Author Topic: Bad Seagate bad!  (Read 1180 times)

Offline Chalenge

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Bad Seagate bad!
« on: November 14, 2009, 01:20:38 AM »
I discovered that my 'primary' Windows partition on my new pit is one of those defective Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000333AS drives that locks up after X number of power cycles. My father bought his the same day as I bought this one and since his failed today I know mine wont be far behind it. I read up on the drive and there is supposed to be a firmware update that will fix the drive. My question is... can that be trusted or is this just a matter of time either way?
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Offline maddafinga

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Re: Bad Seagate bad!
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2009, 08:44:57 AM »
I discovered that my 'primary' Windows partition on my new pit is one of those defective Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000333AS drives that locks up after X number of power cycles. My father bought his the same day as I bought this one and since his failed today I know mine wont be far behind it. I read up on the drive and there is supposed to be a firmware update that will fix the drive. My question is... can that be trusted or is this just a matter of time either way?

Well crap, I hope not.  I just bought one of those last night since my old drive crapped out.  I would be pissed if this one died too that soon.  Let me know if you find out anything.
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Offline Fulmar

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Re: Bad Seagate bad!
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2009, 08:53:55 AM »
I have no idea if it can be trusted.  What I would do is back up all your important data immediately and buy a second drive.
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Offline Strip

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Re: Bad Seagate bad!
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2009, 09:57:30 AM »
Darn sure wouldn't turn the sucker off!

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Offline MrRiplEy[H]

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Re: Bad Seagate bad!
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2009, 10:39:21 AM »
Back up your data. I've relied on WD through experience and I haven't had a HD failure in 5 years after going exclusively WD. Before that I had Maxtors, Seagates and an IBM blow on me.
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Offline Fulmar

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Re: Bad Seagate bad!
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2009, 10:47:40 AM »
When it comes to favorite HD brands, a lot is personal experience and a little luck.  In 13 years I've had 2 WD, 1 Samsung, and 1 Deathstar fail.  Every Maxtor or Seagate drive I've ever owned still is operational, going back to a 1.6gb Maxtor circa 1996.  Some running in linux servers, others have been given as hand me downs.  A few collecting dust. 
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Offline BaldEagl

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Re: Bad Seagate bad!
« Reply #6 on: November 14, 2009, 01:10:57 PM »
I've had at least a half dozen each of Seagates and WD's plus a couple of IBM's.  The only one's that I've had a problem with were two of the WD's which isn't a great batting average but those were both older IDE drives.
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Offline batch

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Re: Bad Seagate bad!
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2009, 01:59:16 PM »
theres not a single model of any brand of any product ever made that you couldnt find a certain percentage of people who will tell you they had problems with it............

are some specifice products notoriously bad...... sure

but for the most part its just luck of the draw...........

as a rule its always best to have your data backed up completely to at least 1 alternate source if not more
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Offline 715

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Re: Bad Seagate bad!
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2009, 02:44:52 PM »
The defect in Seagate Barracuda drives that I am aware of (not sure if it is the same for your model) was a software error in the firmware that bombed after a set number of internal hardware warnings.  A counter didn't roll over properly and that would brick the drive.  Supposedly fixing the software error via a firmware update will prevent this from happening. 

I haven't had the courage to flash my drive though.  Obviously you should do a complete backup first.  The Seagate web page has instructions on how to check if your drive has the problem and how to fix it.  You have to make sure you get the proper firmware for your particular model and part #.  Unfortunately the DriveDetect.exe software they supply doesn't give the part #, you have to physically look at the drive.  It's critical you follow all the Seagate instructions so you know you have the proper firmware; otherwise your drive will be toast.

Offline 5PointOh

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Re: Bad Seagate bad!
« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2009, 02:45:02 PM »
It odd that you say this.  Upon doing some trial and error attempt for my current PC situation, (blue screen o death) I have concluded that my hard drive is fubar.  If I unplug it I can actually get my PC to read the OS disk for a reinstall.  Of course theirs no where to put it.

So I pull the hard drive from my XPS410. I look at the name...Seagate.  Its the Barracuda 7200.10.  I thought to myself, OK lasted three yrs, not bad for an electronic component.  So I go to look at the specs on NewEgg to see how much for the same or better.  Wow.  I was expecting cost to be a lot more. So I started looking at a 1 terabyte upgrade (Currently have 250gb).  Seems to me that 1t+ have been quite unreliable from the customer reviews.  How about going back to the same.  So I start reading the reviews. I was shocked at the amount of people that reported failures with in the first year.  

So I think I am going to try my luck with a Western Digital - Caviar GP 500GB Internal Hard. 70 bucks at best buy and I've doubled my space.  If anyone has any suggestions let me know before I go get one tomorrow.
« Last Edit: November 14, 2009, 02:47:09 PM by 5PointOh »
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Offline MrRiplEy[H]

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Re: Bad Seagate bad!
« Reply #10 on: November 14, 2009, 03:50:28 PM »
It odd that you say this.  Upon doing some trial and error attempt for my current PC situation, (blue screen o death) I have concluded that my hard drive is fubar.  If I unplug it I can actually get my PC to read the OS disk for a reinstall.  Of course theirs no where to put it.

So I pull the hard drive from my XPS410. I look at the name...Seagate.  Its the Barracuda 7200.10.  I thought to myself, OK lasted three yrs, not bad for an electronic component.  So I go to look at the specs on NewEgg to see how much for the same or better.  Wow.  I was expecting cost to be a lot more. So I started looking at a 1 terabyte upgrade (Currently have 250gb).  Seems to me that 1t+ have been quite unreliable from the customer reviews.  How about going back to the same.  So I start reading the reviews. I was shocked at the amount of people that reported failures with in the first year.  

So I think I am going to try my luck with a Western Digital - Caviar GP 500GB Internal Hard. 70 bucks at best buy and I've doubled my space.  If anyone has any suggestions let me know before I go get one tomorrow.

My only suggestion is that unless you go over 1Tb choose the black edition. Green editions are just slow.
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Offline 5PointOh

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Re: Bad Seagate bad!
« Reply #11 on: November 14, 2009, 04:13:12 PM »
Mmmm should I go with the 1Tera then??
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Offline cattb

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Re: Bad Seagate bad!
« Reply #12 on: November 14, 2009, 04:41:04 PM »
WD black has 5 year warranty, the others I believe are 3 year. Also if you can wait 3 days order online from place like newegg and you save yourself some money

throwing this out as a example
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320
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Offline Chalenge

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Re: Bad Seagate bad!
« Reply #13 on: November 14, 2009, 06:10:17 PM »
I got a drive that does not require a firmware update so I missed that golden bb. Im not sure what to do with the brick though.  :mad:
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Offline Fulmar

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Re: Bad Seagate bad!
« Reply #14 on: November 14, 2009, 06:53:36 PM »
I got a drive that does not require a firmware update so I missed that golden bb. Im not sure what to do with the brick though.  :mad:
http://tgrounds.blogspot.com/2007/05/how-to-make-clock-out-of-hard-drive.html
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