Question How do I know the 6TB Toshiba is real or fake ?

[dan99t]

Hi,
I just bought a 6TB Toshiba Enterprise HDD Model MG08ADA600E from a local dealer.
But it came in a Tin Foil & Does no look like the photo that I sent him.
How do I know if it is real or fake ?

https://imgur.com/Bn8mmKX

View: https://imgur.com/Bn8mmKX

https://imgur.com/PU1Bxfq

View: https://imgur.com/PU1Bxfq

https://imgur.com/GFeNaj3

View: https://imgur.com/GFeNaj3

https://imgur.com/4NAzi3f

View: https://imgur.com/4NAzi3f

https://imgur.com/UiGb6Xt

View: https://imgur.com/UiGb6Xt

https://imgur.com/uvoBAWi

View: https://imgur.com/uvoBAWi

https://imgur.com/1qcTSeQ

View: https://imgur.com/1qcTSeQ


Is there a way to check from serial number ?
I Tried finding Toshiba website for a check of serial number but no luck.

Would appreciate all the help.

Thank You

 

[rgd1101]

https://myapps.taec.toshiba.com/myapps/admin/jsp/webrma/addRequest1NoLogin.jsp
Out Of Warranty

 

[punkncat]

Toshiba doesn't exist anymore, technically. They were purchased by JIP and were dislisted in Dec of 2023. This would have had to have been NOS or refurbished. The bag is standard anti static bag. I really don't know if there would be a way to tell at this point. (edit- post above seems to be it)

Does it work well and actually reads as the expected size?

 

[dan99t]

First I paid Full hefty Price for it & dealer is local & almost next door to me.

Manufacturing date shows April 3, 2024, which technically means not much used but then according to Punkncat it couldn't have been manufactured after 2023 since the company was delisted & bought out by JIP. ( Don't know what JIP does )

But then why Toshiba still lets you check the warranty on their website ?

Can the numbers ( Hours used ) in Crystal disk be manipulated ?

I formatted the disk & created a Volume but have not written a single byte on it.

It does read as 6 TB in Disk Management.

Side by side it does look identical to my Dell 4TB Toshiba Enterprise drive except this one doesn't say Enterprise but model number is correct.


Now, what action should I take ?

 

[punkncat]

I honestly find it a bit confusing here:

Toshiba - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It states that Kioxia took over some parts of its business, but apparently that the actual name "Toshiba" isn't being or been used since the delisting in Dec of 2023. Otherwise JIP and the companies they represent don't seem to be releasing anything under the Toshiba branding any more. For the manufacturing date of that HDD to be after the de-listing is quite curious.

 

[fzabkar]

The PCB part number appears to be G0049A. My searches suggest that this is consistent with MG08ADA400NY, so I guess that's OK.

The serial number, 442nnnnnnnnn, is consistent with a manufacture date of April 2, 2024. The label says 20240403.

Toshiba HDD and SSD serial numbers:

https://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?p=23377#p23377

 

[ekifi]

I honestly find it a bit confusing here:

Toshiba - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It states that Kioxia took over some parts of its business, but apparently that the actual name "Toshiba" isn't being or been used since the delisting in Dec of 2023. Otherwise JIP and the companies they represent don't seem to be releasing anything under the Toshiba branding any more. For the manufacturing date of that HDD to be after the de-listing is quite curious.

What remained of the company was bought and then delisted by JIP and others but I think they still exist and operate under the Toshiba name, HDD division too. From what I've understood Kioxia was Toshiba's flash memory division that was made indipendent from the main corporation in 2018, but anything that's not flash or solid state is still made by good ole Toshiba.

 

[fzabkar]

The Toshiba HDD brand is still alive:

https://storage.toshiba.com/consumer-hdd/internal

 

[fzabkar]

https://myapps.taec.toshiba.com/myapps/admin/jsp/webrma/addRequest1NoLogin.jsp
Out Of Warranty

I wouldn't trust that resource. When I was deciphering Toshiba's serial number format, I found that I could enter any valid date and arbitrary serial number without the SN checker complaining. All it cares about is the final 4 characters. They need to match the drive's family or model. The SN will report that the drive is in warranty, and it will calculate the expiry date from the manufacture date. In other words, the SN checker is not looking up some database of drives that have actually been manufactured.

 

[fzabkar]

Here is a drive (from eBay) with the same PCB:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/5PwAAOSwPjVlpyQw/s-l1600.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/eyAAAOSwVFZlpyQw/s-l1600.jpg

The serial number checker produces this result:

32H0A0ARFR1H​

​

Out Of Warranty​

​

Warranty could not be determined for this serial number. If you have any questions you may contact Toshiba at 1-877-689-4899.​

​

The serial number is consistent with the manufacture date, so it does appear that the HDD could be genuine. However, the SN checker doesn't like it.

 

[dan99t]

I am very grateful that all of you guys taken time to do lot of research & put out all the info.

But if one reads the entire thread carefully what conclusion could be made ?

I am no expert so I couldn't.

Although I have not written any data but have formatted the drive & created a blank volume, will the seller give me a refund ? I have paid a hefty full price for it. Can I make an argument that since it is out of Warranty I want to return it ? He has not given any warranty card or written any Warranty period in the bill.

But besides the cost most importantly if I use the drive & put data in it & if it craps out, much later that would be the costliest thing & I will be forced right now to get another drive for a back up & even in that case writing the important data on this drive might turn out to be a waste of time.

So kindly lay out what would you do if you were in my place because I sure don't.

 

[fzabkar]

I don't see anything that would make me believe that the drive is a fake. I would contact Toshiba on that number to clarify the warranty situation. I think their warranty checker is suspect.

 

[beyondlogic]

Hi,
I just bought a 6TB Toshiba Enterprise HDD Model MG08ADA600E from a local dealer.
But it came in a Tin Foil & Does no look like the photo that I sent him.
How do I know if it is real or fake ?

https://imgur.com/Bn8mmKX

View: https://imgur.com/Bn8mmKX

https://imgur.com/PU1Bxfq

View: https://imgur.com/PU1Bxfq

https://imgur.com/GFeNaj3

View: https://imgur.com/GFeNaj3

https://imgur.com/4NAzi3f

View: https://imgur.com/4NAzi3f

https://imgur.com/UiGb6Xt

View: https://imgur.com/UiGb6Xt

https://imgur.com/uvoBAWi

View: https://imgur.com/uvoBAWi

https://imgur.com/1qcTSeQ

View: https://imgur.com/1qcTSeQ


Is there a way to check from serial number ?
I Tried finding Toshiba website for a check of serial number but no luck.

Would appreciate all the help.

Thank You

Ok the tin foil packet is a OEM new drive pack these are direct from manufacturer no retail package drives. I know this as my drive that is a 3tb came in same way back in the day.


The number

MG08ADA600E is a real drive as it's sold on some sites in the UK
Product range mg08ada is in there line up the last bit is just capacity.

Enterprise Capacity Hard Drive - MG Series

www.toshiba-storage.com

Same drive in UK
https://www.ebuyer.com/1286683-toshiba-mg-series-6tb-sata-enterprise-hard-drive-mg08ada600e
To clarify Toshiba is still a company that makes harddrive they just stopped making certain items under there name flash and SSD is under a new name Kioxia. And the company is back to being essentially Japanese owned. There laptops are under dynabooks which is part of sharp.