[Tool2004]

Just wondering - If I bought a hard drive which is said to be 'new', is it possible to check it so that you know that it has never been used before?

I was thinking I could use 'Recuva' which would look for information that was on it before, or is there another way....?

Thanks

[anniebrion]

If you can access the S.M.A.R.T data then that has loads of info that'll give you a clue to the age of the drive.

[Alan F]

Be very suspicious of any hard drive that is not in the original manufacturers packaging and shrink wrapped.

[Maxatoria]

the latest versions of defraggler have a smart tab which gives all sorts of info which should make for interesting reading

[rottweiler]

Op

Did you buy it from eBay ?
If so give us the number and we can look

[Tool2004]

Originally Posted by Maxatoria

the latest versions of defraggler have a smart tab which gives all sorts of info which should make for interesting reading

I have the latest version of degraggler: Where do I find the 'smart tab'?

[chrisjr]

Originally Posted by Tool2004

I have the latest version of degraggler: Where do I find the 'smart tab'?

There isn't one as far as I can see. Nearest I can see is the Health tab which does give a load of info about the drive. Whether any of it is any good or not is another matter.

[Maxatoria]

Originally Posted by chrisjr

There isn't one as far as I can see. Nearest I can see is the Health tab which does give a load of info about the drive. Whether any of it is any good or not is another matter.

thats the blighter sorry and its stuff like no.9 powered on hours and no. 12 power cycle count that may give some help on finding the drives history

[Blackjack Davy]

Originally Posted by Tool2004

Just wondering - If I bought a hard drive which is said to be 'new', is it possible to check it so that you know that it has never been used before?

I was thinking I could use 'Recuva' which would look for information that was on it before, or is there another way....?

Thanks

Any seller worth his salt would use "eraser" or similar to wipe the drive before selling it, in fact I use that and then "recuva" to see if theres any data that can be recovered, I won't sell it if there is. So far, theres been nothing.

Originally Posted by Alan F

Be very suspicious of any hard drive that is not in the original manufacturers packaging and shrink wrapped.

I've never bought a new drive thats been shrink wrapped yet. Not saying it doesn't happen, but I've yet to see it and I've bought plenty. Unless you mean a retail boxed version with pretty pictures on the box, all the the drives I've bought have been OEM and came in a plain brown box and certainly weren't shrink wrapped, although a Samsung recently came in a clear plastic wrapper that had a seal on the edge.

OP if you buy from a online retailer it'll be BNIB, if you buy from eBay, beware.