MAXTOR Drives Faulty?
7 messages in this thread
Recently we swapped our old SEAGATE hard drive for a MAXTOR 7120 SCSI with
120 Meg capacity. We have regretted this move. After about 4 months
operation the MAXTOR would not boot up. Software and other hardware checked
out OK. With computer case open, noticed that a light tap on the case of
the MAXTOR started the correct booting process. If the computer is shut
down and restarted within an hour or so, the drive boots. If it is
overnight however, the problem occurs.
An associate in another State has the same drive in an Amiga. He tells me
that he has a similar problem. This leads to the question… Is this model
of the MAXTOR set of drives a dud – or are all MAXTOR drive products
syspect when it comes to quality? Has anyone else had MAXTOR problems?
Am contacting MAXTOR in San Jose, CA. It will be interesting to see if and
when they respond.
Regards……. HILARY.
Hilary,
I've had to occasionally tap from time to time on my Seagate external
to get it to spool up during a cold start. The techno-term I've heard it
referred as is 'Sticktion'.I spoke to Seagate Tech Support and their
response is to issue an RMA and request $170 and my old drive. All they'll
do is swap it out.
Chris
Hope I do better with MAXTOR!
Regards…. Hilary
I've had the same problem with Seagates and the same solution too! What
works for a while is to just leave the machine on until you can bear to
be without it long enough to swap the drives. These things should come
with some kind of crank so you can jump start them.
-=> Paul McCarthy <=- on AutoPilot from New York City
Hilary;
If Maxtor does not respond, I will be VERY surprised. I have never dealt
with a drive company that was so concerned about their product line.
However, that particular drive might now actually be a Maxtor drive. When
you call Maxtor, their phone message will give you a number based upon the
drive model number.
As to general quality… Maxtor, Micropolis, and CDC were about the top of
the line. The Maxtor LXT535 appear to be one outstanding drive (but ask
me again in a couple of years) 🙂
-bill
Hilary,
Your Maxtor is defective, it's not an Amiga problem. You're
experiencing the first stages of "stiction"…a situation that occurs when
the lubrication on the drive platters is a bit too heavy. It forms "worms"
or little traces (that look like a white worm under a microscope) of
lubrication after a bit of time and normally they occur in the park zone.
Overnight, the heads literaly sink into the goo…and become stuck…the
drive motor hasn't got enough 'umph' to drag the heads out of the goo.
Initially, a light tap will sufficiently loosen the heads…but as the
worms get thicker (and we're still talking microscopic thickness) a tap
won't do it and you'll have to get to the spindle itself to get things
going…IF you can get to the spindle.
Don
Don, Greetings and thanks for your explanation.
Must now give a BIG PLUG for Maxtor.
Two days ago FAXed Maxtor, explaining my problem. Yesterday had call from
them. Sending new replacement drive overnight, and would I send faulty
drive back to them? To-day, less than 24 hours after their call, the
replacement drive arrived here – via Fed. Xpress.
That's EXCELLENT service!!
Would love to take a drive apart some day, but think it is a job to be done
in a clean room…. which I do not have.
Have a good Thanksgiving Don, and with regards…. HILARY.