Samsung HD154UI 1.5TB HDD Faulty?

[BrianS]

Hi,

I bought a Samsung HD154UI from SCAN yesterday, hooked it up today and it's having major problems.

When the PC boots the drive makes a spinning up/grinding noise (not too unusual) but then it makes a loud click, it then spins up/clicks about 5 more times until it goes quiet. That already had me concerned about putting my data on it...

Then, when I went to format it using Disk Management I got an error "The format did not complete successfully" so it won't format either.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can try before sending it back? (I don't want to get charged £18 for sending back a faulty item like I did last time)

Thanks.

Edit: Running Samsungs diagnostics (ESTool) gives several errors on the Random Surface Scan too.

[Mossy]

Please try running Samsung Drive Diagnostic Utility

Can be found HERE

Just seen your Edit

I would contact returns

Regards

[BrianS]

Does that mean definitely faulty? (just trying to do all I can before I send it back, because I can't afford to get charged)

Thanks.

[Mossy]

I can not guarantee something is faulty but just give my opinion, it is for you to decide whether you feel its is faulty. I do advise you to contact returns who will more than likely come to the same conclusion as myself.

Regards

[BrianS]

Thanks, I just emailed Returns so hopefully they will come to the same conclusion. I definitely wouldn't trust this drive with my data (it won't even format to allow me to put files on it anyway so I guess that doesn't matter ).

[Mossy]

Thanks TBH it does sound faulty Samsung drives are generally very quiet and if you are getting errors with their utility i would not be too worried.

[rabbid]

you can use the ESTOOL to do a low level format, if its not physical damage then it might sort it out.
But if you low level it and still get errors then I would certainly return it.

[BrianS]

Sigh! Yesterday I got my RMA number and the pick up date (quick service by SCAN): "When: Thu 15 April 2010 between 10:30 and 15:30" booked the day off work, and surprise surprise city-link didn't show up (as usual). Do you know if they'll bother to turn up tomorrow?

[Mark@SCAN]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about the failed collection, please accept our apologies on behalf of city-link.

Please drop me a PM with your RMA number on and i'll contact city-link and find out what went wrong with yesterday's collection and find out when we can arrange to get it picked up again.

Regards

[BrianS]

Hi,

Sorry to be a pain, could you let me know how long it usually takes from the item being tested to a new one being sent out?

On Tuesday morning it was flagged as as "Awaiting replacement / credit" - Fault found. I haven't got any emails about when a new one will be sent and I'm pretty desperate to get it before the weekend (although that looks unlikely now unless it's sent today).

Thanks again.

Edit: Yay, working replacement turned up this morning, thanks SCAN!