Same Model Hard Disks Fail

[thatrenowned]

At work, our standard desktop models are the Compaq Deskpro Series. They use the 10GB Seagate Barracuda ATA II 100 Model ST310216A.
Anyway, we use Windows NT 4.0 with NTFS, and have noticed that these Hard Drives last about a year and then get bad sectors, or they just fail. Just so happens our warranties run out then (maybe we should take out longer ones...hmmmm).
Anyway, is this common with this type of disk, and can anyone recommend a way to help maintain them. I regulalry ran defrag\error checkers and virus checkers to try and keep my disk in top shape, but inevitably, it died after getting bad sectors.
This is getting annoying now because every month or so, we're getting called by users telling us that the drive has died.
Can anyone also recommend a good replacement (about 20gb should be enough), or any utilities which help maintain them.

Rgds

 

[CitrixEngineer]

I have also noticed that older Seagate drives tend to fail more readily than other makes. Maybe someone else has noticed differently?

I'd recommend Maxtor (any Maxtor, depending, of course, on your computer's BIOS) as a replacement. I've also had good luck reliability-wise with Western Digital in this price range - but they don't tend to be as fast or as quiet.

I hope this helps CitrixEngineer@yahoo.co.uk

 

[thatrenowned]

Although the Compaqs are now our standard model, we still have loads of the old Dell Optiplex GX1 series around site. They use a Maxtor 6.4gb hard disk (don't know the model numbers), have been on site for about 3 years, and still seem to be in fine condition.

At home, I have a Western Digital 40gb (again, don't know the model), and I've had no problems with that in the about 9 months I've had. Very quite too

Are Seagate hard disks crap, or is it just this model of them?

Also, if anyone does have any good HDD maintenance software to recommend, it would be appreciated.

Rgds

 

[ANFPS26]

I have a Maxtor 10GB that has been running trouble free for four years. Knock on wood! Jakespeare has said in this forum that he uses nothing but Maxtor and IBM with no problems. By the way does anybody know what has happened to Jakespeare? He hasn't been in this forum since April 3rd. "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing....."

 

[FatesWebb]

Im a best drive for the money guy. but hey maybee that is what gets you into this sort of situation... js error; 67 on line; 36 of signature.class