Windows 7: SMART question

spottydog10 · 04 Nov 2012

Hi,

Windows gave a warning on one of my HD's, a Hitach 1Tb sata drive, saying it was about to fail and I should back up.
I restarted the pc and got a SMART error on the same disk.
I then downloaded WD Diag to test and it came back clean on the SMART test,
short test and extended test. The SMART error hasnt come back since (2 days)
Think it was a misreporting?
I have of coursed backed up the drive just in case.

Thanks
Mike

Indianatone · 05 Nov 2012

Hi,
I would run the Hitachi diagnostic tool on the drive. Downloads
If the SMART came up bad once it is possible it is an error but I would be highly suspicious of the drive. I use this Hard Disk Sentinel - HDD health and temperature monitoring program to monitor all my hard drives in my machines. You can download a trial and it will tell you the health of your drives. If this program tells you it is bad buy another drive and smash the old one to protect your data as it is no good.
Honestly watch that drive very carefully and DON"T trust it.
Tony

spottydog10 · 05 Nov 2012

Hi Tony,
Do you mean HGST align tool?

Thanks
Mike

Indianatone · 05 Nov 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by spottydog10

Hi Tony,
Do you mean HGST align tool?

Thanks
Mike

Yes, use the diagnostics to check out your hard drive.

cyclic · 05 Nov 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by spottydog10

Hi,

I then downloaded WD Diag to test and it came back clean on the SMART test,
short test and extended test.

Seems he already did, I wouldn't re-align the drive unless there is a 100% identifiable error, which is not the case. Nothing reported for 2 days since the event ? I believe the OP premise is correct.
I would back up anyway as a matter of course, if you don't back up regularly now would be a good time to start, once done just let it run.

Indianatone · 05 Nov 2012

Hard Disk Sentinel - HDD health and temperature monitoring
Does this tool say your drive is healthy?

spottydog10 · 05 Nov 2012

HD sentinal came back with this on the SMART.
Thanks
MIke

Indianatone · 05 Nov 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by spottydog10

HD sentinal came back with this on the SMART.
Thanks
MIke

OK so you did have an issue with the drive and it has safely fixed it self. The health is down to 97% and is not perfect but perfectly OK. Keep an eye on the drive in case it gets any worse. I have a drive that had an issue and has reallocated sectors a year ago and runs nearly 24 / 7 and is still chugging along at 99%. Once it get to 25% or lower is time to replace it.

spottydog10 · 05 Nov 2012

Hi mate,
So in otherwords the drive has marked sectors as bad and moved the data, is that correct?
Could I improve the situation by deleting partitions and formatting or is it a physical problem?

Thanks,
Mike

Indianatone · 05 Nov 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by spottydog10

Hi mate,
So in otherwords the drive has marked sectors as bad and moved the data, is that correct?
Could I improve the situation by deleting partitions and formatting or is it a physical problem?

Thanks,
Mike

You nailed it. No there is no need to do anything except back up and keep an eye on the health of the drive. 97% is excellent. It is a physical problem, those sectors are marked as bad and not usable.
It could be like this for years or it could fail next week, there is no way of knowing.

Windows 7: SMART question

SMART question problems?