K. Been using my 'box for about 3 weeks now, successfully modded and everything. Then, I took the lid off the case and installed a custom jewel (plus a CC). Put it all back together, turned it on, started smelling a weird smell (like fire). Tore the box apartin less than 30 sec (no small feat), cut the CC power (as in completely removed it), and thought I had burned out the CC. Well, just to check, I leave the box apart (with the HDD sitting upside down on the DVD with the lid off) to make sure everything still works. Immediately after turning on the power, the smell comes back. Then this fog appeared all over the bottom of the HDD. Then the plastic began to bubble, and then there were sparks! So I freaked out, pulled the plug, grabbed the HDD outta the case (burning myself in the process) and set it about 6 feet away on the other side of the table. Then I got some aloe vera to cover the burn while I tried to figure out what was wrong. I looked at the HDD again and noticed the plastic has bubbles in it and melted together. It smells of ozone, and feels really weird. Then, I plugged in the stock 8 gig HDD, and it works. Gets me to the BIOS, ms dash, etc. Everything is fine. Can someone tell me what the hell happened? What would cause it to be working, then just catch fire? I know for a fact the wiring was correct because I did it, then had my friend check, then my neighbor (an electrical engineer), then my dad as a last check. It was the weirdest thing. And, as I bought it from system-mods as a christmas present (4 myself, not trying to be selfish), can I possibly return it, or will they just blow me off?
HDD SMOKING/Flames
- Thread starter veritas777
- Start date
Sounds like a faulty drive, was it a Western Digital? I've never had one work for more than a year and when they die it's usually catastrophic like that. See if you have a warranty or can return it, and if it is a WD get something reliable like a maxtor or a segate.
Martin C
VIP Member
I reckon it was shorting against something. HDDs don't do this by nature. I must've handled a helluva lot of HDDs and never seen or heard of this before.
On the initial run, you probably had a live wire touching the HDD case, causing something to short. That short would have still been there when you tried it again.
Martin
On the initial run, you probably had a live wire touching the HDD case, causing something to short. That short would have still been there when you tried it again.
Martin
I’ve had it happen on one of my WD drives. It was one of the very first special edition JB 8MB cache drives. Had it for 3 months, then POOF! When I examined the bottom side PCB on the drive it was burnt. It was fully shielded and nothing was shorting on it in my computer, the PCB on it just burnt up on its own.Martin C said:
The replacement they sent lasted about 6 months before it just died also, but this time around there was no visible sign of anything burning or shorting on it. The next replacement they sent me seems to be fully redesigned on the bottom PCB.
The funny thing is, I still have some old WD drives from back in the early 90’s that still work without a problem. They’re each only 50MB drives and weigh as much as my current computer, but they still work. lol
The reason your hdd burned is because microsoft has a self-destruct feature for the hdd if you have backed up games on there. 
That my friend...Is weird!
That my friend...Is weird!
Do should I contact System-mods for a refund. or Western Digital themselves? And should I go for a replacement or a full refund to buy another brand? Thanks for the help. And you have no idea how scared I was when it started smoking/flaming/sparking. Especially cuz it was still extremely close to the box.
i see your post a little way down in the forum about overheating perhaps this drive has been the reason all along.
You can contact both, most likely SM will have you contact the manufacturer directly (should only have to provide proof of the purchase) since that is what they will do if they actually warranty it themselves.
How did you know it was on fire? Were you a little suspecious when you turned it on and saw the registered temperature of 1000 C? Seriously though: tough break. I think I'd contact System-mods first.
- Greg
Seriously though: tough break. I think I'd contact System-mods first.- Greg
This is a shocking story , keep us updated as to if you get it replaced .
I somehow doubt youll have much luck though as itll be an uphill struggle to prove you werent at fault.
I somehow doubt youll have much luck though as itll be an uphill struggle to prove you werent at fault.
To some earlier replies: I knew it was on fire because I had the case off, because when I change something, I leave the lid off and the box apart so I can just see if it starts up. So I smelled something, and thought that something was going wrong. Which it definitely was.
And to let this thread die, I emailed WD yesterday and they sent me back a response saying they had heard of this before. They proceeded to say that they apologized for the inconvience, and would pay me for shipping a new one from them and to send my old one back. w00t!
well thats good to hear. it's cool they not even gonna make you pay for shipping. even when something is defective alotta places still make you pay to ship it back to em.
No. I would certainly hope not (although it would be kinda funny if it were). Besides, the original XBoxs never just broke into flame, so it should be okie-dokie.
- Greg
- Greg
Well certanly i have not heard of anyone with an original XBOX whose HD has gone to "HELL" in Flame!!...linuxn00b2004 said: