Forum Home
Press F1
 
Thread ID: 97815 2009-02-28 20:23:00 Why the Seagates were dying Agent_24 (57) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
752234 2009-02-28 20:23:00 A rare condition is caused by a hard drive firmware issue that allows the drive's 'event log' pointer to be set to an invalid location. This condition is detected by the drive during power up, and the drive goes in to failsafe mode to prevent inadvertent corruption to or loss of user data. As a result, once the failure has occurred user data becomes inaccessible.

Now we know.
Agent_24 (57)
752235 2009-03-01 12:30:00 At least that proves that "fail safe" mode works well. Fifthdawn (9467)
752236 2009-03-01 20:37:00 So what is the call.... do you upgrade the firmware if your drives are still working? If it aint broke dont try and fix it???
On seagates site they say the data will not get lost if the drive stops working due to this fault, upgrade the firmware and the drive will be fine
Hmmmm what to do :confused:
Gobe1 (6290)
752237 2009-03-01 21:05:00 If your drive is one of the drives that are affected by this issue then the general consensus is that you should upgrade the firmware, as it will most likely "break" at some point in time if the issue is left alone. Fifthdawn (9467)
752238 2009-03-01 22:44:00 But did they fix the firmware update? Cause that was the other problem. pctek (84)
752239 2009-03-02 00:37:00 I have updated the Firmware on 4 drives here, but one 750Gb drive died before I knew about the firmware updates. It will be a warranty job once I get the data off it. Bantu (52)
752240 2009-03-02 00:43:00 The fixed update does work, will update your drives, won't ruin them, and apparently fixes the original issue

Also, if you have any drives that were bricked by the faulty upgrade, the latest update can apparently fix them.

Only thing that can't be fixed is drives which have died due to the original issue (as I posted) For that you need to send it back to Seagate
Agent_24 (57)
752241 2009-03-02 01:00:00 Agent Is there someone in NZ accepting that return or is it an overseas shipping job?

I would have just returned it to Ingram, but I saw some people talking about returning them to Seagate on another NZ forum.
Bantu (52)
752242 2009-03-02 01:31:00 I expect you follow standard RMA procedure since it is a standard failure caused by a manufacturing fault.

As far as I know you can do either, send it through the retailer/supplier or directly to Seagate.

If you want the free data recovery from a failed drive affected by this issue, you have to live in the USA.
Agent_24 (57)
752243 2009-03-02 01:40:00 My last warranty claim had to be chased by the vender for ages (around 3 weeks, could have been longer) It was a 320Gb that spat the dummy, was actually failing.
The recently i had a 750Gb that had bad sectors so sent it in to be replaced and it got lost on the courier on its way back to seagate. The company gave me a replacement and sorted the courier issue themselves :thanks

Computer Corner in New Plymouth !!! just thought i would give them a bit of free advertising ;)
Gobe1 (6290)
1 2