[geeks] FORSALE: 400GB Seagate SATA drive (update)

[Bill Bradford]

On Thu, Feb 14, 2008 at 05:59:40AM +0200, Jonathan Groll wrote:
> Isn't the warranty period on Western Digital meant to be 3 years?

On this particular disk, a WD-branded FW/USB enclosure with a WD disk
inside it, the warranty was one year.  I've noticed that their "desktop
class" external drives (the "Essential" line) has a one-year warranty,
while the more expensive ones have a 3-year.

> Also, I've found that drives die more quickly in external enclosures,
> perhaps from being knocked around more (or overheating)?

This particular drive always liked to park its heads after a few minutes of
no use no matter what the OS power-saving settings were; I think it just
parked/unparked way too much.  The failure mode was a "CLACK.  CLACK.
CLACK."

In any case, I'll not be buying WD ever again.  I've never had a Seagate or
Hitachi disk crash and make me lose data.

Bill

-- 
Bill Bradford 
Houston, Texas