7200/120 - Repair Quantum Fireball SE Drive?

[Michael_b]

Just got this Power Mac 7200/120 for next to nothing. Only upgrade is a two port USB card. Nothing too exciting. 

It seems that the SCSI hard drive (Quantum Fireball SE) in this thing is dying. When I turn it on, it starts booting and gets into the Mac OS 8.6 screen very quickly. Unfortunately it hangs there, and the HDD starts making weird noises. Here's a YouTube video with audio - it sounds a bit sketchy at first, then seems like a normal (old) hard drive until about twenty seconds in. After that, it makes a loud buzz - then a tick-tick - then a buzz - then a tick-tick, etc... 

Is this a common failure mode for these drives, and if so, is it fixable? I'm planning on installing an SIL3112 either way, but I'd love to have the drive for an SE/30. 

 

[EvilCapitalist]

That sounds like the Quantum version of Western Digital's "click of death".  I've had a few Fireballs that went that direction and unfortunately it means the drive is likely on its last legs.  In my experience, the Quantum drives seem to be the least reliable of any brand Apple used (apart from Quantum I've seen Sony, Conner, IBM, Maxtor, and WD).  The earlier Quantums had major problems with stiction and these Quantum have both stiction and that angry buzzing sound like you heard.

 

[blusnowkitty]

Every 90s Quantum hard drive I've ever owned - be it in a Mac, a PC, or an Amiga - has failed or is in the process of failing; they aren't reliable drives at all. The only use I've found for 90s Quantum drives is to prop my dish drainer up at an angle  

 

[Michael_b]

That sounds like the Quantum version of Western Digital's "click of death".  I've had a few Fireballs that went that direction and unfortunately it means the drive is likely on its last legs.  In my experience, the Quantum drives seem to be the least reliable of any brand Apple used (apart from Quantum I've seen Sony, Conner, IBM, Maxtor, and WD).  The earlier Quantums had major problems with stiction and these Quantum have both stiction and that angry buzzing sound like you heard.

Every 90s Quantum hard drive I've ever owned - be it in a Mac, a PC, or an Amiga - has failed or is in the process of failing; they aren't reliable drives at all. The only use I've found for 90s Quantum drives is to prop my dish drainer up at an angle  

Sad. Guess I'll take it apart, then move on.

Need to find out what that buzzing is coming from...