New HDD may be broken. Return window closes in a few days!

[saywat]

My old 1TB Seagate Barracuda ST31000528AS was giving me this error, "Windows detected a hard disk problem." I tried to fix it but was unable to so I purchased this Western Digital 2TB Black WD2003FZEX a few weeks ago. I cloned the old drive onto the new one using Acornis. It all went smoothly. I used WD’s Data LifeGuard Diagnostics (non-dos) software to run an extended test on the new drive and it passed.

Then, just a few days ago, my computer developed a problem and I started to get BSOD. For a few days now, I have only been able to use my computer on Safe Mode and there are always artifacts on the screen. I researched the BSOD and one thing mentioned was to check the hard drive with Seatools DOS. I used the same program to check my old Seatools drive but didn't think to use it on the WD HDD since it was a different manufacturer.

Anyway, I did a Short Test with Seatools and it passed. Then I ran the Long Test and it failed I attached the log.

Unfortunately, your Seagate hard drive has failed an important diagnostic test, possibly caused by problem sectors which are difficult to read. Now is a good time to make sure you have a current backup of your important data.

Seagate recommends that you consider repairing the problem sectors. SeaTools for DOS may be able to save you from the inconvenience and down time of exchanging the drive. For more information on this subject see our help topic ‘Bad Sector Found’.

Yesterday morning, I went into Safe Mode and to my surprise, there weren't any artifacts. I then opened command prompt as the admin and entered chkdsk /f c: I have attached the results. The computer rebooted and I was able to get on my desktop! After 20 minutes, artifacts and BSOD showed up.

I was curious and ran chkdsk /f c: again to see what it would say. Again, results attached.

Then I ran SeaTools again but it gave me the same message as above.

I found that WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostics also comes in DOS. I ran the Extended Test, got a No Errors Found msg. What?

Is this something wrong with the WD2003FZEX or not? I don't know how to interpret all these results.

Does cloning a broken drive, cause any damage to the new drive? I only have a few days left to return this drive for a refund.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Saywat,

Not really my area im sure you'll get more comments
I can tell you
a clone copy takes the bad sectors across from old to new -- use an image if the bad drive can take it

Roy

 

[saywat]

Hi Saywat,

Not really my area im sure you'll get more comments
I can tell you
a clone copy takes the bad sectors across from old to new -- use an image if the bad drive can take it

Roy

Good to know. Thanks, Roy. Yup, I hope I get some help because my return window ends in a couple days.

 

[TechnoMage2016]

In the world of computer repair, that I've lived in for well over 30 years, I'd have to say that you went from a very good and reliable brand of drive* to a brand That I won't let anywhere near my PC's.
*Even with the worlds best drives, an occasional failure does occur.

In one summer, I had to RMA a WD hard drive three times. The last one they sent me looked like it had been kicked across a concrete floor. (badly scratched) I just gave it away and it failed two months later.

So I said "Never Again" to WD and I've been real happy with Seagate, Samsung, and Toshiba drives ever since then.
Right now, I'm using two SanDisk SSD drives, with no problems.

Good Luck with that WD.

 

[saywat]

In the world of computer repair, that I've lived in for well over 30 years, I'd have to say that you went from a very good and reliable brand of drive* to a brand That I won't let anywhere near my PC's.
*Even with the worlds best drives, an occasional failure does occur.

Sigh, before I bought this new drive, I did some research and I came across of "Seagate drives are junk." So I went with WD. But I dunno if those people had 30 years of experience. So speaking of experience in computer repair, would you say that my new drive is damaged?

 

[RoasterMen]

In the world of computer repair, that I've lived in for well over 30 years, I'd have to say that you went from a very good and reliable brand of drive* to a brand That I won't let anywhere near my PC's.
*Even with the worlds best drives, an occasional failure does occur.

In one summer, I had to RMA a WD hard drive three times. The last one they sent me looked like it had been kicked across a concrete floor. (badly scratched) I just gave it away and it failed two months later.

So I said "Never Again" to WD and I've been real happy with Seagate, Samsung, and Toshiba drives ever since then.
Right now, I'm using two SanDisk SSD drives, with no problems.

Good Luck with that WD.

I don't know what you are talking about but my 320GB WD drive is doing fine. I've had problems with Samsung. Hitachi's doing well too.

 

[saywat]

Really hoping to get help on my questions:

From the information I have provided, does it look like me new drive is indeed damaged?

Could the Seatools test have resulted in a fail because I ran it on a non-Seagate drive?

If I cloned a drive that was giving me a "Windows detected a hard disk problem" error msg, and it somehow damaged the new drive, shouldn't I be getting the same error msg by now?

 

[Megahertz07]

I think that your new drive is healthy. As Roy mentioned, the problem my be that you cloned a failing drive.
Start from scratch. Do a clean install and then restore your data.

Why don't you buy a small SSD (128 G) for windows and programs and use the HDD for data?
You have no idea what a SSD can improve your computer.

Related to WD, I think that WD Black and Gold are the best desktop HDD's money can buy. (can't say the same for portables).

 

[saywat]

I think that your new drive is healthy. As Roy mentioned, the problem my be that you cloned a failing drive.
Start from scratch. Do a clean install and then restore your data.

Thank you for your response. I was thinking that by cloning the failing drive, I damaged this new one forever. But what you're saying is that I can erase the damage I did by installing Win7 from scratch, correct?

 

[SIW2]

There is one way to find out. Try it and see.