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

  • Thread starter Thread starter Starz_Kid
  • Start date Start date
S

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...
 
Starz_Kid said:
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...
Click to expand...

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.
 
Starz_Kid said:
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.
Click to expand...
A few months ago the first drive DIED...TOTALLY....
within a week, the second drive DIED..! I
Click to expand...

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.
Click to expand...
Went through the warrantee process with WD
and within a week, I had 2 replacement drives.
Click to expand...
BUT... they are labeled as "Recertified" - Ohhhhh... Bummer..!
Click to expand...
My experience with Refurb, or remanufactured,
or "Recertified drives isn't really good...!
Click to expand...
Should I trust these drive with DATA or...
Click to expand...
Should I just use the drives as doorstops..???
Click to expand...
Wondering..!
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
*** top-posting corrected ***
Alan said:
I would first check my power supply for stable voltages.
what kind of PS do you have ?
Click to expand...

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 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.
Click to expand...

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
 
Rod Speed said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

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

Starz_Kid...
 
Bob said:
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
Click to expand...

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...
 
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...!
Click to expand...


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 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.
Click to expand...

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
 
Back
Top