Used 2.5" HDDs sold on Aliexpress show misleading data, few hours of use and good health within Crystal Disk Info marked real numbers. My question is: what do they change to show these results? Firmware original, real SMART data, any files on the platters? They (Chinese) remove and modify functions of the original firmware such as head parking and power management.
HDDs 2.5" buy in Aliexpress
- Thread starter cloudff7
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I wouldn't touch those used hard drives on Aliexpress or Temu. You're 100% correct, these "factory" resellers modify firmware to misrepresent the hard drive. The easiest way to determine that, is to run the serial number the drive reports on the manufacturer's warranty page. I have a source for used hard drives on eBay, he and his company are honest. Unfortunately his HD prices aren't all that great. When I was managing hard drive data destruction, I would pick the best drives for personal use, mostly for my USB DAS. I only buy new drives for my NAS and SSDs for my systems.
Unless they have been pulled from returned leased systems, there is a reason the drives were replaced, usually not good reasons.
Unless they have been pulled from returned leased systems, there is a reason the drives were replaced, usually not good reasons.
Just to follow up, I read some glowing reviews of Goharddrive. Turns out they are probably schills it seems. Most of the products they sell as recertified as new, 0 bad sectors are just reflashed eProms in the HD it seems.
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I was in the recycling business for decades, biggest problem with used is data destruction and maintaining drive integrity.
I have some used drives in my DAS and these were cherry picked from thousands recycled. I don't keep anything valuable on those drives. Nothing but brand new factory sealed drives in my NAS.
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I have some used drives in my DAS and these were cherry picked from thousands recycled. I don't keep anything valuable on those drives. Nothing but brand new factory sealed drives in my NAS.
I bought a 2.5" HDD on Aliexpress, I know this drive is used but it shows few hours of use and good health in crystal diskinfo. What do the Chinese change in the HDD to mask hours of use and true health? Do they also change or remove important HDD functions such as head parking and drive power management?
#1 they overwrite EPRoms. What info they change, who knows?
#2 would I buy anything from them? Look up one of their sellers " Shop1104332951"
you tell me if anything from this seller is remotely legit. Aliexpress doesn't police their sellers.
I would not gamble my money with them.
#2 would I buy anything from them? Look up one of their sellers " Shop1104332951"
you tell me if anything from this seller is remotely legit. Aliexpress doesn't police their sellers.
I would not gamble my money with them.
I bought a 2.5" HDD on Aliexpress, I know this drive is used but it shows few hours of use and good health in CrystalDiskInfo. What do the Chinese change in the HDD to mask hours of use and true health?
Do they also original firmware change or remove important HDD functions such as head parking and drive power management?
Do they also original firmware change or remove important HDD functions such as head parking and drive power management?
Cloudff7 they change whatever they can. It's done by dumping the original firmware, erasing the eprom, and uploading the modified code. There is no fixed formula for what can/is changed. That's what makes it a crap shoot. As a former repair dept manager, 2.5" spinner mag drives are abused all the times my laptop jarring dropping. I keep my eyes on slickdeals for sales on Amazon and Newegg. I know some have had issues with Newegg. I have bought new WD Red+ drives from them, Best Buy and Amazon on the cheap with big sales.
Good thing about a trusted retailer is run the serial number on the drive with the OEM as soon as you receive it and return it if it won't register. I need to get a few full size non-RAID mag HDs and looking for some big sales in the next months from those sources.
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