Received RMA drive today

[Xponential]

I had to RMA a WD 74GB Raptor that failed after ~ 2.5 years and received my new drive today. The first thing I noticed was the manufacture date which is 3 December 2009. I got excited at first because I thought WD had sent me a new drive. Then I noticed that it's labeled "Recertified" above the model number (WD740ADFD).

So this drive failed less than 2 months after it was manufactured, was RMAed, and is now recertified? Should I be worried? Could the manufacture date on the drive actually be the date it was "Recertified" and not when the drive was originally manufactured?

 

[C1]

I look at situations as yours as a benefit/advantage. Electronics typically has a bath tub shaped reliability curve (ie, early failure then late failure). So any early failure (of say a chip on the PCB) or weak link has been eliminated.

My bet is that there probably wasnt anything serious wrong with the drive to begin with. Easily it could have been a returned item to a store, but needed to be re-certified because the package was opened.

Use your new drive with confidence that its correct operation/functioning has been at least doubly verified. To eliminate any doubts you may have just run a free SeaTools long/thorough HDD test/scan.

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

maybe the dec 9 date is when it was recert. new label overall?

 

[iluvdeal]

I wouldn't be worried but I wouldn't skip backing up my data either. It's common practice for hdd manufacturers to send out re-certified drives as RMA replacements. If you check the serial number of the replacement drive, you likely have a renewed warranty period as well.

 

[Xponential]

I wouldn't be worried but I wouldn't skip backing up my data either. It's common practice for hdd manufacturers to send out re-certified drives as RMA replacements. If you check the serial number of the replacement drive, you likely have a renewed warranty period as well.

Nope, warranty ends at the same time as the drive I sent in. I'm hoping I'll be ok at least until I can afford to build a RAID array. I have all the important stuff backed up on a 16GB OCZ flash drive.