Hard drives. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

DAVEHALL · 12th Feb 2012, 12:11 pm

Been forced to look round for a couple of hard drives recently .What I've noticed is that despite prices going up due to the flooding,there's a lot of almost new drives on the market ( one name is "clean pull" -advertised as being out of built PCs .Presumably the makers can't sell at this moment .Guarantees vary as does price .Sizes are from approx 80B down ( but larger are about) .I spotted one today at £4.99 ( WD 80GB) .Postage tkes it up to £8.99.Don't know what rules on naming -so won't ,but if anyone's interested -PM.I got one earlier -80GB WD Caviare for less than £15 .

Been forced to look round for a couple of hard drives recently. What I've noticed is that despite prices going up due to the flooding ,there's a lot of almost new drives on the market. One name is "Clean Pull", advertised as being pulls from PCs which resumably the makers can't sell at this moment. Guarantees vary as does price. Sizes are from approx 80GB down, but there are larger ones about. I spotted one today at £4.99 (WD 80GB). Postage takes it up to £8.99. Don't know what the rules are on naming suppliers, so I won't. If anyone's interested PM me. I got one earlier, an 80GB WD Caviare, for less than £15.

paulsherwin · 12th Feb 2012, 12:20 pm

An 80GB PATA drive is likely to be quite old, though it may still be perfectly serviceable of course.

The problem with buying any secondhand drive is you are taking a risk. The age and usage history of the drive is usually unknown - it may have been in a server and run 24/7 for the last 8 years, or it may be an unused spare from a store cupboard. Some sellers are downright dishonest and sell known faulty drives as working.

They are OK if you don't mind taking a gamble though. I've bought a few drives like this.

DAVEHALL · 12th Feb 2012, 12:51 pm

One place I've seen them offered at around £20 for an 80GB is a major seller ,but with a year warranty -other places ,price varies as warranty . One I got passed a Powermax burn in test -but these days I find that certain makes only last a couple of years .Thought the smaller ( older ones ) might be of some use to folks running older/vintage PCs .

One place I've seen them offered at around £20 for an 80GB is a major seller, but with a year warranty. Other places, price varies as warranty. One I got passed a Powermax burn in test , but these days I find that certain makes only last a couple of years. Thought the smaller, older ones, might be of some use to folks running older/vintage PCs.

Alistair D · 12th Feb 2012, 1:55 pm

I have a virtually unused 80GB Maxtor parallel (IDE) drive here that I will never use again. It is yours for the cost of postage. PM me if you are interested.

Al

DAVEHALL · 12th Feb 2012, 2:55 pm

Thanks for the offer, but I've replaced the faulty drives and all is, almost, back to normal. Would seem to me like greed to accept, though it might be of some use to someone else.

Skywave · 18th Feb 2012, 5:35 pm

Alistair D: I have sent you a P.M.

Al. / Feb. 18th., 2012 //

Alistair D · 18th Feb 2012, 10:50 pm

I should have posted this earlier. The drive now has a new owner. Thanks for all the interest.

Al

12th Feb 2012, 12:11 pm	#1
DAVEHALL Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Coventry, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 339	Hard drives. Been forced to look round for a couple of hard drives recently .What I've noticed is that despite prices going up due to the flooding,there's a lot of almost new drives on the market ( one name is "clean pull" -advertised as being out of built PCs .Presumably the makers can't sell at this moment .Guarantees vary as does price .Sizes are from approx 80B down ( but larger are about) .I spotted one today at £4.99 ( WD 80GB) .Postage tkes it up to £8.99.Don't know what rules on naming -so won't ,but if anyone's interested -PM.I got one earlier -80GB WD Caviare for less than £15 . Been forced to look round for a couple of hard drives recently. What I've noticed is that despite prices going up due to the flooding ,there's a lot of almost new drives on the market. One name is "Clean Pull", advertised as being pulls from PCs which resumably the makers can't sell at this moment. Guarantees vary as does price. Sizes are from approx 80GB down, but there are larger ones about. I spotted one today at £4.99 (WD 80GB). Postage takes it up to £8.99. Don't know what the rules are on naming suppliers, so I won't. If anyone's interested PM me. I got one earlier, an 80GB WD Caviare, for less than £15.

12th Feb 2012, 12:20 pm	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,947	Re: hard drives An 80GB PATA drive is likely to be quite old, though it may still be perfectly serviceable of course. The problem with buying any secondhand drive is you are taking a risk. The age and usage history of the drive is usually unknown - it may have been in a server and run 24/7 for the last 8 years, or it may be an unused spare from a store cupboard. Some sellers are downright dishonest and sell known faulty drives as working. They are OK if you don't mind taking a gamble though. I've bought a few drives like this.

12th Feb 2012, 12:51 pm	#3
DAVEHALL Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Coventry, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 339	Re: hard drives One place I've seen them offered at around £20 for an 80GB is a major seller ,but with a year warranty -other places ,price varies as warranty . One I got passed a Powermax burn in test -but these days I find that certain makes only last a couple of years .Thought the smaller ( older ones ) might be of some use to folks running older/vintage PCs . One place I've seen them offered at around £20 for an 80GB is a major seller, but with a year warranty. Other places, price varies as warranty. One I got passed a Powermax burn in test , but these days I find that certain makes only last a couple of years. Thought the smaller, older ones, might be of some use to folks running older/vintage PCs.

12th Feb 2012, 1:55 pm	#4
Alistair D Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 2,008	Re: Hard drives. I have a virtually unused 80GB Maxtor parallel (IDE) drive here that I will never use again. It is yours for the cost of postage. PM me if you are interested. Al __________________ I won't tell you how I discovered that.

12th Feb 2012, 2:55 pm	#5
DAVEHALL Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Coventry, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 339	Re: Hard drives. Thanks for the offer, but I've replaced the faulty drives and all is, almost, back to normal. Would seem to me like greed to accept, though it might be of some use to someone else.

18th Feb 2012, 5:35 pm	#6
Skywave Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK. Posts: 7,457	Re: Hard drives. Alistair D: I have sent you a P.M. Al. / Feb. 18th., 2012 //

18th Feb 2012, 10:50 pm	#7
Alistair D Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 2,008	Re: Hard drives. I should have posted this earlier. The drive now has a new owner. Thanks for all the interest. Al __________________ I won't tell you how I discovered that.