FreeAgent Products

[SamCa111]

Hi,

I have a problem with my FreeAgent Xtreme 1.5TB. I believe it was knocked over by someone. Like a few others have had, mine beeps. It won't even power up. I plug in the power and every 3 seconds or so a beep sort of sound is heard. I figure it is the drive mechanics trying to wind up. But in any case, it doesn't power up so I don't have any access to the data on it at all via the usual means of the external drive.

Now it had data on there that I want to be sure is deleted - personal documents etc. Some encrypted, some not. But anyone with enough time could probably crack it anyway. Now the return policy sort of makes it impossible for me to return it, as I understand it.

1) You can't open the external casing as it voids warranty. So I can't crack it open and see if the internal drive works and has data on it without giving up any right I may have had to replacement.

2) Seagate's recommendation is to DELETE the data for security before sending it

I don't know if the drive inside actually works and whether the data can be recovered. I certainly don't want anyone going through it. I figure I'm out of pocket because I definitely won't send the drive without knowing the data can't be reached. What are my options? I figure I am screwed...

Thanks,

SC

[Hamartolos]

Just have it replaced.  You think a multi-billion dollar company cares about your data when they could be sued and punished with $hundreds of millions of punitive damages for accessing it? 

You should just worry about making sure to use a shipping option that gets the drive there safely.

[SamCa111]

If the data is not securely erased and the drive is refurbished and sent out as a replacement for someone else then someone else might be able to recover the data. I am not a risk taker and I am not going to hand out my personal information voluntarily. It is simply not an option to take that sort of risk with my personal information. Would you hand an identity thief your entire key set? I think not.