Problem with WD Passport Essenstial 500GB

I think I picked up a lemon.  First, I tried on 3 different computers and no matter which one I used, the file transfer is taking well excess of 45 minutes to 1 hour for about 500 digital pictures (2~3MB each JPEG) and sometimes there are some s-s-s-stuttering every few minutes that causes the transfer to pause for a few minutes.

I tried a full format (not quick) and it always failed.  I tried scanning with check and recover bad sectors checked, it gets stuck at cluster 392008 and has not changed for the last 10 minutes.  I was able to scan through the first 392000 in just a few seconds.

I tried to return it but the store I got it (Meijer) did not have any replacement in stock and claimed I can’t get refund because since there are software on the drive, the hard drive falls under their no-refund on open software policy.  I could try a different Meijer if they got em in stock for exchange but it’s about 50 miles to next nearest Meijer and with gas at $4 a gallon it’d cost me more to exchange than it’d be to just ship this drive to WD for RMA.

So, is my drive a dud or am I doing somew=thing wrong to make the hard drive not work right?  Computers used:

Laptop -Windows 7 Premium 32 bits -USB 2.0 only

desktop #1: Windows 7 Premium 64 bits -USB 2.0 and 3.0

desktop #2: Windows 7 Professional 64 bits -USB 2.0 and 3.0

Other hard drives I’ve plugged in those compuer usually could copy 500 pictures in a few minutes, not over 45 minutes like this one did.

Update: I am trying DLGDiag extended test.  At about 3 minutes into the test, the estimated remaining time rocketed to over 25 hours and then it ends with “Too many bad sectors detected”

Sometimes writing zeroes to the drive with DLG clears bad sectors but it sounds like a defective drive.

Joe

Quick test also fails:

Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 06-Quick Test on drive 2 did not complete! Status code = 07 (Failed read test element), Failure Checkpoint = 97 (Unknown Test) SMART self-test did not complete on drive 2!

replace the drive 

http://support.wdc.com/warranty/index.asp?wdc_lang=en

I CANT FIND MY WD Passport Essenstial 500GB IN MY PC

hijacking a thread is not the best way to get assistance…

best if you try a new post

any ways…

did you try a different computer or different cable?