Look on the Downloads page for your model's for Data Lifeguard ISO.
If there isn't one then you can try it from Hiren’s BootCD 15.1
or Ultimate Boot CD (UBCD) from a USB flash drive | USB Pen Drive Linux.
If you can't run maker's HD Diagnostics then you'll need to rely on Dell Diagnostics via F12 at boot, which I see you already ran.
Greg,
I was able to run the latest WD diagnostic off the ultimate boot cd. Thanks for that.
I ran an extended test and the following messages came up:
Smart Attributes
ID Name Value Thresh Worst
1 Raw Read Error Rate 195 51 195
3 Spin Up Time 237 21 232
4 Start/Stop Time 100 0 100
5 Re-allocated Sector Count 55 140 55
7 Seek error rate 200 0 200
9 Power-on Hours Count 95 0 95
10 Spin Retry Count 100 0 100
11 Drive Calibration Retry Count 100 0 100
12 Drive Power Cycle Count 100 0 100
192 Emergency Retract Cycle Count 200 0 200
193 Load/Unload Cycle Count 200 0 200
194 HDA Temperature 122 0 102
196 Re-allocated Sector Event 1 0 1
197 Current Pending Sector Count 200 0 192
198 Offline Uncorrectable Sector COunt 200 0 200
199 UltraDMA CRC Error Rate 200 0 200
200 Multi Zone Error rate 200 0 200
Warning! One or more current or worst-case attributes are below threshold.
Hit any key to continue
I then received
The System must be reset - HIT CTRL-ALT-DEL or turn the power off.
I hit ctrl-alt-del and the system restarted. I received the following message:
NOTICE - Hard DRive SELF MONITORING SYSTEM has reported that a parameter has exceeded its normal operating rage. Dell recommends that you back up your data regularly. A parameter out of range may or may not indicate a potential hard drive problem
Press F2 to resume
I hit F2 to change controller back to RAID from ATA (I read somewhere that the 5.04 WD diag didn't like RAID setting)
then received the following:
AHCI Port0 Device Error
Press F2 to resume
System tried to boot to windows and then I got something like
Startup Repair
A hard disk problem is preventing windows from starting
Contact your sysadmin....
Root Cause Found:
Bad hard disk
Press F2 to Resume
Any hope left?
I tend not to argue with errors such as "Bad hard disk" from SMART data. Even if WD Lifeguard can repair a HD I no longer trust it for operations.
Having it run several Disk Checks and HD Diagnostics extended scans (the only one which can repair) which come up clean might allow it to continue if you stay backed up.
If it's less than a year old it is under warranty.
Thanks Greg. So it sounds like it is dead then. Unfortunately it is not under warranty (> 2 years old). Time for a new hard drive it seems. Any recommendations for good backup software for my next HDD? Something which if this were to occur again I could take the backup image to a new hard drive and continue on seamlessly? Thanks again for all your help.
You can use Acronis premium cloning/imaging app free with any WD or Seagate HD in the mix. Otherwise favorite freeware here is Macrium - Image your system while many stick with Win7 backup imaging since it's built-in but has somewhat limited options.
Will definitely use one of those next time. Thanks again for all your assistance. It's appreciated.
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