HP/Compaq HDD Capacity Lock

[Ya_know]

I think everyone is forgetting something here. If the drive is defective, which seems apparent, why not send it back as a DOA RMA, and get a replacement, or at least an explanation from the source as to why the full amount isn’t seen. And the explanation should come in writing, and from a creatable echelon of Compaq, not the first level techs.

I too have never heard of this type of referb, so again, seems to me like it is a defect and should be replaced...bottom line.

[TripleRLtd]

I think everyone is forgetting something here. If the drive is defective, which seems apparent, why not send it back as a DOA RMA, and get a replacement, or at least an explanation from the source as to why the full amount isn’t seen. And the explanation should come in writing, and from a creatable echelon of Compaq, not the first level techs.

I too have never heard of this type of referb, so again, seems to me like it is a defect and should be replaced...bottom line.

Yes indeed, it would be very interesting to hear what they have to say.

[Ruslan]

Yes indeed, it would be very interesting to hear what they have to say.

Well,about policy...

Following letter from Maxtor's support I received every time I applied for RMA (confidentional information excluded):


READ CAREFULLY OR YOU MAY VOID YOUR WARRANTY

This Shipping and Packaging document is provided to help clarify the
step-by-step process of returning a product to Maxtor. Please follow
these instructions carefully to avoid voiding your warranty by improper
shipping or packaging methods. Once you have read these instructions,
please acknowledge your responsibility by checking the checkbox and then
select the "Next" button at the bottom of this page request the issuance
of an RMA.

Basic Return Shipping Information

IMPORTANT: Be sure to back up the data on your drive before sending it
to Maxtor.

If your drive is not in service and your data is no longer retrievable,
please contact a data recovery service before shipping the drive to
Maxtor. Once the drive is mailed to Maxtor, you should consider the data
irretrievable.

Before returning a drive to Maxtor you must obtain an RMA number.
Please remove all accessories including cables, brackets and
faceplates from the drive (send only the bare drive).
To obtain warranty service, you must return the drives in
Maxtor-approved packaging.
It is very important to ship all returned drives via a traceable
carrier who can provide you with a proof of delivery. Examples of traceable
carriers are Federal Express, Airborne, DHL, UPS, TNT, and U.S. Mail
Priority (we do not recommend non-traceable first, second or third class
mail).
You are responsible for the freight costs of shipping the returned
drive to Maxtor. Maxtor pays the freight costs for shipping the
replacement drive to you as a part of a covered warranty service.
Purchase of insurance is at your cost and discretion.
Maxtor does not take responsibility for drives lost or damaged in
transit.
Maxtor is not responsible for any contents received other than the
Maxtor hard drive.

Proper Shipping Of Individual Drives

The drive must be placed in an anti-static bag, similar to the silver
bag provided in the original drive packaging.
The drive must be packed with the original drive inserts that came
with the retail package (Figure 1) OR surrounded on all sides with solid
foam cushioning which is a minimum of two inches thick (Figure 2). Do
NOT use Styrofoam, peanuts or bubble wrap.
The drive must be sealed in a sturdy cardboard shipping container.
The original retail box the drive came in would be an ideal shipping
container.

If you require packaging, Maxtor will provide it to you at a nominal
cost. Please contact Maxtor at 1-800-2MAXTOR (800-262-9867) to request
proper return shipment packaging.

IMPORTANT: Clearly write the RMA Number issued by Maxtor on the outside
of the box or container used to ship the drive to Maxtor. Maxtor may
refuse receipt of packages which do not have a clearly identified RMA
Number. In any case, processing will be delayed.



Important Customs Invoice information:

If you are returning a disk drive from a location outside of the
United States, U.S. Customs requires that a Commercial Invoice be attached
to your shipment for importation. If this requirement is not met, your
shipment may be returned to you, or held by U.S. Customs until the
required information for clearance is provided.

To retrieve a copy of an invoice template, please perform the
following:
Download the Invoice Template to your desktop or other location such
as C:/documents for future reference and retrieval. For future
reference the invoice can be located at:
http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/ser...a_template.xls
Open the file and select "File" from the toolbar and "Save As".
Rename the file to a unique name before typing in any information or you
will lose all input. (e.g. invoice_maxtor -OR- your company's name
inserted in the title). Note: This is a read only file until saved and
renamed.
Complete all the required fields and print the form.

Please note that you do not need to pay any invoice sent out with your
replacement drive. This paperwork is sent to explain at customs that
the hard drive is merely an "in-warranty" replacement.


Method Of Shipment

Please be sure to ship your drive to Maxtor via a traceable carrier
that can provide you with a proof of delivery if necessary (e.g., Federal
Express, Airborne, DHL, UPS, TNT, and U.S. Mail Priority).
Maxtor-approved packaging may be purchased from a Maxtor Customer Support
representative at a minimal cost (please reference the above section).

Please note that you do not need to pay the commercial invoice sent out
with your replacement drive. This paperwork provides customs with a
value for the hard drive. For insurance and legal reasons it is not
possible to change the value shown on the invoice. However, the invoice
states clearly that the contents of the shipment are In Warranty
Replacement hard drives. Please be aware that Maxtor will not pay local custom
charges.

About Your Replacement Drive

If your hard drive qualifies for warranty services, it will be replaced
with a factory re-certified hard drive, which has passed the same
quality standards as our new drives of the returned model. Maxtor seeks to
provide replacement drives of the same model. If the same model drive
is unavailable, the drive will be replaced with a comparable model.

NOTE: Any drive that fails within the first 30 days will be replaced
with a new build drive. Proof of Purchase may be required.

Replacement Warranty Period

The warranty period for your replacement drive is the remainder of the
warranty period for your original drive or 90 days, whichever is
longer.

The Maxtor Limited Warranty does not cover any of the following
conditions:

Abuse, unreasonable use, mistreatment, or neglect
Unusual physical or electrical stress or power fluctuations
Damage caused during installation of the Product
Damage caused by the equipment or system with which the Product is
used
Damage caused by modification or repair not made or authorized by
Maxtor
Products whose Maxtor Serial Number has been removed or defaced
Damage caused by use of non-Maxtor packaging
Damage caused by improper or improperly used packaging
Damage caused by lack of ESD protection
Products that are determined to be stolen


By way of example, drives received from customers evidencing any of the
following conditions are NOT eligible for in warranty replacement:

Damage caused by improper or improperly used packaging. Some examples
of damage caused by inadequate packaging are:

Multiple drives packed into a single box without separators, allowing
contact with adjacent drives;
Drives packed in envelopes or boxes without protective cushioning;
Drives shipped in Styrofoam, peanuts or bubble wrap and drives packed
without ESD protective bags.

If present, the Head Disk Assembly seals broken or tampered with. The
HDA seals are the stickers that wrap around the drive from the topside
to the side opposite where the printed circuit board assembly is
mounted.
Physical damage to the drive. For example, a broken or dented housing
or printed circuit board assembly.
Components added or removed from the printed circuit board (except for
jumpers and socketed termination resistors).


Contact Information

Please contact us if you require further information. In North America
telephone 1-800-2MAXTOR.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think another manufacturers are having something very similar...

[TripleRLtd]

About Your Replacement Drive

If your hard drive qualifies for warranty services, it will be replaced
with a factory re-certified hard drive, which has passed the same
quality standards as our new drives of the returned model. Maxtor seeks to
provide replacement drives of the same model. If the same model drive
is unavailable, the drive will be replaced with a comparable model.

NOTE: Any drive that fails within the first 30 days will be replaced
with a new build drive. Proof of Purchase may be required.

TheCardMan needs to bring this up with Compaq.
Remember, Rus, this was a Compaq issue, not the hdd mfg.
He started with what, a Maxtor, and ended up with a WD.

[Ruslan]

By the way, TripleRLtd ...
I can send some pictures of the refurbished drives to you, if you want...

Besides obvious stickers on the harddrives, there are few more ways to distinguish new and factory repaired drives...

For example, older factory repaired WD drives were having letter "S" after manufacturing date or "R" in model numbers... newer are having bit different sticker clearly saying saying "refurbished"...

Maxtors are "re-tested and serviced to Maxtor specifications"...

Fujitsu refurbished drives are having serial numbers like "200000096", "130000234"... besides, sometimes sticker says for example, 8,4Gig, but actual size is 10Gb...

In your case with "2,1 gig" MPC drive - you're right, there is no such a model in MPC serie (3,2Gig min - 1 platter, two heads)... So, it means what this drive most likely has used HPA method for hiding errors (as I have already said, it can be checked by MHDD utility)...

[Ruslan]

TheCardMan needs to bring this up with Compaq.
Remember, Rus, this was a Compaq issue, not the hdd mfg.
He started with what, a Maxtor, and ended up with a WD.

Sorry, TripleRLtd, I cannot get you... For Compaq (as well as for IBM or HP) there is no difference between Maxtor, WD, Samsung or any other drives - for PC manufacturers, they are all having the same value, the same (or almost the same) price...
Exactly the same Compaq or IBM model can be coming with WD, Seagate or Maxtor drive (approximately the same speed drives are having the same description - "value drive" or "perfomance (i.e. high speed) drives"). So, according to Compaq (or HP) it is "normal" to send WD drive instead of Maxtor... You like it or you don't like it...

The only problem is to find out - is this drive "castrated", refurbished version of WD400 (most likely) or is it actually 40 Gig drive, which is just not properly detected by BIOS...

In the first case I would try to safely "kill" the drive and return it back... by the way, mentioned MHDD util can do it (there are even few different special "Kill" commands )...

[TripleRLtd]

Sorry, TripleRLtd, I cannot get you... For Compaq (as well as for IBM or HP) there is no difference between Maxtor, WD, Samsung or any other drives - for PC manufacturers, they are all having the same value, the same (or almost the same) price...
Exactly the same Compaq or IBM model can be coming with WD, Seagate or Maxtor drive (approximately the same speed drives are having the same description - "value drive" or "perfomance (i.e. high speed) drives"). So, according to Compaq (or HP) it is "normal" to send WD drive instead of Maxtor... You like it or you don't like it...

The only problem is to find out - is this drive "castrated", refurbished version of WD400 (most likely) or is it actually 40 Gig drive, which is just not properly detected by BIOS...

In the first case I would try to safely "kill" the drive and return it back... by the way, mentioned MHDD util can do it (there are even few different special "Kill" commands )...

Yeah, now we're talking!!!
Are you listening Cardman?

[TheCardMan]

Yes, I got it. I am going to try to return it as bad. I will find a way and will let you all know what they say.

[somedumbguy]

I have seen this many times. The company I work for has hundreds of these en series computers and extended warrantys on all. They all came with 10 gig hd's and whenever one fails, we get a wd400 that is locked at 10 gigs. I don't beleive these are refurbs. I have been told that compaq loads a different firmware on these that limits them. I have been searching for a firmware upgrade to fix this "problem" but have been unsuccessful. I would love to hear if someone comes up with a fix for this.

[J741]

I have some more information about this issue, and a tool which may help fix the problem. I found it at http://www.altruists.org/projects/hw/hr/

- James.

[drivers]

The previuos post by J741 is a good one. The HDAT2 utility found at: http://www.hdat2.com/ worked for me. I have a 40GB Maxtor drive that was capped by HP to 20GB. The reason they do this because basically the smaller drives are no longer produced, or are hard to aquire. And the bigger drives are readily available. Why the cap or limit them I have no idea. Dell doesn't cap thier drives. I know this as I work for a reseller/service provider of HP and Dell systems and I'm a certified tech. I even tried to get a "fix" for this via my channels, but they wouldn't budge. But like I said, the hdat2 utility worked for me on at least the one drive I tried today. Note though, if you u-cap the drive, then it goes bad later on, HP may not take it back because it was a 20GB instead of a 40GB.