Surprise Files on a “New” Drive
According to reports shared on Reddit, a user known as All-Seeing_Hands recently purchased what was advertised as a new 1 TB SSD. But after connecting it to their computer, they discovered the drive already had about 800 GB of data loaded on it. Most of this storage was taken up by professional music production software.
The installed software reportedly included Kontakt—usually priced around $299.00—and Reaktor, valued at roughly $199.00. Both are widely used in music creation. The fact that such programs turned up on what should have been an unused drive triggered debate online about what had really happened.
How Did This Happen? Theories and Concerns
Reddit users floated several possible explanations. One idea was that the drive had been previously returned by a customer—possibly after being loaded with software—and then put up for sale again without being properly erased. Some suggested that the files were pirated versions, likely requiring activation keys and thus not immediately usable. Others worried that the drive might have been intentionally filled with software to tempt buyers into installing files that could contain malware.
The Serious Risks of Buying Tech Online
This case highlights real risks involved in buying computer hardware online, even when it's listed as “new.” There have been several reports of drives supposedly fresh from the factory arriving with old data still inside, which raises doubts about both the equipment's true condition and the seller's business practices.
Scammers have also been known to sell used hard drives as new by manipulating diagnostic records like SMART and FARM, which track how much a drive has been used. By wiping these logs, they make well-worn drives look as if they've never been used—a trick reportedly seen with some Seagate models.
Fake Drives and Empty Shells: Other Buyer Nightmares
The trouble doesn't end with previously used drives. Some buyers receive outright counterfeits or empty casings pretending to be real hard drives. In one reported case, a consumer bought a supposed 2 TB external drive online for $10.00, only to receive a hollow case with no real storage at all.
Bottom line: anyone considering online deals for tech hardware should be extra careful. Always check your hardware thoroughly after purchase, don't accept “new” at face value, and keep in mind that if the price seems too good to be true, it just might be.
