HDD Reliability Horror Stories

rick_bert

Distinguished
Jul 21, 2010
2
0
18,510
HDD storage capacity has exploded over the last years. However, how did reliability go?

This is an RFC on experiences on reliability of HDDs. Share your negative hardware experiences with us, but

PLEASE BE PROFESSIONAL AND STICK WITH THE RAW FACTS!!!

How long was the HDD in operation?
Use mode: 24/7 or desktop or laptop use?
Error report (SMART or Manufacturer Disk Test Result)?

Cheers,
Rick

 

rick_bert

Distinguished
Jul 21, 2010
2
0
18,510
Here is my first one:

WDC15EARS

Died in the first 48h


Test Option: QUICK TEST
Model Number: WDC WD15EARS-00Z5B1
Unit Serial Number: WD-WMAVUxxx
Firmware Number: 80.00A80
Capacity: 1500.30 GB
SMART Status: FAIL
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 06-Quick Test on drive 2 did not complete! Status code = 04 (Unknown failed test element), Failure Checkpoint = 96 (Unknown Test) SMART self-test did not complete on drive 2!
Test Time: 01:11:45, July 21, 2010

Test Option: EXTENDED TEST
Model Number: WDC WD15EARS-00Z5B1
Unit Serial Number: WD-WMAVUxxx
Firmware Number: 80.00A80
Capacity: 1500.30 GB
SMART Status: FAIL
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 08-Too many bad sectors detected.
Test Time: 03:06:44, July 21, 2010

Test Option: WRITE ZEROS
Model Number: WDC WD15EARS-00Z5B1
Unit Serial Number: WD-WMAVUxxx
Firmware Number: 80.00A80
Capacity: 1500.30 GB
SMART Status: FAIL
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 09-Sector #64471040-64471296::Write Zeros error!
Test Time: 08:00:27, July 21, 2010


 
While I dont have the tests, I have had one WD1600AAJS fail 3-4 years back in my RAID 0 after about a month of usage, the rest of my 1600AAJS and AA*S have been fine. When I upgraded my system (2 years ago) I bought three WD6400AAKS for a RAID 0, One failed in about 2 months after i purchased it, the replacement and the other two are still running strong.
No problems with my ancient Fujitsu MHU2100AT (100GB 4200RPM laptop) and that is a 24/7/365 Torrent, Messaging, Teamspeak machine. I cant even think how many Terabytes of data has gone across that hard drive.
I have a seagate 7200.11 1.5TB still works but has some issues and I haven't upgraded the firmware yet.

Havent had many drive failures at work within the past few months (2-3) and they were all seagate drives.

My experience is if the drive is going to fail it will fail within the first month or two.
 

Kourier

Distinguished
Oct 6, 2011
1
0
18,510
I had a WD 1TB Green and it ran fine for 8 or 10 months then files started falking out so I backed up what I could. Soon after the drive failed.

Got a RMA replacement, the format took 3 days, then I tried to restore my files and the next day when I checked on the progress there was a write error and the drive disappeared from my system. I did a reboot still gone, did a cold boot and the drive came back. Tried to restore again, hours later when I checked it failed again. Cold boot, drive didnt come back.

Got another RMA drive, it failed on format. I complained this is a hassle.

Got another RMA drive, this tiem they gave me 1.5TB Green, on day 5 of it STILL FORMATTTING I opened a ticket with WD and they said thats too long and the drive is bad, RMA generated so cacnel the formatting and send back.

Today I received my new RMA, I must say I'm not looking forward to the outcome, if I have to send this drive back, I want to see if they will give me TWO Caviar Blacks, I hear they're good.

My coworker has many Caviar Green's and he said hes had no problem with them.