Solved drive testing

[timeless]

lve just replaced a hard drive seatools reported as needing replacement.

lm just wondering what the best tool would be for testing the old drive would be, its a samsung HD501LJ, ideally ld like a tool l can use via a USB external caddy to perform the scans to see if l can repair the issue or if its a lost cause, either way its been replaced with a 1TB Western Digital drive, but l maybe able to use the 500gb drive for non-essential backups.

 

[CKWD]

Hello timeless!

The certain manufacturer of the hard drive should have a software available for testing the health of the HDD and fixing issues. If not, you could always use the chkdsk command or WD's Data Lifeguard Software:
Support Answers

You can install the certain tool (chkdsk is a feature of your OS, doesn't need installing) on your PC and have the drive either directly or through an external caddy connected.

After you check your drive, if there aren't too many issues and/or bad sectors, you could probably use the drive a little longer.

Cheers!

CK_WD

 

[Golden]

lve just replaced a hard drive seatools reported as needing replacement.

lm just wondering what the best tool would be for testing the old drive would be

You've already tested it - if SeaTools says it needs replacing, it does. You don't need to do any further tests - bin the hard disk.

 

[timeless]

actually l while l did run chkdsk and the windows checks for bad sectors nothing changed and the system reported the drive as being problem free.. and while l did run the drives the reported issues through seatools the smart test and short test for my 500gb drive recommended replacement, but l thought it might be possible to run a "FULL" test rather than the short one to see if there was anything that could be done as it would make a handy backup drive for non-essential files that l hardly access but would like to keep.

its kinda funny tho as crystaldiskinfo reported issues with two of my drives, but for some strange reason it stopped reporting any issues on the other drive ld contemplated replacing, that said lve decided next month to possibly get another 2 hard drives (1TB) ones and replace the 2 320gb drives l have left meaning all drives l have in my system will be less than a year old (the 320s l have left in there are a good 5 years old) but l may not replace them straight away and just make sure all my files are just backed up on them, all depends on xmas money if l get any

 

[CKWD]

Well, you should be able to run the Extended test of any hard drive health checking software. Usually, to be certain in what the software is giving you as results, you should run the check a few more times, with at least another program, whether it's OS default or a different one. That's in the case when there could be a small issue with the drive and you're not certain whether to toss it or keep it.

My advice would be, check you doubtful drive again and don't use it for back ups, even small ones, as you can't be certain when it would eventually really die. If it works, the only real thing you could do with it is to transfer files on it for a short period of time before retrieving them, like an hour or two.

Cheers!

CK_WD

 

[Golden]

but l thought it might be possible to run a "FULL" test rather than the short one to see if there was anything that could be done

In that case, run the LONG test of the DOS version of SeaTools.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/313457-seatools-dos-windows-how-use.html

 

[timeless]

l would, but seatools doesnt seem to like the samsung drive, in fact it wouldnt pick it up. according to what l read the dos version of seatools will only pick up and or scan maxtor and seagate hard drives.

 

[Golden]

It recognises all drives - how do you think you were able to run the SHORT test?

Read the tutorial properly - it explains that the disk controller needs to be changed to IDE/ATA for the DOS version of SeaTools to be able to recognise he drives.

 

[timeless]

yes, thats what l did.. however when l ran the dos version outside of windows it only showed my Maxtor and Seagate drives, the samsung and the Western Digital drives didnt show up so l couldnt run any of the longer and more in depth tests.

 

[Golden]

Thats bizarre - it works on mine. Still if the SHORT test failed, then the lLONG test would too.....I wouldn't use that drive again, it would be far too unreliable.

 

[Layback Bear]

My rule of the thumb.

If a hard drive shows any sings of doubt throw it out.

If you just keep testing it until some program tells you it is okay after quality tools like SeaTool tell you it's bad your just fooling yourself.

 

[timeless]

well the thing is, lve not ran any recovery programs on it.. windows didnt pick up any problems so l was wondering if some drive testing program would attempt to sort out problems.. l thought it couldnt hurt to run something to see if the sectors could be repaired, besides l dont have to put important data on it, it will just provide a means of transferring non-essential files.

even more so considering cyrstaldiskinfo picked up more problems on the other drive, yet they have all suddenly disappeared showing no pending sector count errors. it was the strangest thing, the day l go to buy replacements only one of my drives shows as having a problem.. well lm not complaining l just decided to put off replacing that drive until next month when l might be able to replace the other two drives (that way pretty much every drive in my current system will be pretty much new) tho in either case the other drive that used to report an issue didnt show as having problems with seatools within windows unlike the samsung.

 

[timeless]

not adding to the issues on the thread, just thought ld update it to say that since ld saved money by not really doing christmas (couldnt afford it with the cooker breaking down :/ lol decided to wait till sales) in addition to replacing the original one which consistently reported l needed to replace it (the 500gb drive) lve also now replaced my last two old drives (2x 320gb maxtor drives) one of them did report an issue which disappeared tho seatools never picked up any issues only crystaldiskinfo which after replacing the 500gb stopped reporting the same error as the first drive l replaced.

in either case all my current hard drives are now in warranty, also updated system spec, so l will mark this thread as solved.