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HDD - about to fail? Advice needed.

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Flogger23m

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Joined
Jun 19, 2009
Messages
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Hello. I recently decided to run Speed Fan's SMART test. This time the results were different and it is worrying me:

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af73/Flogger23m/Untitled.jpg

Until recently, everything was the same accept for the Offline Uncorrectable Sector Count, which used to be at "Very Good". Likewise, fitness used to be at 94%, now it is at 0%. I recently scanned with HD tune and no bad sectors showed up though... that was a few days ago. It seems like accessing files creates a louder noise than usual and seems to make my PC stutter a bit more than it did in the past, which prompted me to run speed fan. The noise may very well likely be the fact that all of my fans are now turned down because it is no longer summer, but I do think I notice some stuttering.

The HDD is almost 3 years old and is OEM, would WD send me a replacement? I am going to send them an email to confirm. And if it is indeed failing and I request an advanced replacement, is there any program that can copy my Windows install, files and folders onto a replacement drive? I understand I'll have to call MS to reactivate my Win 7, but can it even be done?

Update from WD:

We are sorry for the delais in response to your inquiry. In this case, it seems that the application used is not fully recognizing your WD Caviar Black, it has limited access and parameters accuracy to be a reliable diagnostic information source (for this particular product). Due to that, we suggest you to diagnose (and repair if required/possible) your drive using the Data Lifetime Diagnostic tool (details bellow):

If this is a secondary drive in your computer:
Click to expand...

Looks like I have to run the Data Lifetime Diagnostic Tool. Hopefully that won't finally kill my drive.
 
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You can check if your drive is still covered by warranty at the WD site using the serial number. If you have a receipt for the drive, you may be able to extend the warranty based on the purchase date.
 
This means that the drive has 1 single sector that you wrote to it sometime in the past but it can no longer read that sector. This may be a sign of real trouble or an isolated media defect.
 
aubsxc said:
You can check if your drive is still covered by warranty at the WD site using the serial number. If you have a receipt for the drive, you may be able to extend the warranty based on the purchase date.
Click to expand...

Dumb question, but where can I find the serial number? Luckily I have a receipt.
 
Download CrystalDiskInfo, it will give you the serial number without taking the drive out.
 
mwroobel said:
Download CrystalDiskInfo, it will give you the serial number without taking the drive out.
Click to expand...

Thanks, this showed me the serial number. It also confirmed that there is an error with the Uncontrollable Sector Count (Yellow/Caution bubble). Its current is 200, with a Worst of 200, Threshold of 0. I have no idea what that means, but perhaps some of you do.
 
Its current is 200, with a Worst of 200, Threshold of 0. I have no idea what that means, but perhaps some of you do.
Click to expand...
It means the drive does not think this is bad enough to warrant a SMART failure. The firmware makers do not believe the drive forgetting a single sector is a reason of concern.
 
drescherjm said:
It means the drive does not think this is bad enough to warrant a RMA.
Click to expand...

So it is not much of an issue? The overall status is listed as "Caution" in Crystal Disk. I've emailed WD, I'll see their response soon hopefully. In the mean time I should just monitor it every day. Do you think this issue is likely to worsen?

Now I really wish I bought that $45 Seagate 1TB drive a month ago. :p
 
Do you think this issue is likely to worsen?
Click to expand...

It depends on what the cause for the drive to forget the sector. It could be a localized media defect or it could also mean there is a head or other mechanical failure. If it is a localized media defect then you are not in any danger.


My advice is to copy all data off of this drive and run 2 full formats and see if CrystalDiskInfo is still in caution after that.
 
drescherjm said:
It depends on what the cause for the drive to forget the sector. It could be a localized media defect or it could also mean there is a head or other mechanical failure. If it is a localized media defect then you are not in any danger.


My advice is to copy all data off of this drive and run 2 full formats and see if CrystalDiskInfo is still in caution after that.
Click to expand...

I am assuming if I clone my drive the localized media defect will show up on the other drive? I am thinking of doing the following:

1) Buying a 3rd HDD. I was planning on getting one anyways.
2) I'll format it as a data drive, run Crystal Disk and HD Tune to look for errors.
3) If it comes clean, I'll clone my WD onto the new drive.
4) I'll format the WD and put it in as a slave drive and see if the issue still exists.

I'm trying to get out of reinstalling everything. I just did that 2 months ago. :p

Are there any good disk cloning programs for free?
 
I am assuming if I clone my drive the localized media defect will show up on the other drive?
Click to expand...

The single sector will be corrupt. If it was in use you may have a corrupt file or folder. It it was not being used by the OS you will not even see the error..
 
Update from WD:

We are sorry for the delais in response to your inquiry. In this case, it seems that the application used is not fully recognizing your WD Caviar Black, it has limited access and parameters accuracy to be a reliable diagnostic information source (for this particular product). Due to that, we suggest you to diagnose (and repair if required/possible) your drive using the Data Lifetime Diagnostic tool (details bellow):

If this is a secondary drive in your computer:
Click to expand...

Looks like I have to run the Data Lifetime Diagnostic Tool. Hopefully that won't finally kill my drive. Does anyone know how long it typically takes?
 
Flogger23m said:
Update from WD:



Looks like I have to run the Data Lifetime Diagnostic Tool. Hopefully that won't finally kill my drive. Does anyone know how long it typically takes?
Click to expand...

The first (and most important thing) you need to do is make a good backup of everything that's important on that drive asap. Everything else is 2nd.

Most manufactures will only accept diagnostics from their own tool. So humor them and run WD tool and see what it says. It should come out the same as your previous report.

Again, make sure you have your important stuff backuped elsewhere. If your drive is borderline 'bad', just the very action stressing it (which is what will happen when you read it for backup or using WD tools) may just very well tip it over.
 
Everything important is backed up to another HDD, with most of the important stuff on DVDs as well.

I'll run the Quick Test, apparently it should only take me a few minutes. We'll see what it says.

Edit: Ran the Quick Test, it took me 3 1/2 minutes. No errors found (error code 000).

I guess I might as well try the Extended Test. With luck, it will be what drescherjm said, an isolated media defect. In that case I have nothing to worry?
 
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