Buffalo Forums

I recently bought one of these and connected it to my intel quad-core PC.  I ran the NFTS conversion program, after which both windows and the buffalo format utility still thought the drive was FAT32.  Copying files to the system would work for a bit then throw IO errors.  Reformatting as NTFS under window (full format) failed to complete successfully, although after this windows did claim the drive was NTFS.  IO errors continued so I attempted a physical format.  After 2 days I gave up and returned the drive for exchange.

The new drive started similiarly, so I hooked it to an older AMD based system where I did an NTFS quick format.  After this I was able to copy blocks of files with no IO errors so I decided to fill the drive up "just to make sure".  After a couple of hours of operation my computer locked solid, which has never happened before.  Copy large directory trees to the drive consistently reproduces this lockup.

It seems unlikely that I have received two defective drives, unless there was a duff batch, but I can really not see another explanation.  Anyone have any good ideas before I go for a different model?

Well first, I would do a normal format with no compression, not a quick format.

How big was that transfer that locks up you comp?

I'll try a full format. 

I'm copying a range of different files and the lockup does not happen at a consistent point.  None of the files are extraordinarily large.

Well, that was unhelpful.

The machine locked up at about 70% complete for a full NTFS format.

I ran chkdsk and that also locked up part way through pass 2.

Oddly all the files appear to still be on the disk.

Retrying format on my Intel box.

NTFS format failed to comlete on the Intel box.

chkdsk failed with an IO error

I reformatted to FAT32 using the buffalo format utility.  That was very quick but afterwards I still experienced failures.

I notice that there are some files which fail consistenly to copy to the DriveStation although I can copy them between other disks.

I will leave the buffalo utility doing a format with bad sector checks overnight.  Do you advise attempting a physical format?  I abandoned that after 2 days on the originally purchased drive.

The bad sector check completed without incident - no reported bad sectors.  I got IO errors almost immediately I started to copy files onto the disk.

I'm afraid it will have to go back and be changed for a different drive.  I don't know why it doesn't work for me but two in a row is enough.

A reasonable question.  The answer is yes and no.  I didn't change cables with either drive but I assume that the replacement system had a new cable in it.

I'll borrow one from work and try it tonight just in case, but I suspect this will be futile.

I'm going to give it one last chance with my laptop.  Probably tomorrow.  I may even format it ext3 and see if that helps.