Buying a used hard drive

[RangerWickett]

In the local college classifieds I found an 80 GB hard drive for $30. It's an 80gb ATA IV Seavate Hard Drive. Does that seem like a fair deal?

My current computer is running Windows XP on a 6GB hard drive, so I kinda want to upgrade.

 

[Andur]

Hopefully it is a Seagate. Worst that happens is you blow Friday Night's beer money. If it has any sort of warranty/guarantee than you should be fine. Otherwise, you will be shooting craps and hoping for a 3.

 

[IronWolf]

That's probably not too bad of a deal. You *might* be able to find a rebate deal that comes close to that, especially if you factor in the $ per MB ratio - but then you have to front the cash while you wait for the rebate come in.

If you go used be sure to ask if the drive was working when the seller last used it. Just to be safe.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

If you go used be sure to ask if the drive was working when the seller last used it. Just to be safe.

Go for visual proof if you do, as in see it working with your own eyes, but remember you get what you pay for when it comes to electronics/computers.

 

[trancejeremy]

That's probably not too bad of a deal. You *might* be able to find a rebate deal that comes close to that, especially if you factor in the $ per MB ratio - but then you have to front the cash while you wait for the rebate come in.

If ever. A couple years ago I bought a 80 gig hard drive from Circuit City for I think $120, plus $50 back in rebates.

Still waiting for the rebates...

(Though it's funny - I have a 160 gig hard drive in my computer that I can't use right now because I don't have Win XP (it's Serial ATA, which apparently won't work with Win98SE))

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

I'd avoid a used HD of any sort. you can find new ones quite cheap. A few weeks ago I picked up a 160GB Western Digital HD at Sam's Club for $79, and they still had them last week. If you know someone who has a Sam's Club membership, go see what they have. Also look online, you can easily find a new 80GB HD between $50-60. You're better off buying new than used any day with HDs. Look at Newegg.com: http://www2.newegg.com/ProductSort/SubCategory.asp?SubCategory=14
Lots of HDs for not much more than you'd pay for that used one.

 

[Arnwyn]

Knowing the technology behind HDs, I'd never buy a used one.

 

[WingOver]

The hard drive is the component most likely to break in your computer. I'd spend the extra money and buy a cheap, new one.

Who knows what's wrong with a used one?

 

[XCorvis]

To repeat what the others are saying, the hard drive is the most critical component in your computer. If your hard drive goes, all your data is gone. Poof! You're screwed.

If any other component goes, you can just replace it.

Spend a little extra cash and get a new one with a warranty.

 

[Rackhir]

On the other hand, HDs do have quite a long service life these days, it's not a component that would really get abused and at least in theory you know this one works. But it is not like you are saving a large amount of money buying a used HD.