FreeAgent Products

[david777]

I never have had such outrageous warranty service from a HD manufacturer.  I have used Western Digital, Fujitsu, Maxtor and others and warranty replacement is not a problem.    I sent a 1.5 TB "free-agent" external hard drive which was under warranty,  then they see a chip to the outer case (ON A PORTABLE DRIVE REMEMBER)  and VOID my warranty.   I am steaming mad and now looking into how to sue a huge corporation out of state!   What a schmuck of a company!    They had me send them pictures too,  I guess they were humouring me.   It just galvanized my resolve.

[Cantbecanit]

PM Alan M mate, he might be able to follow this up for you.

It would be interesting to see the cosmetic damage tbh, as you'll be aware any HDD that suffers a drop and gets damaged isn't the responsibility  of the company who made it, however if it's only the sort of chip you expect on a mobile phone that's rubbed against keys in your pocket I think goodwill may surface, what has actually happened, has the drive shutdown, or is it now clacking?

One posssible cheaper solution if it's the case electronics that have failed is to remove the drive and buy an enclosure for it, I'd test it bare in a PC 1st though to confirm the drive isn't damaged in any way, that's a worst case one for you, anyway ask Alan for help.

[david777]

Here's a photo of "damage"   I have seen plenty of bad drives, and this one has the tick chirp syndrome, classic bad HD.

I'm a tech of 20 years experience.   Looks like they are cheating me out of a $200 HD due to a $3 case. 

I am sure the drive inside has seal intact, and shock sensor will not have been activated.  Thanks for the tip but I already talked to the supervisor,  I think he accused me of "opening" it.   Although there are no seals on the outer case to determine for sure if anyone has "opened" it.  But the drive is bad and that's why I am so mad.    There wouldn't be that chip there if the frigging thing wasn't BAD.  And it failed fair and square under the warranty.   Thanks for listening Cantbecanit...

Dave

[fzabkar]

AFAIK, chirping suggests a seized motor bearing, or stiction. If you can record a sound sample, perhaps the data recovery professionals at HDD Guru can give you their opinions:

http://forum.hddguru.com/hard-disk-drives-data-recovery-and-repair-f1.html

The shock sensor on the HD appears to be used by the write logic to inhibit write current, and it could also be used by the voice coil servo to compensate for vibration. I could be wrong, but I don't believe it "trips" like those shock sensors that attach to packages to detect mishandling in transit.

FYI, here are datasheets for Murata ceramic shock sensors:

http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/58860.pdf
http://www1.futureelectronics.com/doc/MURATA/PKGS-00LD-R.pdf

Here are some sound samples from failed drives:

http://datacent.com/hard_drive_sounds.php

http://web.archive.org/web/20051016010750/http://www.hitachigst.com/hddt/knowtree.nsf/cffe836ed7c12018862565b000530c74/4b1a62a50f405d0d86256756006e340c?OpenDocument

[david777]

Yeah it's a bad hard drive.  There's not much that can go wrong in the enclosure except the occasional USB cable socket breaking.  They are generally not serviced, I don't need the data off of it either.  Thanks for the ideas, but I don't want to go that direction,  The thing has never been opened. I just started to try to open it (the outer case) but never did, I stopped when the tiny plastic chipped.  Now they are using that to get out of warrantying me.  Worse, is they have VOIDED my warranty,  I can't even buy a new case and get them to replace their BAD HARD DRIVE. since they latched onto some frivelous BS cheap bum way to screw me out of my hard earned money. 

[Cantbecanit]

Hmmm, not much of a chip tbh, I assume that's it below and left of the label? personally I believe you that you've not dropped it but I can't call this one tbh, but I would say to call Alan on it, one man sees one thing and another might see something else, regarding the noises, it would seem to be knackered, so a new enclosure won't help.

Message Edited by Cantbecanit on 01-16-2010 08:39 AM

[david777]

Thanks again cantbecanit,   I sent a PM to  Alan M...  can't hurt.  Maybe something will click other than my HD. 

[david777]

Wow,  after reading newegg.com's customer's reviews, I see that about 50 percent of those who bought this gave it a one star (lowest) rating,  and all cited the same condition mine has,  the death tick and not recognized by computer.  Sheese!

[david777 · Accepted solution]

I am happy to report, that upon my persistence and elaboration of my concerns, the higher ups have smiled upon me, and they have agreed to replace the drive.  My faith in Seagate is restored.  Thanks everyone!