Solved Hard Drive Failure

[AutumnBreeze]

I am having continuous problems with the hard drive on my laptop.

I bought the laptop as a refurbished device with a 3 months warranty. It has 2 hard drives - an SSD system drive and a HDD data drive. Three months later, the HDD failed. It was just out of the 3 months warranty, so I replaced the drive myself . Three years later, it failed. Three years is fair enough, even though I had never had a drive fail after just three years. I replaced it again. Now, 3.5 months later, it has failed again. Unlike the previous two times, this time the hard drive was making a lot of clicking noises before failing.

I am now beginning to think the problem is not with the hard drive but the computer. However, the computer is working perfectly in all other aspects.

How can I correctly diagnose this problem? I am a bit tired of having to replace the HDD.

This is a link to my previous post when the HDD failed last time

Hard Drive problem - 0x8007045D I/O Device Error

P.S. The only cause I can suspect is that when I replaced the HDD 3.5 months ago, I managed to lose a couple of screws. I tried to find replacements but wasn't able to. So I fitted the disk in with the remaining screws. Even though it's a laptop, it's really a stationary device. It's a 17'' HP EliteBook Workstation - very big, heavy and sturdy. It's not moved around at all, and I am even using a plug-in keyboard and mouse. So I figured a few missing screws wouldn't be a problem. Was I wrong? Was this latest failure caused by the hard disk being damaged from not being fitted in properly?

 

[SIW2]

I am now beginning to think the problem is not with the hard drive but the computer.

How did you determine the hd failed?

Have you tried attaching it to a different machine and test it there? Or with a usb connection ?

 

[AutumnBreeze]

How did you determine the hd failed?

Have you tried attaching it to a different machine and test it there? Or with a usb connection ?

Well, it was/is making lots of clicking noises, which is never good. On boot up, I was given the Failure ID: 0W4EJM-9HSAR6-XD6WWT-61BD03. I also ran the diagnostic on boot up, and got the DST disk failure. I also can't access some of the files and folders on the disk. And Windows keeps coming up with imminent disk failure messages (for the data disk).

I don't have another machine to connect it to. I don't think I can connect it via a USB either, as I don't have an external disk caddy.

 

[SIW2]

You had similar issue with 3 disks , if I understood your post.
Could be the problem is caused by the connections between the pc and the disk, resulting in disk damage.

If so, then the answer may be to use an external disk instead.

 

[AutumnBreeze]

You had similar issue with 3 disks , if I understood your post.
Could be the problem is caused by the connections between the pc and the disk, resulting in disk damage.

If so, then the answer may be to use an external disk instead.

Yes, the first time was just after I bought the computer refurbished. I thought maybe the seller didn't use a new disk. The second time it happened after 3 years of service, which I guess is OK. The third time I am in doubt because, as I said, I lost a couple of screws so maybe the disk was loose and that caused the damage? I guess my question is, is this possible? I tightened the remaining screws pretty well, and felt the disk was secure.

The first two times there was no clicking sound. The disk just failed. I am not sure of the significance of the clicking sound and what it indicates. Oh, and during the 3 years when I had the second disk, it would sometimes disappear from the File Explorer, and I needed to reboot to get it back.

Actually, I think the second disk lasted 4 years, not 3. I bought the computer in May 2017. So 4 years of service is normal. But yes, the disk would 'disappear' from time to time.

 

[SIW2]

So 4 years of service is normal.

They usually last a lot longer.

I have had a couple of hds fail within 4 or 5 years. The rest are still going for 10 yrs or more.

It is possible you were just unlucky with that one, but when you factor in the others, seems like a problem with the laptop connection.

 

[Megahertz07]

Consider:
- Did you buy the HDD as new on a reputable seller? There are second hand HDD that are sold as new when they are not.
- HDD are very sensitive to movements due to the gyroscopic effect and shocks. Are you used to move the laptop when it's on?

HDD is dead tech.
Buy a 1T SSD.
Have used many BX500. So far so good
Crucial BX500 1TB 2.5" SSD, CT1000BX500SSD1, Black : Amazon.com.au: Computers

 

[AutumnBreeze]

They usually last a lot longer.

I have had a couple of hds fail within 4 or 5 years. The rest are still going for 10 yrs or more.

It is possible you were just unlucky with that one, but when you factor in the others, seems like a problem with the laptop connection.

Thank you for your help so far.

I have bought an external drive caddy to test the disk, and am having the same problems. Lots of clicking and shuffling noises. I can still access files on the disk but if I try to copy multiple folders with subfolder structures, the copying stalls. Windows diagnostics on the disk also stopped after a little while.

Reading on the Internet I feel like it's the disk controller problem. However, I am not sure what it means. Was the disk controller damaged by something in the laptop and now it's faulty and doesn't work even in the external disk caddy? How do I check this?

- - - Updated - - -

Consider:
- Did you buy the HDD as new on a reputable seller? There are second hand HDD that are sold as new when they are not.
- HDD are very sensitive to movements due to the gyroscopic effect and shocks. Are you used to move the laptop when it's on?

HDD is dead tech.
Buy a 1T SSD.
Have used many BX500. So far so good
Crucial BX500 1TB 2.5" SSD, CT1000BX500SSD1, Black : Amazon.com.au: Computers

I bought the disk on eBay, but the seller has good reputation. The disk was new. The seller is prepared to replace the disk but first I want to make sure it's the disk problem and not the computer. This is the third disk that failed in about 4,5 years.

The computer is a laptop in name only. It's very big and heavy, and I don't move it at all.

 

[SIW2]

I can still access files on the disk but if I try to copy multiple folders with subfolder structures, the copying stalls. Windows diagnostics on the disk also stopped after a little while.

Doent sound good.

You can try one of the mfr tools - seagate and wd have them.

It might tell you what the problem is

SeaTools | Seagate Support US

wd dashboard only for western digital disks https://wddashboarddownloads.wdc.com/wdDashboard/DashboardSetup.exe

 

[AutumnBreeze]

Doent sound good.

You can try one of the mfr tools - seagate and wd have them.

It might tell you what the problem is

SeaTools | Seagate Support US

wd dashboard only for western digital disks https://wddashboarddownloads.wdc.com/wdDashboard/DashboardSetup.exe

Thank you. I have downloaded and ran Seagate. All the tests I ran on the disk failed but it didn't give me any additional information.

It's pretty clear that the disk is no good. I am now trying to understand how it got this way. Was it damaged by something not working correctly in my laptop? What could it be and how do I find out? If there's a problem with the laptop there's no point trying to put a new disk in without fixing the laptop first.

 

[SIW2]

Unless you want to have somebody look at the machine, the sensible course is to use an external disk instead of a secondary internal.

 

[AutumnBreeze]

Unless you want to have somebody look at the machine, the sensible course is to use an external disk instead of a secondary internal.

It looks this way. Will I need to get an SSD then? If I use an external caddy, I won't be able to avoid moving the disk while it's in use, which will probably damage a HDD fairly quickly. Am I right?

 

[TechnoMage2016]

Autumn Breeze,
You're a very good dancer, because in this entire Thread you've successfully dance around the Brand Name and Model # of that failed drive.

I've only EVER had one brand of drive that has given me that kind of BAD service. And it was a Western Digital (WD) still in new warranty. It failed withing two months. I sent it back to WD for a warranty exchange. The replacement drive failed within one month. Again, sent it back for a Warranty Exchange. The third drive was so scratched up, it looked like it had been kicked across a concrete floor. I wouldn't even put it back into any PC of mine. I gave it away to a guy who wanted a data disk. It failed within one month.
NOW, Guess which brand is on my SH1T list?

SSD's have come down in price to the point where I'd not even think about buying another Mechanical (spinner) drive.
I have four SSD's running happily in my various PC's. In a laptop, they are just Plug-n-Play, but in a desktop PC I have to use the special mounting brackets so they fit in 3.5" drive bays.
Going from the old spinner.
Replacing a spinner in a laptop with an SSD = a huge increase in performance, since laptop spinners are so slow anyway, by their very nature.
While in a desktop PC, an SSD can definitely give the old PC a BOOST.

Two Brands of SSD's that I've used (and AM using) are Crucial and SanDisk. I've never had a moments problem with either.
My very first SSD was a PNY brand. It failed within the first month. I called PNY and they flatly refused to do anything about it. So they are also on my "Never More" list.

Good Luck to you,
TM

 

[SIW2]

It looks this way. Will I need to get an SSD then? If I use an external caddy, I won't be able to avoid moving the disk while it's in use, which will probably damage a HDD fairly quickly. Am I right?

Hdd are not that easy to damage. As long as you dont drop them from a considerable height, they should last many many years.

It depends how much storage you need. Hdd are more economical - especially in the large sizes.

Most people with 4tb or even 2tb disks use hdd.

 

[AutumnBreeze]

Autumn Breeze,
You're a very good dancer, because in this entire Thread you've successfully dance around the Brand Name and Model # of that failed drive.

I can assure you I wasn't trying to hide anything at all. I just didn't think this info was important as it's the third failed disk in 4.5 years. The most recent one was Hitachi (somebody recommended this brand on my previous thread) HGST TravelStar
Hitachi HGST Travelstar 2.5" 500GB SATA 6GB/s 5400RPM 7mm 0J38065 Sealed 705487198416 | eBay

The previous brand was WD (as far as I can remember). It lasted for 4 years.

I am very price conscious as I am on a very tight budget atm.

- - - Updated - - -

Hdd are not that easy to damage. As long as you dont drop them from a considerable height, they should last many many years.

It depends how much storage you need. Hdd are more economical - especially in the large sizes.

Most people with 4tb or even 2tb disks use hdd.

At the moment 500GB is enough for me. But I am very price sensitive. I see it's possible to get a 500GB SSD for under AUD100. However, HDD works fine for me for the data drive as far as the speed is concerned, and it's much cheaper. It's just a question of reliability.

 

[SIW2]

I am surprised it is that much for 500gb.

ssd:
Decent brand ssd - crucial mx500 500gb is about £45 in the UK. Other brands such as kingston are available for a bit less, but not much less. It is worth getting the crucial mx 500. The Samsung 870 EVO ( different from the Qvo) is allegedly slightly better but it carries a massive price premium.


mechanical:
I have a wd blue 7200rpm 1tb hdd that has been good , model is WD10EZEX - about £35 or less in the Uk - avoid the larger size WD because they are smr. CMR is better.

 

[AutumnBreeze]

I am surprised it is that much for 500gb.

It could be less. I've had a really quick look.

- - - Updated - - -

ssd:
Decent brand ssd - crucial mx500 500gb is about £45 in the UK. Other brands such as kingston are available for a bit less, but not much less. It is worth getting the crucial mx 500. The Samsung 870 EVO ( different from the Qvo) is allegedly slightly better but it carries a massive price premium.


mechanical:
I have a wd blue 7200rpm 1tb hdd that has been good , model is WD10EZEX - about £35 or less in the Uk - avoid the larger size WD because they are smr. CMR is better.

Thank you

 

[AutumnBreeze]

Thank you, everybody. I now have a replacement disk connected via USB. All seems to work fine.

 

[Snick]

I have several Crucial SSDs 1tb, one Samsung SSD1tb. I haven't had an issue with any of them. Price/performance Crucials are cheaper, performance, don't really notice it.

 

[SIW2]

The prices have gone up a lot here over the last few days.