Binary Dad - 20 hours ago »
I fell the reason they dont say much is they dont want this out in the open and they dont want more returns (they seem to get enough returns already on this unit)
I agree. I originally contacted Humax support about the noisy HDD and they suggested reformatting it(!). I did and it made no difference of course. So they said they couldn't do anything else to help and suggested I take it up with the retailer. I took it back to Currys, exchanged it and this second unit is the same. I emailed Humax this morning asking what they suggest I do next, and this was their reply:
If it is as noisy as the first I can only suggest that you once again reach out to the retailer. This is not a known issue to me, hard drive noise is quite an uncommon issue here at the support centre, that's not to say it never happens of course.
I cannot believe that this is "not a known issue" - especially when in the same sentence he admits that they have seen this at the support centre. Clearly Humax have no interest in resolving this, and prefer to leave customers to take pot luck with more retailer exchanges.
Im with you Binary Dad. You are not alone although it just appears to be the two of us at the moment 
Unfortunately it seems we will both end up in the nut house with people pointing at us before this gets resolved to our satisfaction
You see the answers arent helpful and are indeed dismissive. I dont want to reach out to a retailer who are in effect a happy box shop. Currys arent going to be any more interested than Humax in resolving the issue...they dont want me opening all their sealed stock to eventually find a quiet one. It costs them money every time, an opened unit becomes a S/H return and the margins are slim on these units. I dont even really know if a quiet one exists in Currys stockroom.
Im almost at the stage of thinking stuff it and invalidating the guarantee so I can line it with soundproofing sheets and check the hard drive has standard mounting points so it can be exchanged by me. I may fit my own to prove my point
Theres a point where Im not going to let £148 drive me mad. Either I have some control or I dont. Im not being told to take a lucky dip at Currys...its just not happening because it sets me up for a fall and weakens my case. I can just see me put down as a problem customer..."oh hes had two and nothing satisfies him" sort of thing
Ive emailed Humax again but the first response a while ago was so vague...along the lines of our unit isnt noisy in the office.....no advice on what noise it should be making or support on testing it and clarifying the situation. No clarification or apologetic tone. I dont know whether its a normal operating noise or whether the hard drive is substandard.
As far as Im concerned nothing on a tv shelf should make that level of hard drive noise
