Samsung spinpoint 1TB not formatting

rounddodger · 15 May 2008 at 23:17

I received my 1TB Spinpoint today and for some reason it gets to 8% through a normal format and just stays there. Really bloody annoyed.

Any ideas or is it a case of sending back for a new one?

I take it OcUK refund the return postage on faulty items?

Cheers.

rounddodger · 16 May 2008 at 07:37

Just to update, i managed to quick format it last night but after a couple mins the drive disappeared from windows! left it on over night on full format and this morning it said format complete. Running an error check while i'm at work and fingers crossed! I unplugged one of my other drives fearing a power issue, could this be a problem? Are there any good HDD apps out there that anyone can recommend to check for errors etc? Cheers

My rig is in sig but I also have :-

WD Caviar 320
WD Caviar 500

As well as the new spinpoint.

thegoonden · 16 May 2008 at 08:26

Had identical behaviour once. (oddly enough, that was from a WD), a different sata cable cured all.

bledd · 16 May 2008 at 12:54

try a new cable (and then port)

the cables are quite easy to damage

rounddodger · 16 May 2008 at 20:10

Nah it's completely shagged so it's going back first thing monday. Tried different SATA ports and cables and you just can't write data to it, just locks up whole computer.

*sigh*

joedeath332 · 16 May 2008 at 21:26

Unlucky,, i take it that you have not got a 2nd pc to try it in.

braveheart · 16 May 2008 at 22:39

if you use old hard drive and still running windows then try format new Samsung hard drive into Computer Management and format - it take time... it dont make quick format as it usual full format - about 30-60 mins roughly to be complete... if you reinstall Vista then format take few seconds.

VoG · 16 May 2008 at 23:30

if in doubt just use ES-Tool, it's a hdd utility from samsung, takes awhile to run but it'll confirm wether or not a Samsung hdd is genuinely stuffed or not.

http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/support/utilities/ES_Tool.html

rounddodger · 19 May 2008 at 11:11

Well have rang OcUK and will return it tomorrow when I'm off.

Only thing that concerns me is the fact I told the guy, look the drive isn't working and under the sale of goods act I'd like it replaced but I got an RMA number anyway??

Ah well, anyone else had experience of the returns process?

NickK · 19 May 2008 at 12:37

I remember sending back 3 out of 4 drives once - one DoA, two got to about 70% then hung..

kylew · 19 May 2008 at 14:27

Don't be put off samsung drives because of this though, they're great drives, very fast, very quiet, and all round great drives. I've got 3 samsung drives in my PC, 2 500s, 1 200, I've also got 2 hitachi 750s, I regretted buying the hitachi drives a week later as the samsungs are so much nicer in comparison. I'll be making a file server soon and it's only gonna have samsung F1 1TB drives in it.

*cough* I'm not a samsung fanboy honestly...

pugheaven · 20 May 2008 at 12:47

kylew said:
Don't be put off samsung drives because of this though, they're great drives, very fast, very quiet, and all round great drives. I've got 3 samsung drives in my PC, 2 500s, 1 200, I've also got 2 hitachi 750s, I regretted buying the hitachi drives a week later as the samsungs are so much nicer in comparison. I'll be making a file server soon and it's only gonna have samsung F1 1TB drives in it. *cough* I'm not a samsung fanboy honestly...

Well, I have 2x1TB in RAID0 and they're running like a dream. These are the first Samsungs I've ever had, usually buy Western Digital, however I feel the performance is losing out nowadays so went for Sammies instead... and have to say, 4 weeks into running them, not a single problem anywhere... long may it continue...

Cheers
Pug

Kalpsn2000 · 20 May 2008 at 14:26

pugheaven said:
Well, I have 2x1TB in RAID0 and they're running like a dream. These are the first Samsungs I've ever had, usually buy Western Digital, however I feel the performance is losing out nowadays so went for Sammies instead... and have to say, 4 weeks into running them, not a single problem anywhere... long may it continue...

Cheers
Pug

Good to hear as I have just had delivery of my Samsung F1 1TB.

rounddodger · 25 May 2008 at 18:01

Just to let you guys know OcUK were actually very quick getting a replacement back to me, sent it off special delivery on the 20th and recieved my new working drive on the 23rd.

Not bad!

Just need my 6 quid back for postage.

snow patrol · 26 May 2008 at 10:59

are you likely to get that six quid back then?

rounddodger · 26 May 2008 at 12:13

Yeah bloody well hope so, I was sent faulty goods which I retuned within 7 days so they better had.

DavidB · 26 May 2008 at 13:09

pugheaven said:
Well, I have 2x1TB in RAID0 and they're running like a dream. These are the first Samsungs I've ever had, usually buy Western Digital, however I feel the performance is losing out nowadays so went for Sammies instead... and have to say, 4 weeks into running them, not a single problem anywhere... long may it continue...

Cheers
Pug

2Tb of data in RAID 0 ? Whats the requirement of that then? Sounds mad

SlyReaper · 26 May 2008 at 13:33

I had a similar problem with this drive. It turned out to be my motherboard's fault (GA-945PL-S3P) since it had a bug whereby it couldn't detect 1TB drives properly. Is your motherboard an oldish Gigabyte board by any chance?