Western Digital "Recertified" Drives - How Reliable.? ? ? ?

[Starz_Kid]

Hello Group, About a year ago, I bought 2 WD Caviar SE-Serial ATA drives
(WD3000JD) within a week of each other. Installed them in the computer and
used them for VIDEO_TS directories - using the second drive as a backup.

A few months ago the first drive DIED...TOTALLY.... within a week, the
second drive DIED..! I

Bummer......... Although I did back up ALL of the data when the first drive
failed.

Went through the warrantee process with WD and within a week, I had 2
replacement drives.

BUT... they are labeled as "Recertified" - Ohhhhh... Bummer..!

My experience with Refurb, or remanufactured, or "Recertified drives isn't
really good...!

Should I trust these drive with DATA or...

Should I just use the drives as doorstops..???

Wondering..!

Starz_Kid...

 

[paulmd]

Hello Group, About a year ago, I bought 2 WD Caviar SE-Serial ATA drives
(WD3000JD) within a week of each other. Installed them in the computer and
used them for VIDEO_TS directories - using the second drive as a backup.

A few months ago the first drive DIED...TOTALLY.... within a week, the
second drive DIED..! I

Bummer......... Although I did back up ALL of the data when the first drive
failed.

Went through the warrantee process with WD and within a week, I had 2
replacement drives.

BUT... they are labeled as "Recertified" - Ohhhhh... Bummer..!

My experience with Refurb, or remanufactured, or "Recertified drives isn't
really good...!

Should I trust these drive with DATA or...

Should I just use the drives as doorstops..???

Wondering..!

Starz_Kid...

My shop sees refurbished drives from time to time. Their failure rate
has not been noticibly higher than other drives.

That said. Always have a backup, whether or not your drives are new.

 

[Rod Speed]

Hello Group, About a year ago, I bought 2 WD Caviar SE-Serial ATA
drives (WD3000JD) within a week of each other. Installed them in the
computer and used them for VIDEO_TS directories - using the second
drive as a backup.

A few months ago the first drive DIED...TOTALLY....
within a week, the second drive DIED..! I

Worth checking the drive temperature with Everest.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

Simultaneous drive failure is usually due to the system the drives are in.

Bummer......... Although I did back up
ALL of the data when the first drive failed.

Went through the warrantee process with WD
and within a week, I had 2 replacement drives.

BUT... they are labeled as "Recertified" - Ohhhhh... Bummer..!

My experience with Refurb, or remanufactured,
or "Recertified drives isn't really good...!

Should I trust these drive with DATA or...

Should I just use the drives as doorstops..???

Wondering..!

Since you do have a decent backup strategy,
you arent taking much risk by using them.

I'd certainly check the environment they are being used in tho.

 

[Jan Alter]

The fact that both the new WD died within a year is question enough to
wonder what kind of quality those drives are in the first place even without
putting a re-certified drive into service to follow them. I would go with
another brand.

 

[Alan Kakareka]

I would first check my power supply for stable voltages.
what kind of PS do you have ?

--
Alan Kakareka
Data Recovery Service
786-253-8286 cell
http://www.247recovery.com
--

 

[CBFalconer]

*** top-posting corrected ***

I would first check my power supply for stable voltages.
what kind of PS do you have ?

I corrected this before adding my suggestion that the drives are
running too hot, and to look to the cooling system. After removing
the evil top-posting I see that had already been suggested, and
lost in the confusion.

 

[Bob]

I corrected this before adding my suggestion that the drives are
running too hot, and to look to the cooling system. After removing
the evil top-posting I see that had already been suggested, and
lost in the confusion.

I do not know if this was recommended but people should implement
MotherBoardMonitor.

http://www.3degs.net/index.php?page=webfile&dsn1=nav_webfiles&file=9

It has provision for tracking SMART temp so you can at least see
something like a spike.

According to WD tech support, the Caviar line has a max. service temp
of 55C. That's plenty hot.


--

"It's impossible to obtain a conviction for sodomy from
an English jury. Half of them don't believe that it can
physically be done, and the other half are doing it."
--Winston Churchill

 

[Starz_Kid]

Worth checking the drive temperature with Everest.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

Simultaneous drive failure is usually due to the system the drives are in.








Since you do have a decent backup strategy,
you arent taking much risk by using them.

I'd certainly check the environment they are being used in tho.

Hello Rod Speed, I use an Enermax model 2200 case . . . and EVERY Hard
Drive has it's own High Speed fan for cooling...! EVERY DRIVE...! Airflow
is from ALL sides..!

Starz_Kid...

 

[Starz_Kid]

Hello Alan K (Top posting cause you did...!)

I only use recognized brand name power supplies... NO junk here..!

Starz_Kid...

 

[Starz_Kid]

I do not know if this was recommended but people should implement
MotherBoardMonitor.

http://www.3degs.net/index.php?page=webfile&dsn1=nav_webfiles&file=9

It has provision for tracking SMART temp so you can at least see
something like a spike.

According to WD tech support, the Caviar line has a max. service temp
of 55C. That's plenty hot.


--

"It's impossible to obtain a conviction for sodomy from
an English jury. Half of them don't believe that it can
physically be done, and the other half are doing it."
--Winston Churchill

Hello Bob, Cooling was not an issue as each drive in my computer has air
flow on ALL surfaces. I suspect a bad run of the drives - or a bad desigh
as Seagate only made these drives for a short time. Then went with a new
part number...!

Starz_Kid...

 

[kony]

Hello Bob, Cooling was not an issue as each drive in my computer has air
flow on ALL surfaces. I suspect a bad run of the drives - or a bad desigh
as Seagate only made these drives for a short time. Then went with a new
part number...!

I think you are right, this post makes me vaguely recall
some issue with WD 3xxGB drives. I don't have any 3xxGB WD
drives though, so I didn't find it important to remember all
the details at the time.

 

[Bob]

I think you are right, this post makes me vaguely recall
some issue with WD 3xxGB drives. I don't have any 3xxGB WD
drives though, so I didn't find it important to remember all
the details at the time.

I have one - it's my backup drive. I bought it in 1999, maybe 2000,
IIRC. Still runs just fine. I can't tell the temp because it doesn't
have SMART. I don't even put it in a tray with fans - the only fan is
in the removable bay.


--

"It's impossible to obtain a conviction for sodomy from
an English jury. Half of them don't believe that it can
physically be done, and the other half are doing it."
--Winston Churchill