Maxtor tech support no help on dead/dying drive. Now what?

[Yzzim]

I've got a Maxtor 20gig 7200rpm drive which is under warranty until October 2003. About 3-4 months ago the hard drive has been very, very slow at transfering data (under 1 MB/sec) and it has become unuseable as a storage drive or primary windows drive.

I downloaded PowerMax from Maxtor and I ran the Quick Test. Supposedly it's a 90 second test....it lasted 2.5 hours. :frown:

I call Maxtor up and they tell me to run the Burn-In test, and that test will give out an error code I need to RMA the drive. I let the Burn-In test run (just ONE pass!) and it takes 36 hours for the test to complete. End result? PASSED :frown:

I call up Maxtor and they tell me that there's nothing they can do without that Error code. They say I need that error code for them to allow an RMA.

What can I do? I haven't come up with anything better then throwing it down the stairs (joking )

I've switched cables numerous times and switched computers twice. Same thing each time. It's definitely a hard drive problem.

 

[Anubis]

i eas gonna say smash it. but i dont think there is anything you can do

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: TheEvil1
i eas gonna say smash it. but i dont think there is anything you can do

uhh...no, i'd really like to get a working hard drive in trade for this pos.

smashing it will only fulfill my anger towards maxtor and leave me hdd-less

 

[NutBucket]

you could try switchin the +12 and +5 on the power in and fry the sucker. Then you could RMA saying it doesn't spin up. There would be no visible signs of you tampering with it.

 

[Wingznut]

Call them again, and ask to speak to a manager. Explain the situation to him in detail.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
you could try switchin the +12 and +5 on the power in and fry the sucker. Then you could RMA saying it doesn't spin up. There would be no visible signs of you tampering with it.

 

[gentobu]

Call them back until you get a competent tech. From what you described it is clear that your HDD has a problem, they should'nt need an "error code" to figure that out.

 

[calpha]

email the dawg at maximum pc and see if they'll help you

 

[Linux23]

demand to speak with a manager. obviously these morons can't tell that your drive is not operating within specs.

 

[Yzzim]

I understand why the tech support gurus at Maxtor would want the error code. I can just imagine the problems they get called up with, so that error code would help to greatly explain WTF is wrong with my drive.

I'll ask to speak with a manager to see if he/she can make this right.

I'll keep this thread updated in case anyone cares.

 

[ElFenix]

why re-wire a power supply just to fry a drive? no, what you want is 3 seconds in the microwave.

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
why re-wire a power supply just to fry a drive? no, what you want is 3 seconds in the microwave.

no visible damage?

 

[KokomoGST]

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: ElFenix
why re-wire a power supply just to fry a drive? no, what you want is 3 seconds in the microwave.

no visible damage?

Hit it with a large rubber mallet? That's pretty similar to "ship it by UPS" or "put in airline luggage."

 

[PrincessGuard]

Using the online RMA form I never had to enter an error code.