Maxtor One Touch, user comments???

Boyd Ostroff · March 1st, 2006, 08:22 AM

Yes, like Greg says it will just be an off-the-shelf IDE drive inside. All those connectors are standardized. You can pull it from the case, find the model number on the nameplate, then go to Maxtor's website and look through the support section to find the correct jumper settings for your PC or Mac.

James Emory · March 1st, 2006, 08:25 AM

What does the 5v provide power to?

Greg Boston · March 1st, 2006, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Emory

What does the 5v provide power to?

The IC chips on the interface board and the drive.

James Emory · March 1st, 2006, 08:30 AM

Now it doesn't surprise me that it's a typical drive in there but I did think that there would be alot of extra circuitry or whatever permanently attached to it. Even if the interface is the problem, I don't think that this can be fixed because Maxtor doesn't repair these things therefore wouldn't provide parts either. They just replace them to make another $300 from a drive that they already made $300 from. I would hate to find out that was the problem after spending at least $1000 and at most $2600 to recover data from a $300 drive that I could have gotten back myself! I think I'm going to get into the drive and/or recovery business.

James Emory · March 1st, 2006, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Boston

The IC chips on the interface board and the drive.

Well then what does the 12v provide power to? You guys are really tempting me to break that seal and open this thing.

Dionyssios Chalkias · March 1st, 2006, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Emory

I would hate to find out that was the problem after spending at most $2600 to recover data

Yes, if this is the cost, I wouldn't even think about it. I wouldn't hesitate to open it up. And if you find out the IDE drive is faulty, then you can consider getting an estimate for data recovery.

But isn't there a troubleshooting section or a user forum at their site to start with?

Greg Boston · March 1st, 2006, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Emory

Well then what does the 12v provide power to? You guys are really tempting me to break that seal and open this thing.

The 12VDC runs the drive motor and the fan. If you look at the standard 4 pin power plug on floppy, hard, cd, dvd drives, you will see black, red, and yellow wires. Black is ground, Yellow is +12VDC, and Red is +5VDC. This has been the standard since the first IBM PC came out. Newer drives that are SATA interface have different power connectors, but I guarantee you do not have a SATA drive in that Maxtor enclosure.

You can find all this information online.

-gb-

James Emory · March 1st, 2006, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dionyssios Chalkias

Yes, if this is the cost, I wouldn't even think about it. I wouldn't hesitate to open it up. And if you find out the IDE drive is faulty, then you can consider getting an estimate for data recovery.

But isn't there a troubleshooting section or a user forum at their site to start with?

If I open it, no matter what I will be out of $300 because it will void the warranty and I will have to buy a new drive either way. I don't care about the drive as much as the data. Even if it was only the interface and other than the jumper, how would I connect it to my laptop PC?

Boyd Ostroff · March 1st, 2006, 08:56 AM

Actually, if the drive is OK you can buy a do-it-yourself enclosure and pop it inside. I think that will cost more like $100, maybe even less....

Dionyssios Chalkias · March 1st, 2006, 09:06 AM

What I would do if it was about important data without backup: take out the IDE drive, get it into a friend's or colleague's desktop PC or external enclosure.

If it is OK, I would immediately backup my files and then get a USB/FW combo external enclosure for 50-60$, end of story.

If it is bad, I would get an estimate for data recovery, consider if the cost is worth it and decide further.

But there's the risk of not getting the data back and voiding the warranty as well...

James Emory · March 1st, 2006, 04:16 PM

I spoke with someone from a very popular Maxtor dealer today and he said that as far as Maxtor drives, the most models that he is seeing issues and/or failure with are those that exceed 250 GB on a single drive. He knows that it costs more but recommends at least two drives of at the most 250 GB for better performance and more reliability. He also agreed that there are plenty of users with higher capacity Maxtor single drives that have had no issues and that every maker has its share of issues.

I am going to give Maxtor one more chance. I have ordered my warranty replacement and bought another new drive to have a real back up, one that stores only. I am going to take my bad drive to a local computer store and have them remove the internal drive and see if the problem is the interface or if its the actual drive. If the drive is fine I'll have them to recover my files and transfer them over to the new drive. I'll be sure to post the results. Thanks for the help!

James Emory · March 6th, 2006, 09:55 AM

Here are some images of the drive when it was removed from the case for anyone who hasn't seen how it works. If the interface board was found to be the problem and the drive is fine, it seems to me that Maxtor would offer a replacement of only the interface board because all of this is simply removing a few screws and unplugging a couple of cables. Alot of time and money could be saved for the end user if it was done this way.

Drive Image 1

Drive Image 2

Drive Image 3

Drive Image 4

Drive Image 5

Greg Boston · March 6th, 2006, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Emory

Here are some images of the drive when it was removed from the case for anyone who hasn't seen how it works. If the interface board was found to be the problem and the drive is fine, it seems to me that Maxtor would offer a replacement of only the interface board because all of this is simply removing a few screws and unplugging a couple of cables. Alot of time and money could be saved for the end user if it was done this way.

Drive Image 1

Drive Image 2

Drive Image 3

Drive Image 4

Drive Image 5

Pretty much just like I described to you earlier in this thread, huh. In pictures 4 and 5, you can see the master/slave/cs jumper between the data cable and the power plug. Very likely that the drive is okay.

-gb-

James Emory · March 6th, 2006, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Boston

Pretty much just like I described to you earlier in this thread, huh. In pictures 4 and 5, you can see the master/slave/cs jumper between the data cable and the power plug. Very likely that the drive is okay.

-gb-

Yep, it sure is. Because of yours and others' comments, I decided to hold off from sending it out and spending a ton for what could be a simple plug in and copy session. Now, if I knew it was the drive, that would be different. Maxtor even said that with a majority of the returns that they get, there is nothing wrong with the drive. I'll find out tomorrow. Thanks!

Boyd Ostroff · March 6th, 2006, 11:07 AM

Good luck, and let us know how it works out.

March 1st, 2006, 08:22 AM	#16
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	Yes, like Greg says it will just be an off-the-shelf IDE drive inside. All those connectors are standardized. You can pull it from the case, find the model number on the nameplate, then go to Maxtor's website and look through the support section to find the correct jumper settings for your PC or Mac.

March 1st, 2006, 08:25 AM	#17
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	What does the 5v provide power to?

March 1st, 2006, 08:30 AM	#19
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Now it doesn't surprise me that it's a typical drive in there but I did think that there would be alot of extra circuitry or whatever permanently attached to it. Even if the interface is the problem, I don't think that this can be fixed because Maxtor doesn't repair these things therefore wouldn't provide parts either. They just replace them to make another $300 from a drive that they already made $300 from. I would hate to find out that was the problem after spending at least $1000 and at most $2600 to recover data from a $300 drive that I could have gotten back myself! I think I'm going to get into the drive and/or recovery business.

March 1st, 2006, 08:56 AM	#24
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	Actually, if the drive is OK you can buy a do-it-yourself enclosure and pop it inside. I think that will cost more like $100, maybe even less....

March 1st, 2006, 09:06 AM	#25
Dionyssios Chalkias Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 64	What I would do if it was about important data without backup: take out the IDE drive, get it into a friend's or colleague's desktop PC or external enclosure. If it is OK, I would immediately backup my files and then get a USB/FW combo external enclosure for 50-60$, end of story. If it is bad, I would get an estimate for data recovery, consider if the cost is worth it and decide further. But there's the risk of not getting the data back and voiding the warranty as well...

March 1st, 2006, 04:16 PM	#26
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	I spoke with someone from a very popular Maxtor dealer today and he said that as far as Maxtor drives, the most models that he is seeing issues and/or failure with are those that exceed 250 GB on a single drive. He knows that it costs more but recommends at least two drives of at the most 250 GB for better performance and more reliability. He also agreed that there are plenty of users with higher capacity Maxtor single drives that have had no issues and that every maker has its share of issues. I am going to give Maxtor one more chance. I have ordered my warranty replacement and bought another new drive to have a real back up, one that stores only. I am going to take my bad drive to a local computer store and have them remove the internal drive and see if the problem is the interface or if its the actual drive. If the drive is fine I'll have them to recover my files and transfer them over to the new drive. I'll be sure to post the results. Thanks for the help!

March 6th, 2006, 09:55 AM	#27
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Here are some images of the drive when it was removed from the case for anyone who hasn't seen how it works. If the interface board was found to be the problem and the drive is fine, it seems to me that Maxtor would offer a replacement of only the interface board because all of this is simply removing a few screws and unplugging a couple of cables. Alot of time and money could be saved for the end user if it was done this way. Drive Image 1 Drive Image 2 Drive Image 3 Drive Image 4 Drive Image 5

March 6th, 2006, 11:07 AM	#30
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	Good luck, and let us know how it works out.