Subj : What to do with a gia To : Ky Moffet From : Barry Martin Date : Wed Feb 16 2022 08:50:00 Hi Ky! > > Good memory! No idea what happened - thinking maybe one of the r/w arms > > broke as thought I heard a rattling. Computer was on a UPS so shouldn't > > have been a shock from a voltage surge. > KM> I've seen a HD with a busted r/w arm (head come loose and just > KM> dangling) and another with the arm disconnected entirely. So it > KM> does happen! > In hind sight I should have opened the drive to see what happened. I > know I tried a few recovery options. KM> If they're making noise it's one of two problems: either busted KM> as above, or (more often) the logic board died and it's making KM> the motor go clank clank clank. Logic boards can be replaced... KM> sometimes. Around the 40GB era that starts to be very specific KM> and needs an exact-match chip, or it won't work. Matching same KM> production batch, not just same model, and with the more modern KM> HDs every drive is different because the chip is programmed to KM> match the individual drive. There's an outfit that sells the KM> logic boards, and also does the repairs for under $100 or so, but KM> it's no longer something you and I can really do. Right: opening would have been more to physically see the innerds as opposed to just seeing a picture. If even attempted to repair I doubt I woudl have trusted the HDD any longer. Not doubting my repair ability, more the HDD failed and it shouldn't have. > KM> So long as it schlepps files back and forth and stores 'em > KM> reliably, it's good enough, what else is a NAS supposed to do > KM> anyway?? > Provide another source for blinkenlichten! Actually pretty much my KM> LOL! > thoughts: just need it to store/backup data. The only two issues with it > are current OSs whine about the low security version it has (can't be > updated as no longer supported) -- I have a work-around and don't need > the security. The other is it is getting a little long in the tooth and > so might have some pending hardware issues. KM> Yeah, same reason I don't care that Bullet, who until I started KM> rearranging hardware was doing duty as file server, is 14 years KM> old. Reliable, so who cares? And unless some nullwit breaks into KM> my house and peers into my files, there really isn't any security KM> issue. Pretty much the same here. Actually I'm more concerned with the neighbour's tree falling this direction and smashing stuff than a break in. (We did have a severe wind storm after the Derecho and I did move stuff from my desk as it's right next to the window: was a bit concerned the window might break.) > > I'm been planning to build my own NAS: > KM> There exist NAS-OS images, tho I haven't looked into 'em. > Have found some of them and glanced through. Some look pretty > impressive! KM> Yeah, quite competent. But first!.... KM> The Asustor, if I were rich and buying a NAS, looks like a really KM> nice unit. Since I'm not rich, some low-power PC will do. :P I'm thinking more towards building my own mainly because I have the parts laying around (or at least think I have!). As far as physical size, the purchasable (that a word?) versions seem to be more compact, which has an advantage -- the current NAS is in the basement on a storage cabinet under the service panel. A too-tall unit won't fit; a too-wide unit is possible but have to move the UPS down there (which is on the cabinet. ...Actually there's a second UPS: the one for the VoIP (telephone service on the fiber optic line). > > use some of the old/smaller HDDs > > for end-directories (instead of a sub-dir on a huge/new HDD). Some > > other project bullies its way in front of the line.... > KM> I guess until you run out of connectors... > Strip and solder a few of the wires together to make Y-adapters. KM> Cheat :P Would work for power, probably not data. :( > KM> I recall an Adventure with several bogus AData thumb drives.... > KM> in my observation, all the off-brand drives are crap. If it's not > KM> a Big Name, AVOID!! > Yes, these were Adata thumbdrives. Not sure if it's an off-brand but I > wasn't impressed by their customer service and so they are now on my Do > Not Buy List. KM> Looks to me like the off-brands are buying seconds KM> (borderline-defective memory chips) and building the units with KM> the cheapest logic board available. So they're bound to fail KM> early and often... and are priced accordingly. The trouble was both the yellow and blue ones were Adata, 16 GB, USB 3.0, UV128 (whatever that means). Physically identical except for the colour. Blue ones "always" worked -- I did manage to kill a couple but seemed to be more me doing something as opposed to the yellow ones just failing 'mid-air'. A while back (year, maybe two) I did sort of check and the blue ones had differences from the yellow per diagnostic/recovery utilities. The experience definitely soured me on Adata, so no buying anything from them. KM> At this point, in a flash drive or memory card, I'll only buy KM> Sandisk. I've been sticking with SanDisk and Kingston. ¯ BarryMartin3@ ® ¯ @MyMetronet.NET ® .... 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