Computer Hope

Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: ramonford on December 06, 2008, 11:14:00 AM

Title: HELP PLEASE - Failing hard drive
Post by: ramonford on December 06, 2008, 11:14:00 AM
Desk top with 2 Seagate 250GB SATA drives. On start up the C drive makes a screeching noise for about 2-3 seconds and then settles down and everything works OK.
I feel that this is an early indication of failure so for safety I will replace this C drive
I would like to get advise, either good or bad, on what I should use as a replacement . When I purchased the Dell 3 years ago the Barracuda drive was considered by Dell to be one of the most reliable available. But things move on and I would like to hear any comments to assist in selecting the right replacement

Thanks in advance for your comments

ramonford
Title: Re: HELP PLEASE - Failing hard drive
Post by: Dias de verano on December 06, 2008, 11:54:10 AM
Seagates is still a good brand.
Title: Re: HELP PLEASE - Failing hard drive
Post by: Accessless on December 06, 2008, 12:22:13 PM
Isn't seagate the company with that hard drive fault that they deny exist. If it is then the drive should be fine, its just irritating.
Title: Re: HELP PLEASE - Failing hard drive
Post by: BC_Programmer on December 06, 2008, 12:32:37 PM
Isn't seagate the company with that hard drive fault that they deny exist

What do you mean?
Title: Re: HELP PLEASE - Failing hard drive
Post by: Accessless on December 06, 2008, 01:22:57 PM
Isn't seagate the company with that hard drive fault that they deny exist

What do you mean?

Something I think patio mentioned a while ago about seagate producing hard drives that squealed or screeched.
Title: Re: HELP PLEASE - Failing hard drive
Post by: Dias de verano on December 06, 2008, 01:28:14 PM
Some Samsung drives make a screeching sound even when everything's OK. With Seagates, though, I think it's a bad sign.
Title: Re: HELP PLEASE - Failing hard drive
Post by: Accessless on December 06, 2008, 01:34:51 PM
Some Samsung drives make a screeching sound even when everything's OK. With Seagates, though, I think it's a bad sign.

I may be mistaken but I'm sure it was the Seagate barracuda drives that did this. I'm sure Seatools will tell you that there is a problem (that's what it always tells me)
Title: Re: HELP PLEASE - Failing hard drive
Post by: ramonford on December 06, 2008, 05:14:52 PM
Yes this is just what my Seagate does a screeching sound on start up, then its quiet.
But what I would really like to know is there a better alternative to this drive

ramonford
Title: Re: HELP PLEASE - Failing hard drive
Post by: killerb255 on December 06, 2008, 10:44:29 PM
All hard drive manufacturers produce duds every now and then.  Hard drives don't have much room for error--if something is even a nanometer off in the factory, it could potentially produce a lemon without the manufacturer even knowing it.
Title: Re: HELP PLEASE - Failing hard drive
Post by: ramonford on December 07, 2008, 02:13:11 AM
Thanks for all the replies
Let me put my question another way.

Is there anyone who has had a SATA  hard drive around 250GB or more thats been giving satisfactory operation more than say 4/5 years

ramonford
Title: Re: HELP PLEASE - Failing hard drive
Post by: Accessless on December 07, 2008, 02:39:33 AM
I would say yes, but my 200Gb Maxtor HDD may have developed a fault recently (but I think that it due to a faulty data connection). I always swear by Maxtor and Western Digital. Never had any problems from them in the past, I've still got 1-3Gb drives from these companies and they are still going strong.
Title: Re: HELP PLEASE - Failing hard drive
Post by: patio on December 07, 2008, 08:43:24 AM
It wasn't i who posted about that issue and i still recommend and use Seagate drives.
Title: Re: HELP PLEASE - Failing hard drive
Post by: BC_Programmer on December 07, 2008, 05:39:35 PM
I've still got 1-3Gb drives from these companies

HA! I have a 43MB (yes, MB) WD hard drive, and it still works fine.
Title: Re: HELP PLEASE - Failing hard drive
Post by: Accessless on December 08, 2008, 01:02:13 AM
I've still got 1-3Gb drives from these companies

HA! I have a 43MB (yes, MB) WD hard drive, and it still works fine.

The oldest I ever had (but were thrown due to extreme uselessness) were 2 512Mb's from a compact (can't remember actual spelling of company) Pc. But I never checked the brand. But you still win.
Title: Re: HELP PLEASE - Failing hard drive
Post by: BC_Programmer on December 08, 2008, 02:38:46 AM
heh, as if it's good to have a hard disk that can barely hold DOS and windows 3.1.  ;D