My external HDD died - go figure

[Fenixgoon]

for 8-9 years i've never run a backup hdd, but now that i finally have one it craps out on me.

constant clicking of death. time to warranty that sucka. anything i need to do as far as zeroing out all the bits? i can't get windows to recognize the drive anymore (freezer method maybe?), but i want to protect (destroy) the data i have backed up.

 

[Sephire]

Magnet

 

[Lifted]

for 8-9 years i've never run a backup hdd, but now that i finally have one it craps out on me.

constant clicking of death. time to warranty that sucka. anything i need to do as far as zeroing out all the bits? i can't get windows to recognize the drive anymore (freezer method maybe?), but i want to protect (destroy) the data i have backed up.

I honestly wouldn't worry about it unless you have extremely sensitive data on it, such as nude photos of yourself or wife/girlfriend, or passwords to banks, etc. It's not worth their time to try repairing drives just to poke around in them. If you do have anything sensitive on it, time for the shredder.

 

[Lifted]

Magnet

That won't work on modern drives (last 10 - 15 years at least). He'd need access to a degausser, and the type required for modern drives are very expensive to buy, expensive to rent, and there is no guarantee that it worked, especially since he can't test it. Shredding is the only way to be sure.

 

[Fenixgoon]

That won't work on modern drives (last 10 - 15 years at least). He'd need access to a degausser, and the type required for modern drives are very expensive to buy, expensive to rent, and there is no guarantee that it worked, especially since he can't test it. Shredding is the only way to be sure.

we have a de-magnetizer at work for tools and other work pieces. think that's worth a shot?

 

[Lifted]

we have a de-magnetizer at work for tools and other work pieces. think that's worth a shot?

If you're dead set on sending it back then yeah, give it a shot. But if there is anything sensitive on it, I'd suck it up and spend $50 on a new one since you have no way of checking to see if it worked.

 

[Spikesoldier]

give it to the neighborhood drug junkie or wyno. he'll take it to the scrapyard and assure its destruction for his fix in record time.

 

[corkyg]

If you have access to a cutting torch, use it and end up with two parts - both unreadable. Or, take the drive apart and remove the magnetic media. It is pretty fragile.

 

[taltamir]

time to warranty that sucka.

anything i need to do as far as zeroing out all the bits?

Degausser. Any another method of destroying the data (which works) will also void your warranty. (ex: cutting torch)

extremely sensitive data on it, such as nude photos of yourself or wife/girlfriend, or passwords to banks, etc

Even if you have those, the lengths to which a potential crook will have to go to recover the data is absurd enough for it not to really be an issue. I recommend you just send it as is unless you have national defense secrets on it. (which if you did whatever government agency you work for would have shredded it already)

 

[tweakboy]

Magnet

Took the words right out of my mouth.

So wait how long did the drive survive for. How many thousand hours ?

What brand drive was it.


Maxtor and Seagate both are horrible after hopping in bed with each other.

Seagate used to be good until maxtor and seagate joined forces. The maxtor and seagate drives are made in korea and will always die on you.

Go with WDC or Samsung,,, and you should be fine.. gl

 

[taltamir]

Magnet

Took the words right out of my mouth.

Yet you are both wrong.
See below:

Magnet

That won't work on modern drives (last 10 - 15 years at least). He'd need access to a degausser, and the type required for modern drives are very expensive to buy, expensive to rent, and there is no guarantee that it worked, especially since he can't test it. Shredding is the only way to be sure.

 

[bryanl]

A magnet, including a bulk eraser, is not a reliable way to destroy the data, but it may damage the HDD in a way the manufacturer can detect and perhaps cause them to deem intentional abuse as the cause of failure and void the warranty.

In the future use an HDD encryption program, such as True Crypt, so there will be minimal security issues, including from burglary.

 

[stacey1981]

There are some good suggestions here:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13880_3-10204724-68.html

 

[Blain]

for 8-9 years i've never run a backup hdd, but now that i finally have one it craps out on me.

constant clicking of death. time to warranty that sucka. anything i need to do as far as zeroing out all the bits? i can't get windows to recognize the drive anymore (freezer method maybe?), but i want to protect (destroy) the data i have backed up.

* Is a RMA what you're referring to as "warranty that sucka"?
* "Windows" isn't the only game in town for accessing or zeroing data on a drive.

 

[taltamir]

* Is a RMA what you're referring to as "warranty that sucka"?

RMA = Returns Merchandise Authorization. This is the authorization you must get before shipping the product back. Warranty is in fact a more accurate description. Although the best term would be "get it replaced under warranty" rather then just "warranty" (which means providing a warranty not using a warranty). getting something replaced under warranty requires an RMA but it doesn't make RMA a superior term to use.

* "Windows" isn't the only game in town for accessing or zeroing data on a drive.

The drive has the click of death, I seriously doubt other tools will notice it. But he can always try dban if he is going for longshots.

 

[Blain]

I understand what a RMA is, I was trying to gain a little clarity on the "warranty that sucka" statement.
Since some of the suggestions involved destruction of the drive itself (which would also void any warranty).

 

[Voo]

Yet you are both wrong.

Well, tweakboy said it, so everyone already knew that it had nothing to do with reality (don't worry he'll disagree with himself in the next post anyhow)

b2t: Worrying about someone at the manufacturer repairing the drive just so that they can read some most certainly uninteresting data (they can't know what's on it beforehand) seems a bit paranoid. They probably just destroy the drive if it doesn't work and send a replacement back - anything else just isn't sensibly from a cost point of view.

If the data is sensible enough that even the slight possibility is problematic, then it's certainly worth more than a handful dollars and anything other than destroying the drive is a bad idea..

 

[Old Hippie]

tweakboy said it, so everyone already knew that it had nothing to do with reality

LOL!!!

Worrying about someone at the manufacturer repairing the drive just so that they can read some most certainly uninteresting data (they can't know what's on it beforehand) seems a bit paranoid.

A BIT paranoid? LOL!

Honestly, some guys must have undisclosed data about "who killed Kennedy AND Jimmy Hoffa" on their HDs when in actuality the RMA guys don't know or care who had the drive or what's on it. It's just another crappy failed drive they have to deal with.

Some just seem to go goofy/overboard about ID theft from their HDs when in actuality most breaches come thru hacking data bases and when you physically use a debit/credit card.