Seatools thinks empty USB is a HDD (+ BSOD issue)

PC is 5 years old & I'd like to keep it running smooth if possible.
I've never been able to get RESTORE to help with any problems.
I changed out my graphics card 2 or 3 months ago because I suspected it might be causing issues ...
I thought the PC died last last month when boot times were better measured with a sun dial ... SeaTools failed short and long tests. (If I remember correctly) I couldn't get DOS SeaTools to run from a CD, so I ran Fdisk from CMD. Nothing seemed to help until I unplugged the Ultra133 IDE Control Board for extra hard drives. (it's still unplugged)

I alternate between CCleaner & Glary Utilities a couple of time per month to keep my browser from getting sluggish. (Opera & FireFox)

Today the PC had a SLOW start-up, so I ran MalwareBytes & deleted a few files. The scan with MS Security Essentials had no problems. After re-start I was surprised to see a BSOD and then it re-started OK. I ran SeaTools for Windows... in addition to failed tests, SeaTools thinks I have a second HDD in a USB port but there are no flash drives plugged in (just printer, keyboard, & mouse in the back ports)

Why does SeaTools think a USB port is a HDD? (is this a hint of hidden problems?)
PC seems to be running OK now but the failed tests with SeaTools are a concern.

What are my best steps from here?


Here's the SeaTools Log + (attached) view of Event Log Summary A & B

-------------- SeaTools for Windows v1.2.0.8 ---------------
12/7/2013 10:27:48 PM
Model: HD155UI
Serial Number: S2HEJX0C300185
Firmware Revision: 1AQ10001
SMART - Pass 12/7/2013 10:27:48 PM
Short DST - Started 12/7/2013 10:28:08 PM
Short DST - FAIL 12/7/2013 10:28:24 PM
SeaTools Test Code: 6C9AC2A4
Identify - Started 12/7/2013 10:28:42 PM
Short Generic - Started 12/7/2013 10:32:39 PM
Short Generic - FAIL 12/7/2013 10:33:38 PM
SeaTools Test Code: 6C9AC2A4
Long Generic - Started 12/7/2013 10:33:45 PM
Long Generic - FAIL 12/7/2013 10:34:39 PM
SeaTools Test Code: 6C9AC2A4
SMART - Pass 12/9/2013 10:08:15 AM
Short DST - Started 12/9/2013 10:08:22 AM
Short DST - FAIL 12/9/2013 10:08:38 AM
SeaTools Test Code: 6C9AC2A4
Identify - Started 12/9/2013 10:08:50 AM
SMART: Supported and enabled
48-bit Address feature set supported: True
Max LBA: 2930277167
Host Protected Area features: Supported and enabled
Mandatory Power Management: Supported and enabled
Security Mode: Supported not enabled
SET MAX security extension: Supported not enabled
Advanced Power Managment: Supported not enabled
Download Firmware: False
SMART self-test supported: True
SMART error logging supported: True
Drive Temperature(C/F): 30/86
Power-On Hours: 6085
Short Generic - Started 12/9/2013 10:09:15 AM
Short Generic - FAIL 12/9/2013 10:10:14 AM
SeaTools Test Code: 6C9AC2A4
SMART - Pass 1/14/2014 3:27:37 PM
Short DST - Started 1/14/2014 3:27:52 PM
Short DST - FAIL 1/14/2014 3:28:08 PM
SeaTools Test Code: 6C9AC2A4
Identify - Started 1/14/2014 3:29:54 PM
SMART: Supported and enabled
48-bit Address feature set supported: True
Max LBA: 2930277167
Host Protected Area features: Supported and enabled
Mandatory Power Management: Supported and enabled
Security Mode: Supported not enabled
SET MAX security extension: Supported not enabled
Advanced Power Managment: Supported not enabled
Download Firmware: False
SMART self-test supported: True
SMART error logging supported: True
Drive Temperature(C/F): 28/82
Power-On Hours: 6595
Short Generic - Started 1/14/2014 3:30:20 PM
Short Generic - FAIL 1/14/2014 3:31:20 PM
SeaTools Test Code: 6C9AC2A4
Long Generic - Started 1/14/2014 3:31:56 PM
Long Generic - FAIL 1/14/2014 3:32:50 PM
SeaTools Test Code: 6C9AC2A4

Hi lewis2979,

Welcome to SevenForums.

1. You need to check your HDD with Seatools for DOS. Somewhere you said the CD didn't run. Now get hold of a pen drive, backup any data on it elsewhere and then create a bootable pen drive with Saetools for DOS, using Rufus Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

2. Boot from the pen drive and run Seatools for DOS. If the short test fails, run the Long Test and check whether it repairs your drive and gives a pass mark :). No ? Then time to change your HDD and do a clean install.(shouldn't be a problem, since it is a custom-built one as I see it in the sys specs. If you do not have/misplaced the Licence key by any chance, extract it now using Speccy from the running system and note it, or better take a screenshot and back it up elsewhere.)

3. Have you backed up your data on the HDD? If not back it up now before doing anything and go ahead with the DOS test.

BTW, SeaTools Test Code: 6C9AC2A4, simply means it can't read the HDD serial number ... Is that so bad? If so, how do I fix it?