All the disk problems I've ever had:

1.084 GB Maxtor out of my mom's Packard Bell starts dropping sectors; replaced with a 3 GB WD (LIVIN' LARGE, BIYOTCHEZ). One "low-level" format later it no longer drops sectors. It should still work, although I haven't used it in about five years.

80 GB Western Digital, Windows starts reporting disk write errors; one "low-level" format later WD Diagnostics says "You're fucked." Replace drive with 80 GB Seagate; RMA WD about two weeks before its warranty expires (3 years). Replacement OK so far (little over a year).

60 GB IBM 60GXP, while installing it in a system I hear a *snap* while plugging in a PATA-SATA converter. Boot up, drive spins but doesn't recognize. Who knew that pin 18 is important for drive communications? It should still work if I solder a new pin into the connector, but I haven't had the motivation (or the soldering iron) to do anything about it.

BTW, Maxtor is now owned by Seagate. I'll still be going with Seagate for the time being (how much drugs will I have to sell to get four EIDE and two SATA 750 GB 'Cudas?).