XPS435 RAID 0 drives - clicking noise
03 Nov 2009 04:55PM
Hi.
I have an XPS 435 which I ordered with 2x500GB drives in RAID 0 configuration. I did this for the supposed performance boost. I have an issue with one of the drives (I hope it's only one)...
It makes a clicking noise intermittently. The drives are Western Digital, and I have experienced this same issue with another computer where the drive was not part of a RAID array. With this drive, I was able to run the WD test suite (SMART tests) on the drive, and it indicated a failure. I was able to return it to WD and they replaced it immediately.
I would like to test the RAID 0 drives in my Dell PC but do not want to break the RAID array (yet). Is there a way of booting the PC to a state where I am able to run some test tools prior to the array initialising?
Also - I noticed through these forums that Dell replacement HDD's are refurbs... Is this correct? Shouldn't I be entitled to a new replacement HDD?
Thanks,
Adrian.