Hard Drive Issue - "Reallocated Sectors Count"

[jamiedolan]

I was going through the list of handy free programs ( http://www.sevenforums.com/software/92-free-great-programs-windows-7-a.html ) here on the forum. I downloaded and installed a program called crystal disk. It is showing a "Caution" message due to "Reallocated Sectors Count" being at 199.

How much of a problem is this, and what do I need to do about it?



Thank You,

Jamie

 

[thefabe]

Check out the section down on this page S.M.A.R.T. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the definition of Reallocated Sectors Count. It should give you some insight as to what your looking at.
Fabe

 

[jamiedolan]

Thanks. I read that among other things, which seem to offer a variety of opinions that range from, it isn't a problem to replace your hard drive now. I am trying to get a full back up done just to be safe, but keep getting a blue screen.

Thank You

 

[James Colbert]

Thanks. I read that among other things, which seem to offer a variety of opinions that range from, it isn't a problem to replace your hard drive now. I am trying to get a full back up done just to be safe, but keep getting a blue screen.

Thank You

Hi Jamie, Welcome to the forums. The limited details you give make it somewhat difficult to draw any conclusions.

1) Were you having issues before you installed Crystal Disk? If so, what are they?
2) What BSOD error are you getting?
3) What imaging program are you using for your full backup?
4) When the blue screens occur, are you attempting to backup from within windows?
5) Have you tried downloading WD's HD util to diagnose your drive (if not, complete your backup first)?

Give as much detail as possible about your issue and any related info.

James

 

[jamiedolan]

1) Were you having issues before you installed Crystal Disk? If so, what are they?

No; the system is just under a year old (Dell Studio XPS) with a factory install of Win7. Overall the system has been quite stable and I have had very few problems of any significance. I don't recall getting any BSOD errors in the past year.

2) What BSOD error are you getting?

Sorry I didn't post more details with my response here, I made a full post along with the BSOD files in the Crashes-Debugging forum:

http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-...-when-running-windows-backup.html#post1170551

The error I see is in the BlueScreen View Program is:

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

This is an image of the BlueScreen View program:

(Left side of screen)


(Screen scrolled to the Right)


I've attached the dump file for you also here (same dump as what is in the post I made in the Crashes-Debugging forum), in case that is helpful, you can download it here:
View attachment 130100

3) What imaging program are you using for your full backup?

I was using the "Backup and Restore" program that was built into Windows 7 in the Control Panel. I was planning on setting up a program like goodsync for every day backups, but though I would grab an entire system backup image with the built in backup program to start with.

I have a new WD Elements 2TB hooked up to a new D-Link N+ 300 router. It appears to be working perfectly, I can read / write to the drive and have not had any errors.

4) When the blue screens occur, are you attempting to backup from within windows?

Yes, I have just gone to the Control Panel and clicked on the Back Up Now button and let it run. I have about 585GB on the internal drive.

I started it last night about a hour before I went to bed, it was running just fine when I left it, but in the morning, the machine had rebooted due to a BSOD error.

I tried the backup again this early this afternoon, while I was at the computer, again it ran for a while, then got the BSOD again, same error as before.

5) Have you tried downloading WD's HD util to diagnose your drive (if not, complete your backup first)?
Give as much detail as possible about your issue and any related info.
James

Yes, I did download it earlier today. I have not been able to compete the backup because of the BSOD error. I am manually coping my Photos / Videos / Documents folders over to the external hard drive, just in case.

This is the screen from the WD Utility, It reports the same value for the Reallocated Sectors Count, as Crystal Disk did:

WD Utility Screen: (top)



(Bottom - Scrolled down)


Thanks very much for your help;

Jamie

 

[James Colbert]

I doubt I'll do a better job than Carl at debugging, and device drivers can this error. Here is a link that will tell you more (apologies if you have this info already):

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Windows 7 | Technology News

As for your backup, I would recommend downloading a 3rd party imaging program that runs in a rescue environment, such as Acronis True Image (I've been using this since 2004 and am running the latest version). It's around $60.

If you're looking for a free program (limited feature set, but will accomplish what you want), many here tout Macrium reflect, which you can find here:

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

Your immediate priority should be to backup your data. Either of the two softwares mentioned should allow you to do that (you should first create the rescue disk and use that to image the drive through the R.D.'s Linux environment, which should successfully complete the image).

Back to your bsod, as you may have read, this error can be a bit tedious to track down, as there can be diverse causes, but Windows updates have sometimes been known to cause it. Here is a relevant thread:

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL 0x0000000A after installing Windows Updates

as can hard drives. Here's a link that outlines some of the causes:

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Windows 7 | Technology News

Finally, you don't mention how long ago this started occurring, but after you successfully image the partition (or drive), I would try a System Restore, choosing a restore point that predates the issue and the installation of Crystal Disk. In case you're not familiar with the System Restore process:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html?ltr=S

So, to reiterate:

1) complete a successful drive image
2) Attempt a System Restore to a point pre-dating the issue and Crystal Disk install
3) Use WD's utility to check your drive again (Do not reinstall Crystal Disk, at least until you have resolved your issues).

After these steps, you can try to run Windows backup again to see if the error occurs. If it does, it's likely that the HD could be causing the problem (or its driver). You could verify by running Win Backup on a different drive and see what happens.

Always create a restore point before installing new software, unless you keep current drive/partition images.

Let us know how it goes.

James

 

[mjf]

I'm not sure what uninstalling Crystal Disk Info will achieve?
It appears to be reporting accurately and I've used it for a while now without problem.

In Crystal Disk Info if you go to: Function>Health Status settings
You will see 3 thresholds of caution can be set by the user

1. Reallocated sector count
2. Current pending sector count
3. Uncorrectable sector count

These thresholds default to 1 and can be set by the user. The actual values (in hex) for reallocated, I understand are the Raw values shown.

Is 1 a sensible threshold for caution when it comes to reallocated sectors?
I don't know. Maybe not. The WD diagnostics suggest no as well.

Also, note the other sector counts are 0.

 

[James Colbert]

I'm not sure what uninstalling Crystal Disk Info will achieve?
It appears to be reporting accurately and I've used it for a while now without problem.

It's not about 'uninstalling Crystal Disk', but about an attempt to restore to a date pre-dating his bsod's, which began after installing C.D. This is not to say that his bsod's are related to the install of C.D., but why muddy the waters by reinstallation of a heretofore unused program that coincided with the bsod's, preventing him from completing a successful partition image (as is revealed in post #5)?


James

 

[mjf]

jamiedolan
take my response in post #7 as a response to your original question in post#1.
It's meant to assist you with your original question.

 

[CarlTR6]

Jamie, based on what I have read in this thread, I have added some recommendations in the BSOD thread. One of your dumps is bugcheck 24, NTFS file system. This error can be caused by device drivers and can be caused by a messed up file system or a faulty hard drive among other things.

http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-...-when-running-windows-backup.html#post1171710

 

[jamiedolan]

Is 1 a sensible threshold for caution when it comes to reallocated sectors?
I don't know. Maybe not. The WD diagnostics suggest no as well.

Also, note the other sector counts are 0.

HI;

I did run the WDC program as I posted about here http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-...-when-running-windows-backup.html#post1170551 The values looked on the high side compared to the reference values, but the WDC program did not report any problems with the disk and showed it in good health.

I'm still unsure of the status of the HD. That's why I am manually copying all of my important files off of this machine to my external hard drive. I'll feel a lot more comfortable testing things once I have my photos / videos /documents backed-up.

Should be finished copying by early afternoon or so. I am copying one large folder at a time.

Thanks

Jamie

 

[CarlTR6]

I understand that completely and that is the wise thing to do.

 

[jamiedolan]

As for your backup, I would recommend downloading a 3rd party imaging program that runs in a rescue environment, such as Acronis True Image (I've been using this since 2004 and am running the latest version). It's around $60.

If you're looking for a free program (limited feature set, but will accomplish what you want), many here tout Macrium reflect, which you can find here:

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

I started manually copying my important files to an external drive. The windows backup started to run at a scheduled time while I was still manually copying files, so I let it run. The windows backup completed without error. (after I did the uninstall / removed / renamed the files we discussed).



I'll run the check disk program as soon as I can reboot (waiting for uploads), but at least I have the windows backup and a manual backup of my files done.

Since I have managed to both manually copy all of my files and got the windows backup to run, is there any advantage to using the Acronis type of program? Is that similar to the old Symantec Ghost program?

Thanks so much for all the help

Jamie

 

[James Colbert]

I started manually copying my important files to an external drive. The windows backup started to run at a scheduled time while I was still manually copying files, so I let it run. The windows backup completed without error. (after I did the uninstall / removed / renamed the files we discussed).


I'll run the check disk program as soon as I can reboot (waiting for uploads), but at least I have the windows backup and a manual backup of my files done.

Since I have managed to both manually copy all of my files and got the windows backup to run, is there any advantage to using the Acronis type of program? Is that similar to the old Symantec Ghost program?

Thanks so much for all the help

Jamie

Hi Jamie. Thanks for updating us. The backup program you use really depends on what you are comfortable with, although some cite Windows Backup & Restore as 'not always reliable'. I myself have never used it. If there is a way to 'verify' or 'validate' the backup, that would be a good idea.

I prefer Acronis TI (and have been using it for several years). However, ther's no reason for you to rush out and buy it, since you are happy with Win B/U.

Of interest, though, might be this link to a free (!) WD version of Acronis. It might not be a bad idea to download it and use it to create images and keep on hand just in case. It will also give you a chance to preview Acronis TI without cost (although it likely doesn''t have all the features of 'full blown' TI). And yes, it is similar to Norton Ghost in that it creates 'images' of your partition or full HD. I used to use Ghost, but left them around year 2003, as it became much like the rest of their software had become...bloated and buggy. Anyway, here's the link:

WD Support

James

 

[mjf]

Windows "backup & restore" has 2 components. One does file/folder backup (like the OP's screenshot. It generates multiple .zip files. The second is imaging which generates large .vhd files.
Both totally different technically and in terms of what they do.
I have used both extensively without problem.
In addition I use Macrium Reflect free as a safeguard.

If these programs work for you I don't think you need to look any further. For precious documents the "drag & drop" backup doesn't hurt either as an added safeguard.

I was trying a third part file/folder backup program yesterday. It (or I) messed up my system. A windows image restored the system in 20 minutes.

 

[CarlTR6]

Jamie, I use Macrium Reflect (free) and it works very well. It is similar to Norton Ghost; but a little more simple to use.

 

[duncanwg7]

external hdd slow, and getting error reports

hi
i recently reinstalled windows7, and now my storejet 1.5TB external
hdd is much slower, i can view/open nearly all my data except for a
few folders.
check it in crystal disk, got a caution for reallocated sector count
these folders i cannot delete either.

can you please tell me what is wrong? virus, dying drive or what?

thanks duncan

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Hard drives ship with a certain number of unused sectors. These are used to replace any bad sectors that develop on the drive. The warning means that you have used up most of the spare sectors.

So the drive isn't particularly healthy. I would download the drive manufacturer's hard drive utility and see what it says. You may have a warranty claim. I would at least think about backing up data and watch that reallocated sector count.

Have you done an anti-virus or anti-malware scan?

 

[duncanwg7]

tried an anti virus scan with malwarebytes, if freezes at a certain point

 

[mjf]

Your external HDD is looking like it could be on the way out. You can also run Windows "chkdsk" as well as the manufacturer's utility.

When looking at reallocated sector count warnings it is best to view them over time in order to determine if it is a serious issue
http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/170703-8-reallocated-sectors-bad.html#post1457371