Maxtor RMA question

[BLenderhedd]

I'm kind of curious... I just got a replacement for my 160gb maxtor hard drive. Exact same model number as the original. In windows, the original always said total capacity of 149 GB, but the replacement drive shows a capacity of 152 GB. It says on the label that it was "refurbrished to Maxtor specifications". I was just wondering if the change in capacity might mean that, say, I was sent a refurbed 200gb model that has bad sectors or physical damage "masked" somehow, or if a little variation in actual usable space is normal.

 

[Slartibartfast]

It's probably just normal deviation. ~50 gig of bad sectors is hard to imagine.

 

[IanG]

IT could just be a later firmware, or maybe a slight improvement in the manufacturing process that allows them to use more of the platter. Either way, I wouldn't worry about it.

The last rma I got from maxtor actually had a a MaxLineIII label, which had been covered up by the DiamondMax9 of my original drive. I'm pretty sure they just flashed a different firmware onto a refurb maxline.