Question 1TB HDD 80% Fragmented, Windows 10 Optimise Drives Program Doesn't Help

[sdfbvcxbf]

I've got a 1TB HDD that's 80% fragmented. It was working fine, if slow, right up until the other week. I noticed it getting worse because I can't play any video files from it without extreme stuttering. It's more like a slide show. I've tried other video players and the stuttering continues.
Windows 10's Optimise Drives program can't seem to defragment the HDD at all. After it completes optimisation the drive is still at 80% fragmentation.

I've linked my DxDiag and some screenshots of the relevant sections in Device Manager and the Optimise Drives, and from HD Tune Pro's Error Scan Section. As I type this I'm running a Health scan on HD Tune Pro.

DxDiag: https://pastebin.com/AU82Aze4
Device Manager: https://ibb.co/f9nJP8f
Optimise Drives: https://ibb.co/hZd3vbR
Disk Management: https://ibb.co/tzZsdbw
HD Tune Pro Error Scan: https://ibb.co/QdrKcy7


Thanks for any help !

Edit: Here's a screenshot of the HD Tune Pro Health Scan, though it's not complete: https://ibb.co/hcdzj1h

 

[rgd1101]

f drive?
because you only got 30GB free out of 930GB

 

[SkyNetRising]

Your HDD is failing. Replace.
It has 998 relocated sectors and 47 pending sectors.
It's halfway dead basically.

 

[sdfbvcxbf]

f drive?
because you only got 30GB free out of 930GB

I've had it work as it usually does with only 1GB of free space. Do you think if I just cleared it so it has 10% free space it'll resolve the issue ?
Isn't the 80% fragmentation serious ?
Thanks for the help.

 

[sdfbvcxbf]

Your HDD is failing. Replace.
It has 998 relocated sectors and 47 pending sectors.
It's halfway dead basically.

Thanks, I figured as much. Any ideas on where's best to buy a new one that's safe ?

I was looking at this:

Seagate BarraCuda Compute 1TB, 3.5", SATA 6Gb/s​

https://skinflint.co.uk/seagate-barracuda-compute-1tb-st1000dm010-a1508231.html?hloc=uk&va=b&vl=uk

https://www.cclonline.com/st2000dm0...7_1713458319_f4522e1993e5e1641df136f4266d4deb

and for an additional £13 I can double the space:

https://skinflint.co.uk/seagate-bar...000dma08-a1700138.html?t=v&vl=uk&va=b&hloc=uk


You're all great for the time and info, thanks !

 

[SkyNetRising]

Thanks, I figured as much. Any ideas on where's best to buy a new one that's safe ?
I was looking at this:
Seagate BarraCuda Compute 1TB, 3.5", SATA 6Gb/s

Avoid Seagate Barracudas.
They are all SMR drives with bad/inconsistent write performance.

If you want Seagate, then choose Ironwolf or Seahawk product lines instead. Just make sure particular drive is not SMR.
From Western Digital choose Red or Purple product lines. Again have to make sure the particular model is not SMR.

 

[sdfbvcxbf]

Avoid Seagate Barracudas.
They are all SMR drives with bad/inconsistent write performance.

If you want Seagate, then choose Ironwolf or Seahawk product lines instead. Just make sure particular drive is not SMR.
From Western Digital choose Red or Purple product lines. Again have to make sure the particular model is not SMR.

Thanks.

The western digital wd purple 2tb here,

https://skinflint.co.uk/western-digital-wd-purple-2tb-wd22purz-a2636431.html?t=v&vl=uk&va=b&hloc=uk

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09N9XK...ativeASIN=B09N9XK7V4&psc=1&tag=geizhals-am-21

has a hdd rpm of 5400. My old HDD,

https://www.disctech.com/Seagate-Barracuda-ST31000528AS-1000GB-SATA-Hard-Drive

is 7,200RPM. Do you think this will be an issue ?

Also, it states it's specifically for security video, I understand that's just how they're marketing it.
It'll be for home use, mainly storing films/tv shows. Copying them, and deleting them, and phone back ups. Do you think the western digital wd purple 2tb is suitable/a decent replacement ?


Thanks a lot !

Edit: Considering the use case of just writing/deleting huge files/backups, do you think I should stick with a HDD ? I understand SSDs can degrade faster than HDDs in this role.

 

[SkyNetRising]

It'll be for home use, mainly storing films/tv shows. Copying them, and deleting them, and phone back ups. Do you think the western digital wd purple 2tb is suitable/a decent replacement?

WD Purple WD22PURZ is ok choice. It is meant for 24/7 operation with prioritized writes.
It's not the fastest though. I probably wouldn't use it for game library drive.
But for storing videos - perfect.

Edit: Considering the use case of just writing/deleting huge files/backups, do you think I should stick with a HDD ? I understand SSDs can degrade faster than HDDs in this role.

For those purposes mechanical HDDs are definitely preferred.

 

[sdfbvcxbf]

WD Purple WD22PURZ is ok choice. It is meant for 24/7 operation with prioritized writes.

It's not the fastest though. I probably wouldn't use it for game library drive.

But for storing videos - perfect.


For those purposes mechanical HDDs are definitely preferred.

Thanks for the info. I'll get a 2TB HDD Then.


Lastly I was wondering, considering that the failing drive that I have lasted more than 10 years. It was a "Seagate Barracuda ST31000528AS 1TB SATA",


https://ibb.co/0DxH1jg


https://www.disctech.com/Seagate-Barracuda-ST31000528AS-1000GB-SATA-Hard-Drive


It appears to be an earlier version of this:


https://www.cclonline.com/st2000dm0...7_1713458319_f4522e1993e5e1641df136f4266d4deb

Seagate BarraCuda 2TB SATA III 3.5"" Hard Drive - 7200RPM, 256MB Cache


The last link shows that the
Seagate BarraCuda 2TB SATA uses SMR, which as you say is not preferable.


I can't find out whether my failing drive uses SMR or CMR.


If it uses SMR, then I'll go for the
Seagate BarraCuda 2TB SATA, despite the fact it also uses SMR; if it lasts me 10 years as this failing drive has, then I'll be happy with it - especially for the price it's being sold at.


Thanks again for any insight you can provide. You've been so helpful, I wish there was a +rep button or something.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I can't find out whether my failing drive uses SMR or CMR.
If it uses SMR, then I'll go for the
Seagate BarraCuda 2TB SATA, despite the fact it also uses SMR; if it lasts me 10 years as this failing drive has, then I'll be happy with it - especially for the price it's being sold at.

Your drive is failing because it's old (not because of particular recording technology).
First SMR drives started appearing ~10 years ago. Technology was meant for getting increased capacities with lowered cost.
Promising technology at the time, but didn't turn out so well.
It has numerous shortcomings and disadvantages.
If possible, stay away from SMR drives.
Or suffer consequences of inferior product.