[SOLVED] 2 of my external HDD showing 'Caution', can it be solved and used again?

[sharath_83]

I have an 2 Western Digital HDD which has issues.

• WD 1TB My Passowrd HDD which shows 'Caution: Current Pending Sector Count', via CrystakDiskInfo > https://cutt.ly/VnfRT8F
• Western Digital 250 GB Ext HDD 'Wired; (Old HDD) 'Caution: Reallocated Sectors Count > https://cutt.ly/YnfRVFi

Have not come across these 2 before. The WD 1TB i have moved all the files to another HDD yesterday. 250 GB am still moving the files today.

I usually format the HDD after i move the files, but now after going through below, am not sure how to go about it.

After reading about 'Current Pending Sector Count', on this website: https://harddrivegeek.com/current-pending-sector-count/ > It says: "One of the only ways to force a drive into re-reading these pending sectors is by zero’ing the drive, meaning: wiping the drive completely and writing every sectors with zeros. You can do this in most operating systems by performing a ‘Secure Erase’ of the drive."

Is it safe to write every sectors with zero? And once this done and suppose i deleted the files or format the HDD, can the files be recovered this method of earse?

250 GB HDD: Reallocated Sectors Count - Anything can be done about it?

 

[DSzymborski]

If every sector is written with zero, there are no remaining files to be recovered.

It would be faster to just recover your important data from your backups. HDDs with problems can be used, but they can never be trusted.

 

[USAFRet]

Is it safe to write every sectors with zero? And once this done and suppose i deleted the files or format the HDD, can the files be recovered this method of earse?

No.
That data is gone.

Storage devices die. Eventually, all of them, for varied reasons. Prepare for that eventuality. Don't have your data on only one device.

 

[sharath_83]

If every sector is written with zero, there are no remaining files to be recovered.

It would be faster to just recover your important data from your backups. HDDs with problems can be used, but they can never be trusted.

Got it. I have backed-up all the files and formatted the 1TB External HDD, now the 'Caution: Current Pending Sector Count ', i don't see it anymore.

But 250 GB with 'Caution: Reallocated Sectors Count', i have moved the files, but not sure how long the HDD will work for.

 

[sharath_83]

No.
That data is gone.

Storage devices die. Eventually, all of them, for varied reasons. Prepare for that eventuality. Don't have your data on only one device.

Yup, taking backup of everything (Internal HDD and external HDD files) on an another HDD, thanks.