Hewlett Packard HP MV2120 500GB Media Vault 500 GB USB 2.0 Hard Drive Review

Nice amount to storage.  Easy to set-up and comes with a software disc to use on each computer you are going to access it with.  Some nice additional features like DNS if you want to share your pictures online with your own internet address.

The bad.  Well, after two days I could no longer gain access to the vault.  After being on the phone with tech support for 2.5 hours, it was determined that the hardrive or operating system failed.  Since I had already moved some files to it that are very important to me, wiping the drive was not an option.  However, they could send me a new drive with the OS loaded already so that I could copy my files to it.  But, they were unwilling to do this unless I left a $225 deposit.  They said this is thier policy, but according to the warranty, they can only charge me if I don't return the old drive in 30 days.  The warranty says nothing about a deposit or even hints that they have the right to charge a deposit.  The tech support person said she would ask if they could make an exception after I explained to her that I am a disabled Veteran living on a fixed income.  It took me 7 months to save up for this mediavault and I just didn't have $225 that they could hold onto for a month.  Well, she never called back or asked if they could make an exception.  I called back the next day and got a different person.  After explaining the situation to him he we even less unwilling to help.  Even after I quoted the warranty for this product right off of thier website, he still wouldn't budge off the deposit or even try to get it waived.  So, I ended up losing all of the info I put on this thing.  I trusted HP with my important files and they couldn't trust me with a new harddrive.  That is such a shame.  I own several HP products.  I research everything for weeks before I buy.  I don't buy cheap products just for the sake of having it.  If I can't afford it (often I can't) I will save for something good and reliable instead of cheap and crappy.  This is the first time I've ever had an issue with a product from HP and this is how I get treated.  It didn't matter to them at all that I will never buy another HP product.  They cared more about that $225 drive then the thousands of dollars they would make from me over my lifetime.  I had no issue with giving them my debit card info to hold onto incase I didn't return it.  But they wanted the full amount upfront.  I think what it comes down to is that I have no recourse.  I have no money for this drive then I have no money for a lawyer to make them honor thier warranty.  On top of that, it would cost more then what I paid for the mediavault in the first place.

Bottom line, if something goes wrong with your HP product.  Be prepared to give them money to honor thier warranty.