Can a HD pass the "Factory Recert" and still be bad?

[MichaelD]

My 14-month old Maxtor DM+7200RPM 45GB drive has been acting up lately. It makes "pinging" noises when you access the drive. It also clicks clacks. Not constantly, but only when you access it, or when the PC is first booted up.

I ran the Maxblast! utility from the floppy that comes with the drive (it's a bootable floppy) and ran the "factory recertification test". It takes about 30 minutes to complete. I guess it goes thru it sector by sector. It passed. No errors. I also ran Scan disk from inside W2K. It passed, no errors.

A few days ago, the drive "froze" I couldn't see it...neither did the bios. Two reboots and it was "back." Should I RMA this thing?


EDIT
OMG, I'm in the process of rerunning the recert test, and it did it again! This time, it made a sound like a screw rattling around in a tin can. Did that four or five times, then it stopped. Test still running, though. RMA time. DRAT! :|

 

[Gunbuster]

You can tell the CSR the drive kicked your dog, maxtor has a no haggle RMA policy

 

[Bozo Galora]

time for a barracuda IV 40GIG (less platters/less heat)

 

[MichaelD]

Heheh, thanks for the replies. Right now, I have my RMA form onscreen (I'm on my second PC) ready to print...I haven't yet b/c this PC prints thru my main rig, which is currently having the OS installed as we speak . I don't know why this HD died/is dying.

I've babied it (not drop-kicked it, kept it cool, etc) and it's only a year and change old. Maybe it's b/c it's a 45GB drive and has a weird number of platters or some crap like that?

Have you guys seen what Maxtor calls "Maxtor-approved shipping standards?" They basically want you to package your RMA'd drive in it's original styrofoam/box. I threw that stuff out long ago. I have a box. And an antistatic bag and lots of peanuts. Will they really send it back to me "warranty voided" like they threaten to on their website? Maybe I should call them first? ADvice?

 

[Gunbuster]

Call the 800 number and do the advance exchange option (they ship the replacement, you get it and then send the dud back in the box)

You do have a credit card dont you?

 

[MichaelD]

<< Call the 800 number and do the advance exchange option (they ship the replacement, you get it and then send the dud back in the box)

You do have a credit card dont you? >>



Yeah, I 've got a CC. But this is just a backup drive...not my main HD. I have two Maxtor 40 GBs that I use as my main drive (RAID 0 stripe) which I can't get started under W2K...but that's another thread. THanks.

 

[EdipisReks]

i couldn't imagine that they would void the warranty because of how the drive was shipped to them, but i would call them just to be sure.

bozo galora, a friend of mine just bought 3 80 gig cudas, and while they are quiet and cool they are noticeably slower than the 7200 rpm maxtors in hard drive intensive activity. i would rather have the speed and just ventilate my case a little more in the hard drive cage.

--jacob

 

[4824guy]

I have recieved a RMA replacement maxtor that benchmarked alittle low when I tested it with HD Tack. I didn't like that so I called Maxtor up and told them the think was making clicking sounds occasionaly. They send me a out another replacement HD that worked great.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks guys. The fact of the matter is that this HD operates intermittently (sp?). It locks up...can't access it; and when it decides to unlock itself, it does so w/a resounding "pop-ping-clack!" if that makes any sense.

Maxtor will be getting this badboy back.