I/O Errors on reads?

[ZodaEX]

My computer keeps throwing out I/O error messages when I try to open/copy files that I create on the machine. I'm pretty sure it's a hard drive problem but i'm not sure if it's fixable. I've already tried a full checkdisk scan, and it didn't stop the errors. What can I do to fix this without replacing the drive? Thanks.

 

[drescherjm]

What can I do to fix this without replacing the drive?

Probably nothing. However the that would depend on what is wrong with the drive. Fortunately all drives now (for the last decade or so) keep a table of parameters called SMART that record failure situations ...

Lets start with seeing if the drive is bad in the first place.
Use CrystalDiskInfo and see if the drive thinks it is bad..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.M.A.R.T.

 

[ZodaEX]

Okay I ran CrystalDiskInfo, and It's got a Yellow Caution for "current pending sector count".
Current-200
Worst-200
Threshold-0

So What do I do? Is there any hope of saving her?

 

[drescherjm]

I would do a non-destructive badblocks test if you do not have a spare drive. However this utility is linux based.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badblocks

HD Tune may also do this however my trial has expired so I can not tell you for sure.

 

[ZodaEX]

I couldn't figure out how to get badblocks to run, however I tried the repair utility from Western Digital, but whenever I try to repair the drive with it, it says repair failed. Ugh, I guess I need to get a new hard drive. This one is only 2 years old, its a shame it's died already.

 

[drescherjm]

This one is only 2 years old, its a shame it's died already.

It happens. The expectation is 2% to 8% annual failure rate for the first 5 years for SATA drives. This is totally in line with my experience at work. Since it's two years it should be under warranty.