Arch Linux

Falcata

Member

From: Michiana

Registered: 2008-01-23

Posts: 501

Website

Third Hard Drive Failure

Well, I just had a third SATA hard drive fail!  And like the other two that failed, this one was a Western Digital drive.  So, now I'm presently out of money for a replacement drive.  Can anyone recommend a more reliable hard drive manufacturer?

---

Lord of Maelstrom

zenlord

Member

From: Belgium

Registered: 2006-05-24

Posts: 1,223

Website

Re: Third Hard Drive Failure

I have never been a WD-fan. Always bought Maxtor/seagate and recently three Samsung 320GB's. These have been powered on 24/7 during the last 6 months without any hickups.

Are you sure is is not you mobo/psu that is destroying your disks?

Falcata

Member

From: Michiana

Registered: 2008-01-23

Posts: 501

Website

Re: Third Hard Drive Failure

Well, the motherboard DID brick one of the disks, when the SATA controller failed.  Bricked my DVD burner too!  I don't think the PSU is causing the problem though.  I have one backup HD that's been running reliably.  Also a western digital, but it is PATA while the ones that were failing were SATA.  Are SATA drives more susceptible to PSU issues?

---

Lord of Maelstrom

deej

Member

Registered: 2008-02-08

Posts: 395

Re: Third Hard Drive Failure

Ooooh, that must hurt ! Does WD have any software available to you where you
could interrogate the failed disks to see what 'blew' ? This may give you a pointer
as to where the problem lay. It does seem a trifle extravagant, having three SATAs
blow...

As to SATA and PSU issues, are you using the SATA cable from your PSU to power
the drive, or a 4-pin Molex ? I always plump for the molex for power - much more
robust; the Sata-power can wobble and short during rigorous use of the computer

Deej

scio

Member

From: Buffalo, NY

Registered: 2008-08-05

Posts: 366

Re: Third Hard Drive Failure

I've had 2 Maxtors blow on me, both were loud as heck too.  I switched to WD after that and never looked back.  HD loyalty is worse than graphics cards, everyone has stories...

In your case, I would definitely suspect mobo or psu since my drives failed on two different machines.