New Hard Drive Question

[j24u]

I just installed a new Maxtor 20Gb 7200 RPM Hard Drive in a system I am building for a 3rd party.

I usually load all software, test and run a benchmark and then defrag as a final step before sending the system out the door.

While running the defrag, I noticed some bad sectors so, I'm currently running a thorough surface scan using Norton System Works.

My question is: Since this is a new drive (from Office Depot), should there be any bad sectors on it ? Is it a sign of things to come ?

Should I contact Maxtor and RMA it ? One more thing - there was a mail in rebate that required the otiginal UPC code from the box - how does this affect an RMA return ?

Thanks for any help ?

 

[Horsepower]

UPC should not be a problem, Maxtor goes by the info on the drive label.

 

[j24u]

Thanks, Horsepower. What I really wanna know is acceptable for a new drive to have any bad sectors ?

Or, is it something like an LCD monitor where a bad pixel or two is OK and can be expected ?

 

[Mavrick007]

Bad sectors can happen even on new hard drives. This is NOT a good thing. Bad things will surely happen to the drive in the future if not now. Best thing is to get a new drive now before it gets worse. It could have been a bump or anything that caused it, but since it's still new I would RMA it and replace with a new one. Maxtor might even cross ship you a drive with a credit card number so that you can get back on task.

 

[j24u]

Thanks Maverick007 - I kinda thought that's what I should be doing. However, my Norton SystemWorks thorough scan produced no bad sectors (ran for 3.5 hours). I tend to believe Norton more than a row or two of colored rectangles on the Windows defrag legend display

 

[4824guy]

Maxtor also supplies the HD testing software for thier HD's on that floppy that came with the retail HD.