Problems with 1Tb drivestation

leng · February 06, 2009, 04:39:27 AM

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?

kevin · February 06, 2009, 08:55:56 PM

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?

leng · February 07, 2009, 06:21:30 AM

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.

leng · February 07, 2009, 03:24:22 PM

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.

leng · February 08, 2009, 04:24:45 PM

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.

leng · February 09, 2009, 12:24:49 PM

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.

nicbot · February 09, 2009, 06:47:26 PM

Just wondering...Did you try a different USB cable?

leng · February 10, 2009, 07:02:39 AM

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.

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Problems with 1Tb drivestation