Brand new HDD has partition on it already?

PacketStorm4 · 7th January 2011, 10:17 PM

Hey all,
Just built a new machine for someone and have noticed that there is a partition already on one of the 2TB drives i bought.
Heres a Screeny.

Click to view full size!

It has memtest application on it?
Also note the date created..... My time machine isn't working just yet..... still waiting for a flux capacitor.
I brought x2 2TB WD drives at the same time and the other one is perfectly fine.
Bit Strange?
Should i return the drive?

HyRax1 · 7th January 2011, 10:22 PM

All drives are tested before they ship - for all you know they neglected to erase the MBR before the drive was packed.

You could probably do a scan of almost any brand new drive and discover deleted data - nothing of real interest, a basic app like a memtester simply proves that the drive can be read and booted from. Test passes, drive is packed.

I would only return the drive if it wasn't sealed properly and if SMART returns any obvious issues.

issa2006 · 8th January 2011, 7:15 AM

I NEVER SEEN ANY DATA (OR PART) ON A NEW SEALED HDDs...(15+ years and going)

CHECK DATE +model ON HDD STICKER..

CHECK FOR REFUB DRIVE?

did shop/supplyer use it once + repacked?

Alpha2k6 · 8th January 2011, 7:43 AM

You sure this isnt some Gigabyte motherboard backing up its bios or something silly.. someone here where writing something about that...

issa2006 · 8th January 2011, 7:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpha2k6

You sure this isnt some Gigabyte motherboard backing up its bios or something silly.. someone here where writing something about that...

good point backup part bios option..(asus have that as well on some boards)

(only in non raid etc)

Pugsley_21 · 8th January 2011, 9:15 AM

Did you have to give it a drive letter to see what was on it? Looks like the default boot partition that Win7 creates

mr_wrxman · 8th January 2011, 9:33 AM

Yep, looks like the windows system partition, wonder why it decided to create itself on your 2nd drive? I'd ideally reinstall windows without the 2nd drive plugged in and then plug it in afterwards to ensure the partition stays on your system disk.

tacoflavour · 8th January 2011, 9:45 AM

To confirm, you have just re-installed windows, which has placed the boot parition on that drive.

I would recommend you disconnect that drive and re-install windows to avoid problems later on.

kombiman · 8th January 2011, 9:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_wrxman

Yep, looks like the windows system partition, wonder why it decided to create itself on your 2nd drive? I'd ideally reinstall windows without the 2nd drive plugged in and then plug it in afterwards to ensure the partition stays on your system disk.

'

I just got screwed over by that trick last weekend. Quick format and reinstall XP and somehow my old d: drive is now c: with a shiny new XP OS.

Now I need to find recovery software

You know I learnt my lesson

PacketStorm4 · 8th January 2011, 4:34 PM

Just powerd machine up now without the drive plugged in, and yes it looks like the boot partition has been written to that 2TB drive.

Quote:

Did you have to give it a drive letter to see what was on it?

Yes i did, thought it was a bit strange.

All i did was tell win 7 64bit to install to the 1TB drive.
This is a brand new machine.

rowan194 · 8th January 2011, 8:58 PM

Was the drive sealed? There's only been one time that I've seen data on a drive and that was a warranty replacement which wasn't sealed. The shop claimed there was a partition and NTFS file system on it because they tested it for me (which I guess is reasonable)

Every other drive has been full of zeros. That's what a secure erase will do.

Now the second hand drives I've purchased for fun, are another matter......

One had a point of sale system on it, complete with customer details, salesmen targets and accomplishments, etc ...

7th January 2011, 10:17 PM	#1
PacketStorm4 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Phos Vegas! Posts: 218	Brand new HDD has partition on it already? Hey all, Just built a new machine for someone and have noticed that there is a partition already on one of the 2TB drives i bought. Heres a Screeny. Click to view full size! It has memtest application on it? Also note the date created..... My time machine isn't working just yet..... still waiting for a flux capacitor. I brought x2 2TB WD drives at the same time and the other one is perfectly fine. Bit Strange? Should i return the drive? __________________ "Just Google it!" Licenced Cabler Last edited by PacketStorm4; 7th January 2011 at 10:29 PM.

7th January 2011, 10:22 PM	#2
HyRax1 48656C6C6F20576F726C6421 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: At a desk. Distro:Ubuntu Posts: 7,071	All drives are tested before they ship - for all you know they neglected to erase the MBR before the drive was packed. You could probably do a scan of almost any brand new drive and discover deleted data - nothing of real interest, a basic app like a memtester simply proves that the drive can be read and booted from. Test passes, drive is packed. I would only return the drive if it wasn't sealed properly and if SMART returns any obvious issues. __________________ If practice makes perfect, and nobody's perfect, why practice?

8th January 2011, 7:15 AM	#3
issa2006 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: AUSTRALIA (ADL) Posts: 2,485	I NEVER SEEN ANY DATA (OR PART) ON A NEW SEALED HDDs...(15+ years and going) CHECK DATE +model ON HDD STICKER.. CHECK FOR REFUB DRIVE? did shop/supplyer use it once + repacked? __________________ 2700k+Fatal1ty Z68 Professional Gen3/i-ram 4g -32g ddr3 1600/2xssd in raid 0(sam 120g M-830)+ hdds+sound card+g19/g9x etc....27" 120 +3d samsung +7" touch screen etc...(gig oc 670 x2 sli)1250psu evermax+water cooling (oc4.8)ghz etc-win7 64bit +eboostr+supercache 5(3600+mb/sec hdd access)

8th January 2011, 9:15 AM	#6
Pugsley_21 Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Adelaide Posts: 1,391	Did you have to give it a drive letter to see what was on it? Looks like the default boot partition that Win7 creates __________________ Signature virus: please copy me to your signature.

8th January 2011, 9:33 AM	#7
mr_wrxman Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sydney 2176 Posts: 2,169	Yep, looks like the windows system partition, wonder why it decided to create itself on your 2nd drive? I'd ideally reinstall windows without the 2nd drive plugged in and then plug it in afterwards to ensure the partition stays on your system disk. __________________ Core i7 930 \| Asus P6T \| 3x2GB Patroit G Series DDR3 1600 \| 2GB ATi 6970 \| 3x320GB RAID0 \| Antec TP 750W \| Antec P160W Over 180 Sales/Trades/Buys totalling over $22,000 ntrancedphotography.com.au

8th January 2011, 7:43 AM	#4
Alpha2k6 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,215	You sure this isnt some Gigabyte motherboard backing up its bios or something silly.. someone here where writing something about that...

8th January 2011, 9:45 AM	#8
tacoflavour (Banned or Deleted) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canberra Posts: 106	To confirm, you have just re-installed windows, which has placed the boot parition on that drive. I would recommend you disconnect that drive and re-install windows to avoid problems later on.

8th January 2011, 8:58 PM	#11
rowan194 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,872	Was the drive sealed? There's only been one time that I've seen data on a drive and that was a warranty replacement which wasn't sealed. The shop claimed there was a partition and NTFS file system on it because they tested it for me (which I guess is reasonable) Every other drive has been full of zeros. That's what a secure erase will do. Now the second hand drives I've purchased for fun, are another matter...... One had a point of sale system on it, complete with customer details, salesmen targets and accomplishments, etc ...