Before returning hard disk drives to Hitachi Global Storage Technologies under warranty, consult this page and the unacceptable packaging page.

All of the following examples keep the hard drive from moving around inside the shipping box and protect the hard drive during shipment. Use of thick foam rubber supporting all four sides of the hard drive enclosed in a corrugated cardboard box is typically considered good packaging.

Also, the hard drive must be placed inside of an anti-static electro-static discharge (ESD) bag before being placed in the shipping box.

Use plastic spacers on each end of the hard drive. Position the hard drive in the center of the box to protect all four sides. (This packaging is sometimes referred to as a GeoSprings Kit.)

You may use a foam rubber block with special cutout section for the hard drive. All four sides of the hard drive should be protected by foam rubber.

Use a rubber block with special cutout sections for returning multiple hard drives. All four sides of each hard drive should be protected by foam rubber.