, usually to a minimum of a year, so contact your CC company and see what they say. Also, if you used AMEX Blue, they'll take the drive as a return and refund you even if Dell won't.

Also, regarding the NTFS vs FAT/32 debate, if you run a gaming system I recommend NOT installing games on an NTFS partition. A lot of games have problems running under NTFS.

G

 

[RideFree]

Salvadore,
RE: "...if have a Master without a Slave present..."

As you have them both on independent channels, (0 & 1, respectively) they are safe to use jumpered as C/S.
I think Cable Select harks back to the days when there would be a twist of a certain portion of the cable set on the slave.

I use the C/S on all configurations where there is not a slave present.

If Master and slave, they need to be jumpered as such.
(Although I can remember setting systems up using drives from different manufacturers that required settings other than those as recommended by the drive mfg.)

PS I'm pissed at these guys on eBay that claim these WD120JB drives from Dell carry the manufacturers warrantee or the three year...nothing could be further from the truth!

 

[jaeger66]

<<
Also, regarding the NTFS vs FAT/32 debate, if you run a gaming system I recommend NOT installing games on an NTFS partition. A lot of games have problems running under NTFS.

G >>


Absurd. The file system is completely transparent to the application.

Also, if the cable supports cable select(ones with the blue and gray connectors), use cable select. It doesn't matter who builds it.