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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Hi Guys!

I'm hoping your bright minds will know how to solve my strange, recurring problem.

I purchased mentioned iOmega UltraMax 1TB a couple years ago. At first I used to have it on at all times, storing most of my data on it.
Then, within the warranty period, I started having problems with it - it would basically "hang"/freeze. No system eject would work, so I'd switch it off, and on again and it would work. Unfortunately, only for a while.

It's operational time would get shorter and shorter, until it was clear that there's smth wrong with it. So, I sent it back for warranty. After keeping it for ridiculous 2 months period, they'd send it back saying it's not a faulty unit.

So I pack it up with data again (not even to half it's capacity), and after only a week or so it started hanging again Needless to say I didn't want to send it back to the company, so I asked around and a couple people would look at it. No one knew what the problem is.

I'd test the drive on other computers, and just like on mine, it wouldn't show up in the system.

Quite a while has passed, my computer's (imac g5 isight with snow leopard on) power unit has burned, so I replaced it myself with new one. After that, just out of desperate need, I hooked the drive in again, and... it worked!

I tested it for a while (~0.5h) and everything seemed fine - all data on it, fully readable. So I happily assumed this previous problem occurred due to that faulty power unit.

Unfortunately my jolly mood didn't last too long. The drive started freezing Finder.app yet again, usually during reading/copying data, but also while idle.
Then I'd try to restart Finder, but it would come up with -10810 error saying Finder can't be opened, until I switch the drive off.
Now again it stopped showing up on the system.

Some say that the drive is totally buggered, but I don't believe it. Even when it's "freezed", one can hear that it crunches on some data every minute or so. Also when starting it sounds perfectly fine... I tried usb and FireWire, but none would make any difference.
I'm planning on reinstalling my system, hoping that it's a software issue (Finder is known for having trouble handling external drives, prompting up the -10810 error).

Also, today a friend suggested that I should try hooking it up to Linux based computer, as it is also UNIX system. The drive is formatted in mac journal, so I dunno if that could work, but I'll try anything.

Let me know if I can provide additional data for You to help understand this better.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
 

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Re: iOmega UltraMax 1TB strangely failing

If this drive has it's own power adapter, plug it into the wall and not through a surge protector or extension cord as this diminishes the power.
Go into Disk Utilities and check the Permissions on the drive.
If this still fails, the controller inside the enclosure may be failing. You can remove the drive from the enclosure and attach it via a USB Adapter or put it in another USB enclosure with a power adapter.
 

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Discussion Starter · #3 ·
Re: iOmega UltraMax 1TB strangely failing

Hi spunk.funk, thanks for your reply.

I also suspected the old electrical circuit in my house to be the problem, but it didn't help. Also the problem has been occurring in two different locations, so it's unlikely that this is the case... unless the power adapter is stuffed. I'll give it another go and try it with another adapter. If that won't do, then I'll move to your second suggestion, and try the USB adapter, need to order it first though. I also have no idea how to deal with the electronic guts of a HD, but will look it up and see if I can get some clues as to how it should be done.

Cheers!
 

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Re: iOmega UltraMax 1TB strangely failing

To disassemble the drive is simple. There are a few screws that keep the HDD in, the electronic guts are very simple, just a little controller that allows USB and FireWire and on the inside, a power plug and data cable going to the drive, this is the part that usually fails faster then the actual HDD. If you go to YouTube you can see similar drives and how they are disassembled.
 

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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
Re: iOmega UltraMax 1TB strangely failing

A friend just said I should try his SATA adapter, so maybe I'll get to try it out in the next couple of days.

Thanks for your help. I appreciate it a lot!
 

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Re: iOmega UltraMax 1TB strangely failing

You are welcome! Please let us know how you come out.
 

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Discussion Starter · #7 ·
Re: iOmega UltraMax 1TB strangely failing

There we go. The drive works perfectly well with that sata adapter. Thanks spunk.funk for your tip! You helped me solve a problem that iOmega's service didn't not only fix, but even detect during 2 months long check up...
 

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Re: iOmega UltraMax 1TB strangely failing

You are welcome! Please mark this thread Solved in the Thread Tools at the top.
 

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