Originally posted by: Looney
Define 'failed'? Are they dead, like won't spin up or power on? Or did the array simply detected it as failed? When you run the manufacturer diagnostic tools, are the drives ok? Are you using a raid controller?
Failed is in 1000's of errors in the event log, cannot read from the array in a timely manner (sometimes failing all together), Windows Disk Management console claiming the disk is failed, the drive failing the Seagate diagnostic tool, and the array working fine (just without redundancy) when the drive is removed from the array.
I've put a desk fan just blowing on low, and now the drives are actually cold to the touch, so that and another RMA should hold me over until when I want to build a proper gaming rig / media server.
Thanks to everyone for pointing out the two likely causes...heat and poor power, as I would have only guessed heat.