IBM deskstar hd

[BoB De]

I have just run into a bunch of dead or dying IBM 20gb Deskstar HD's. The
symptoms are continuous read attempts, one actually reads and is accessible
for about a minute then stops reading until I shut off and let cool down(?).
After a half hour I can read again for a minute or so. Managed to remove
most of the data, but it is a pain in the a.. The others are continually
reading but not accessing. IBM as you may know has run away from their hard
drives in warrantee or not and Hitachi is supposed to be the new supporter
and provider, ha they will not do any service as per their reps. I'm going
to replace the drives and get as much of the data as possible but is anyone
aware of the deskstar failure rate and what recourses their may be???

 

[Rod Speed]

I have just run into a bunch of dead or dying IBM 20gb Deskstar HD's.
The symptoms are continuous read attempts, one actually reads and
is accessible for about a minute then stops reading until I shut off and
let cool down(?). After a half hour I can read again for a minute or so.
Managed to remove most of the data, but it is a pain in the a..

The others are continually reading but not accessing.

IBM as you may know has run away from their hard drives in
warrantee or not and Hitachi is supposed to be the new supporter
and provider, ha they will not do any service as per their reps.
I'm going to replace the drives and get as much of the data
as possible but is anyone aware of the deskstar failure rate

Yep, they aint called deathstars for nothing.

They managed to produce a full class action suit.

and what recourses their may be???

Depending on your country, some have some
pretty gung ho comsumer protection legislation.

IBM cant weasel out of their legal obligations.

 

[Arno Wagner]

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I have just run into a bunch of dead or dying IBM 20gb Deskstar HD's. The
symptoms are continuous read attempts, one actually reads and is accessible
for about a minute then stops reading until I shut off and let cool down(?).
After a half hour I can read again for a minute or so. Managed to remove
most of the data, but it is a pain in the a.. The others are continually
reading but not accessing. IBM as you may know has run away from their hard
drives in warrantee or not and Hitachi is supposed to be the new supporter
and provider, ha they will not do any service as per their reps. I'm going
to replace the drives and get as much of the data as possible but is anyone
aware of the deskstar failure rate and what recourses their may be???

They have been known as "deatstar" for years. I had 3/3 fail me.
Only known cure is to replace then, preferrably not with
Hitachi drives.

Arno

 

[Neill Massello]

I have just run into a bunch of dead or dying IBM 20gb Deskstar HD's. The
symptoms are continuous read attempts, one actually reads and is accessible
for about a minute then stops reading until I shut off and let cool down(?).
After a half hour I can read again for a minute or so. Managed to remove
most of the data, but it is a pain in the a.. The others are continually
reading but not accessing. IBM as you may know has run away from their hard
drives in warrantee or not and Hitachi is supposed to be the new supporter
and provider, ha they will not do any service as per their reps. I'm going
to replace the drives and get as much of the data as possible but is anyone
aware of the deskstar failure rate and what recourses their may be???

IBM made several models and millions of units of Deskstar drives. I
suggest you do a Google search on your particular model numbers.

Hitachi assumed responsibility for existing warranties on IBM hard
drives, but my guess is that your 20GB drives are at least four years
old and out of warranty. Of course, if they were OEM rather than retail
units, they weren't even covered by an IBM consumer warranty to begin
with.

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

IBM made several models and millions of units of Deskstar drives. I
suggest you do a Google search on your particular model numbers.

Hitachi assumed responsibility for existing warranties on IBM hard
drives, but my guess is that your 20GB drives are at least four years
old and out of warranty.

Of course, if they were OEM rather than retail units, they weren't
even covered by an IBM consumer warranty to begin with.

Actually, the 'retail units' were confusingly called "OEM" by IBM.

 

[Bob Davis]

I have just run into a bunch of dead or dying IBM 20gb Deskstar HD's. The
symptoms are continuous read attempts, one actually reads and is
accessible
for about a minute then stops reading until I shut off and let cool
down(?).
After a half hour I can read again for a minute or so. Managed to remove
most of the data, but it is a pain in the a.. The others are continually
reading but not accessing. IBM as you may know has run away from their
hard
drives in warrantee or not and Hitachi is supposed to be the new supporter
and provider, ha they will not do any service as per their reps. I'm going
to replace the drives and get as much of the data as possible but is
anyone
aware of the deskstar failure rate and what recourses their may be???

The really bad drives were the 60 and 75GXP series. If your drives are in
this group, it's a wonder they've worked this long. OTOH, I still have two
34GXP's (20gb) that are five years old and they still work. One is
reluctant to spin up, but does still work.

 

[Ron Reaugh]

OTOH, I still have two

34GXP's (20gb) that are five years old and they still work. One is
reluctant to spin up,

That's likely stiction and can be coaxed into spinning with a rotational
wrist flick when powered.

 

[Tracker]

The really bad drives were the 60 and 75GXP series. If your drives are
in this group, it's a wonder they've worked this long.

I am still running my two 75GXP's, never had a problem with them, best
drives I ever used.

 

[Arno Wagner]

I am still running my two 75GXP's, never had a problem with them, best
drives I ever used.

Yes, ist seems some of the batches were really o.k., but many
others died completely.

Arno