Originally Posted by
BigLar
I don't want to have to worry that this old disk will crap out on me, but since it's essentially new, should I be worried? Anyone have experience with this situation?
In this very specific case, your drive is new (you have 0h of use towards a given MTBF) but you kept it stored for some years. Your main risk right now is that something happened to the lubrication on the moving parts. I suggest you use it for a few days, starting/stoping it a few times. If it keep working after these few days, I would think it really is as good as new.