'Hard disk problem'

[tenpointnine]

Having been very happy with my T60, I recently bought (December 2011) a T61, mainly for the ability to use up to 8Gb RAM. I had previously picked up a used 320 Gb WD Scorpio Black HDD, so I decided to use it to replace the original drive (running Vista). After formatting the Scorpio Back drive I did a clean instal of Windows 7 (64 bit), then Lenovo system update (4.01) and everything has been fine. Until yesterday.

I thought it would be a good idea to download Thinkvantage Toolbox, (I know!) which seemed to go smoothly, but about 30 minutes later with the T61 just idling, I got a Windows error message:
'Windows detected a hard disk problem. Back up your files immediately.....'

There are no files on the system, other than the OS. It has just sat on my desk for a month next to my T60, for general surfing, while I got used to Windows 7 and the widescreen (14.1"), compared to my T60 4:3 running XP.

Can the drive be repaired? If so what do I do?

Walter

[Johan]

Walter:

Sorry to hear abour your problems with the almost new T61! I suggest you download, install and run the Western Digital "Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows" and let it provide you (and us!) with a bit more specific diagnostics information.

As far as I know the WD Scorpio Blacks comes with a five year warranty but in order to invoke this (if need be), I guess you'd need to present an invoice of some kind, but that I am not sure about.

Keep us posted!

Johan

[tenpointnine]

Have run program.

So far, Smart status is Fail.

Problem appears to be Re-allocated Sector Count, which states: ID 5; Value 139; Threshold 140; Worst 139; Warranty 1

Don't exactly know what this means, other than I assume bad news?

[PS Just to clarify something, I bought the T61 in December 2011, but it was built in 2007!]

[ajkula66]

Save whatever you have important - if anything - on another drive, and call WD for a replacement drive. The current one is about done with...

Good luck.

[tenpointnine]

I am not the original buyer, so how do I stand on this?

Date on drive is 11/12/2009

Walter

[ajkula66]

I'd check the WD website for instructions on RMA...

Good luck.

[tenpointnine]

I went on to WD site to check warranty.

Answer was 'No Limited Warranty', which apparently means it was sold with a computer and I should take it up with computer manufacturer.

As a second user, I guess I will have to put it down to experience.

Walter

[robert213]

I had previously picked up a used 320 Gb WD Scorpio Black HDD

or attempt to negotiate a deal for a replacement HD with seller.

[tenpointnine]

Message sent to seller. Fingers crossed.

Walter

[tenpointnine]

The seller of the used (now failed) Scorpio Black hard drive has asked that I return it, so hopefully it will be replaced. Ebay seller with feedback score of 1068 at 100%.

Replaced original Hitachi 80Gb drive (running Vista) into the T61 and it just powered up straight away, no problem.

Walter

[TuuS]

harddrives do fail often, shipping can damage them too. I don't like to sell drives for this reason, it's just more work then it's worth to test them, then deal with returns.

If you get a replacement from the seller, hopefully it will hold up better, but if you get a refund, I'd suggest just buying a new drive.

At some point in the future solid state drives will be the only way to go, but currently many fail more often then platter drives, so I usually avoid them too. The only brand of ssd that I use is Intel, the rest are usually to unreliable.