504 file corruptions, hard drive failure, unhappy sounds...

[Kitten]

Hello Archos users, I have been reading with much interest through many of the posts on this forum and have so far learnt :
a) that I won't be able to replace my A504's hard drive because my firmware is way too recent
and
b) all the many ways in which to try and repair faulty occurrences.

I have been having issues with the 504 for about a month. Strange clicking whirring poorly hard drive type noises on start-up, turning off randomly during playback, often preceded by other whirry noises, disconnecting from PC/Mac when connected and working on transferring files in both device modes, blue screens, system repair messages, apparent system repairs but then more crashes, a message about FAT being corrupted....

So I did my best to transfer everything onto an external hard drive with the view to totally formatting the drive.

Before I had finished it formatted itself anyway, i lost about 30gb of music.

I could not get the PC tool for disk repair to work, everytime after just a few minutes the 504 would disconnect from the computer without the task having been completed.

I have now loaded on the latest firmware after formatting the hard drive. However it has already showed signs of the same whirring sounds.

I have also tried the gold button to no apparent effect.

My questions are:
- In the format menu, what about 'full reinitialisation'? - i have not found anywhere that explains why you would choose this as opposed to 'format hard drive' and wonder if it could help me or would it make things even worse?!

- My fear is that this is a mechanical hard drive error, judging by the whirry sounds, and I wonder if anybody has encountered this before? The thing that puzzles me is the messages of file corruption that accompany the sounds, hence.....

- If there are any other suggestions they would be massively welcomed. I think I have covered every possibility and may just have to send to Archos to get a new hard drive but hoping there's another stone to turn over.

Fingers crossed and thanks for your cooperation
Kitten.

[Agj_h]

Sorry kitten,

sounds like some serious hard drive issues based on noises (and - as you pointed out, the hd cant be replaced bacause the specific drive is locked to the device. No way around this as far as I know). Cant hurt trying any of the other system type options mentioned. Otherwise - if you can afford it - do like I did and get one of the a5a models (going cheap at the moment due to run out).

[Kitten]

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately this is the second Archos device I've had where the hard drive has crapped out on me just past the warranty period. So as much as I love them for various reasons, I think I may have to look at something else for the future. I still haven't given up hope on this one, trying to find some assistance from Archos as well, or at least a repair cost approximation...

Would still appreciate any other feedback from anyone, would really like to know about the alternative format option?

Thanks folks

[Kodiak]

You can always look at the models with the SSD (Solid State Drives). These have no spinning hard drive so they can take a little more bumps on the road. Of course you will not get the large gig capacities of the HD models, but they have no HD to crap out on you.

[Agj_h]

Just past the warranty period...really? How long have you have this?

[Kitten]

Well I am assuming the warranty is one year as standard, although actually i have only had this since October last year. However, it was purchased on eBay as a fully refurbished product so I think that means the warranty is technically only 6 months. But yeh, under a year anyway.... Archos are saying 100-150 pounds cost to replace hard drive.

Time to look for a new machine then i guess.....

[Agj_h]

I reckon you could pick up 16 or 32 gb a5a for similar price at run out prices...and so much more functionality (although less storage space unless you can stretch for the 160 or 500gb...) Dont get me wrong - I had my 504 80gb for 3+ years and it was fantastically reliable little media player (still working well today) - but the new one's offer same music functionality and so much more with 720p video / wireless internet, GPS, android apps etc etc etc....

[Kitten]

hmm...thing is I am not really desiring those things! It's like when mobile phones first started having cameras and fancy bits and all I wanted was a super reliable phone for calling and texting on. Right now all i want from technology is a super reliable robust portable music player with a large storage capacity. No frills. Ha!

[Agj_h]

Well, of course, the new ones still function very well for that purpose. Just forget the rest of the functionality if not needed....My 500gb version has all the storage I need for videos and music.