Screeching Noise from LSV2.0TL **Has Now Crashed!**

[qballrail]

Recently bought a new LinkStation to replace my old 500G drive.  It's making strange noises unless it's copying something.  The best I can describe it is an intermittent screech, ALMOST a chirp, but not quite, when idle that lasts only a second.  Sometimes it makes the noise twice, and occasionally louder than other times.  Then, I hear nothing for several minutes until another one.  Imagine an old squeaky wagon wheel.  But if it's busy, it doesn't make any sound.  It will also make this noise if it has been idle for a while and I access it from a mapped drive.  And it only does this once.  Did I receive a defective unit? Please say it ain't so... I spent nearly a week copying my data to it.  I've flashed the firmware to v. 1.58, but it did this before. 
 
No error messages, seems to hold data ok, response times are typical.  I've rebooted it a couple of times and it the noise persists.  This is the best I can describe it.

[Jotin]

Do you have to be right next to the drive to hear it or can you hear it anywhere in the room? These unit's do make noise even when not being accessed.

[qballrail]

Anywhere in the room. I have my routing & storage in a closet w/ a louvered door. Its audible even with the door shut. Also note my 500G linkstation does NOT make these noises.

[qballrail]

Well, I came home and it had shut down.  When I rebooted it, I recevied the following:

 

Connection Error:

Some disk information are not obtained.

Failed to get the error information.

 

The NAS Navigator shows the Linkstation with an exclamation mark. 

 

This is unbelievable, I had the 500G for nearly 5 years.  I have this one less than 30 days and it crashes on me.

[Jotin]

It might be a lemon, defective hardware happens. But let's not jump to any conclusions, what version of the Nas Navigator are you running and what firmware version is installed on the LinkStation? Have you tried to access your data?

[qballrail]

Within the first few days of having it, I flashed it to the most current firmware and updated the software version.  What concerns me is the fact that it has shut down repeatedly although I WAS able to  bring it back up there are no other messages than the one I posted.  Yes, I have a lemon.  I've had 20+ years of IT experience and I know a bad drive when I have one, although I've never heard the chirping or screech before, its the hardware, it sounds like the read/write heads are touching the platters.  No firmware or software controls are relevant to that.  I would like to know if I have to go directly through Buffalo for the RMA or the retailer.  If I have to pay shipping, I'm screwed because I don't get paid until next month so I hope that will be covered since I have not yet had this 30 days. 

 

[qballrail]

Well, since I did not receive adequate help and the unit turned out to be defective, it's on it's way back.  I don't know if I will buy BuffaloTech again, my data is way too important to gamble.  "Possibly a lemon" is really unacceptable.  When you're dealing with data storage, whether it's personal, professional, mission critical, or whatever, it should be treated the same and QC should be a bit more on the ball.  I'm disappointed in BuffaloTech on many levels.  I need to move my data off my old LinkStation onto a new device as soon as possible.  But I have to wait for the refund to process, which takes time.  I just hope my current LinkStation holds out until I can afford to replace it, this time hopefully with something reliable.

 

In this whole ordeal, I've lost some important data.  I really don't know where I will turn when my funds are retruned to my account.  It seems most manufacturers use Seagate (including BT) and I've never had much luck with that brand.  Whatever I do, it will have to be soon and to something that's going to be reliable and quick transfer rates. I really can't afford to take an entire week to transfer my data.

 

I don't know if BT Management looks at these forums but I really hope they do.  Quality control needs to be addressed.  One "possibly a lemon" should not be acceptable but I guess since it's not the manufacturers data, that's why they don't claim responsibility for data lost if a system crashes.  Sure, I back up.  Daily.  Thing is, when that backup fails, how can one back up the backups?  A bit tough in these times.  Needless to say, I'm more than just a little disappointed in BT. 

 

Anyway, as they say, "thanks for the fish."

[jabberjaw57]

Thanks for the post qballrail.  I just replaced a defective LSV2.0 (dreaded red light issue) and just received a replacement.  Well I noticed its making the exact chirping noise your indicating.  It's funny because my Dog was barking the last few days for no reason.  I almost took her to the vet.  Well the device is in my network closet at home and I was sitting close to it and could hear the chirp/screech noise.  My dog can hear it better and even was barking at night.  The old one never did this.  This new one is working fine (other than noise), but after reading your post and  dog barking constantly (thinks it's a bird or something in the house),  I'm sending it back.  This will be my third one.  If this was my first one I would just return to Amazon for refund, but too late for that unless I ask for a partial refund.  I went back to the Amazon reviews and man, I blame myself for not reading the negative reviews.  Buffalo also charges service fee of $30 to swap out on warranty items.  They have decent customer service folks.  At least they are not in India and speak English.  It's amazing to me that the most important hardware I have is my storage devices. These have to be the most reliable part made! Luckily I have 2 other backups (not Buffalo)

 

[drmemory]

An Advanced replacement is $30 for the service fee. A standard replacement is free.