YADIBMHDT (translation: Yet Another Dead IBM HD Thread)

[pm]

My long-running, much used, but completely untrusted IBM 30GB GXP75 bit it tonight with a lot of sqeaking and a couple of really loud "crunches". I'd been using the drive as a backup drive (yes, the irony is not lost on me) for my primary drive for the last year or so. Every week I would fire it up and Ghost my primary drive onto it. Tonight when I plugged it in it worked but then died about halfway through Ghosting. First it made this loud "CRUNCH" sound. Then there was silence and then it went "CRUNCH" again. And then it started squeaking repeatedly and does this every time that I power it up. When when I rebooted the BIOS couldn't find the drive. And it has been utterly dead since then. IBM's Drive Fitness Test couldn't find the drive at all (although it was definitely there, loudly squeaking away).

I already filled out the RMA form at IBM and I have an RMA number.

This is my first dead HD since a Seagate 30MB full-height drive back in the mid 80's.

Oh well. At least it wasn't holding anything important. Although now I don't have a system backup any more.

 

[Budman]

I.B.M

I Bought a Mistake.

 

[spanky]

 

[Adul]

<-- has had 4 so far

 

[Wingznut]

Welcome to the club, Patrick. I sent my Deskstar in for RMA last week.

*sigh*

 

[AndyHui]

DeathStar, not DeskStar.

 

[DeschutesCore]

I RMA'd 19 of these drives in July. One of them was my own backup drive. Ironic or not, I'm pretty pissed.

DC

 

[miken]

another unsatified customer here.. no wonder they are selling out.

 

[Homebrew]

Just had my IBM 40GB 60 GXP (8 mo. young) die this AM and replaced it with a 80GB WD 8MB cache model. Luckily, hit it a few times with a rubber mallet and was able to get at least a final backup out of it.

Still have a 15GB 75GXP going strong, 2 yrs old, think most of the failures happen on GXP drives with 2+ platters. I had a nagging thought that all of you complaining about GXP's were just very vocal and jumping on the "bandwagon"..looks like I was mistaken so I apologize for not being very sympathetic. Taking a break from IBM for awhile, as if the Aptiva wasn't punishment enough (remember MWAVE?). Their older (prior GXP series) drives were very dependable though. Still have a old 1.6GB going strong after 6+ years.

Just to make this post interesting, I heard a rumor a few years back that I assume is related to the whole GXP line (no offense to Purdue alumni).
Here at Purdue, a mechanical engineering student improved the bearings & related mechanisms in existing IBM harddrives as a senior design project. She presented her project to IBM rep's at a job fair on campus and was offered a job on the spot after the presentation due to the impressive improvements. Heard this rumor the year before the GXP line was introduced so it could be true but who knows. Wish her the best if so.

 

[Vinny N]

Originally posted by: AndyHui
DeathStar, not DeskStar.

That's too honorific since it's associated with Star Wars (even if I don't like Star Wars that much). I like to say DeadStar