Can I use SeaTools to fix: SMART Failure Predicted?

[principiantehardware]

Hello, I have a laptop that when it starts automatically I receive a message:

IMAGE: SMART Failure

It had a Operating System and one day magically turned off and now receive that message, when I press F1 it says that it has not any Operating System. I accessed to Ubuntu Live CD to check the partitions but it has not any.

I did a check (from: Ubuntu Live CD --> Disk Utility) and I received a fail in SMART: "ID: 5 , Attribute name: Reallocated Sectors Count", here you can see it:

IMAGE: SMART Fail ID 5


Then I am thinking in download: "SeaTools for DOS", but I do not know the option that I have to select: Long test OR Full Erase OR other. I will like something like chkdsk (in Windows) that try to fix sectors and if it can not then mark them like removed (for not read/write those sectors more).

I got information from Seagate:

(From: SeaTools Support -In Spanish- --> Tutorial de Seatools para DOS -in Spanish-)

• 
  * Long test (Prueba larga): realiza una exploración completa de la unidad. Ésta se usa normalmente para encontrar y reparar los sectores defectuosos.
  * Full Erase (Borrado completo): rellena la unidad completa con ceros. Se puede usar para recuperar sectores defectuosos y borrar todos los datos.
  NOTA: No es un “Borrado seguro”.

(From: SeaTools for DOS, User Guide)

• 
  * Long test: It will take a long time to complete. Because the "LONG Test" reads every sector on the drive, the amount of time required will depend on the speed and capacity of the disk drive. The highest capacity drives often take 6 to 8 hours to complete. At any time, feel free to Cancel the test without harming the drive. The "LONG Test" will collect information about possible defects. If any defect are found, a list will be offered at the end or after aborting the scan. You will have the opportunity to attempt to repair the problem sectors.
  * Full Erase: This command writes zeros to every sector on the hard drive. This test may take
  several hours to complete.

I do not understand "Long test" in Spanish says: "... It is used normally to find and fix defective sectors." and "Long test" in English says: "... You will have the opportunity to attempt to repair the problem sectors.". Are they the same? I am looking for something like chkdsk (in Windows). I think it could solve the SMART ID 5 problem.


NOTE: There is not any problem if I lose data, there are backups.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

That message means exactly what it says. The drive is failing, or will fail shortly, if it hasn't already. Replace the drive, there's nothing you can do to fix it.

 

[junkeymonkey]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1gjxEMc5Wo

http://knowledge.seagate.com/articles/en_US/FAQ/184619en

http://community.sony.com/t5/VAIO-Hardware-Networking/SMART-Failure-predicted-on-Hard-Disk/td-p/23994

no matter where you look it means a probable failing drive

may last years then may last seconds ?? I'd at least start making back ups on a regular basis / look in to replacing the drive

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.M.A.R.T.


just to add with a laptop they tend to get bounced / dropped / mishandled a lot more the a desktop and if you got a platter drive in it all that don't help with its health a lot of little thing in the drive that don't like or need to be ''bounced'' around so with that to me short life is expected ..

now if a ssd you may not see internally of the drive these issues but you got what ever connecting the drive that could be knocked loose or off so just a bad connection now with the cable from the motherboard to the drive could affect things as well or give bad smart readings ?

bottom line is no matter what theres a issue and backups are highly recommended until you figure out the best resolve

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi

If you want a collection of hard disk diagnostics programs try Hirens Boot CD
It is a few years old now but unless PC is very new it will work

I assume you have a Seagate hard disk as you mention 'sea tools for dos'

Run the short test first
If it tells you the disk has lots of bad sectors or bad read write heads or other damage stop there

If it has only a few bad sectors try the long test. It will try to swap bad sectors for hidden reserved sectors

This is not the same as Chkdsk with both options ticked.
Always run manufacturers hardware diagnostics before chkdsk

don't try to defragment this hard drive anymore as you are liable to loose date

It is best to have BIOS or UEFI do a smart test at power on so you know when problem occurs

Depending on BIOS /UEFI you may have to disable smart test to be able to boot from diagnostic disk (CD or USB)

Consider replacing a bad hard disk with a SSD
A 240GB drives is quite reasonably priced nowdays and wont be damaged by vibration when in use

regards
Mike Barnes

 

[principiantehardware]

Thank you for your replies. I have news:

• 
  * You are advising me about backups and yes as I said there is backup, so there is not any problem to lose data.
  * The HDD is physically well connected to the connector.
  * I runned SeaTools --> Short Test, it did not start, it reported:
  Short Test FAILURE (Image)
  
  About the warranty I think the HDD has more than 2 years so it has not warranty.
  
  About the report I highlight when it says: "... Seagate recommends that you run the Long Test, which has the ability to repair most problem sectors. ..."
  
  So, I think that is better than a chkdsk.

 

[junkeymonkey]

''Seagate recommends that you run the Long Test'' if it fails the short test it should not pass the long

just like WD's data life guard if it fails it a failed drive -- this one I'm on don't pass but I just keep on trucking with it

like I said could go for years or the next time you fire it up ?? only you know whats best for you I don't keep anything critical or keepsakes on any hard drive so a loos is just a headach and time not like families photos or anything like that to be lost nothing that's cant come back from a download or a dvd easy


''fix all ''

http://knowledge.seagate.com/articles/en_US/FAQ/202435en


one thing to know any data in a bad block/sector may not be recovered or could be /get corrupted as in that damage is done

'' If any of the files uses a sector which is marked as 'bad' by disk utility then the bad sector of the file is remapped to a free sector and any unreadable data is lost. To avoid file corruption data recovery methods should be performed first if bad sectors are found (before being marked) by OS at file system level.''

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_sector

thing is as I most times find if its due to a issue with the drive its just going to keep on going bad or reoccurring

like for me most times its due to power surges thanks to weather /lighting or my piss poor power company and there crap service in this rural back woods area I live in [lol]

 

[principiantehardware]

About bad sectors a point that I do not understand:

* From Product Manual for 500 GB models it says "Guaranteed sectors: 976,773,168" and I received from: Ubuntu Live CD --> Disk Utility a fail in SMART: "ID: 5 , Attribute name: Reallocated Sectors Count, Value: 1813 sectors, Estimate: Failing" (it is in IMAGE: SMART Fail ID 5). So: 976,773,168 - 3626** = 976,769,542 good sectors.

So each sector has 512 Bytes (from Product Manual), then: 512 * 3626 = 1,856,512 Bytes equal to 1.77MB approximately. I have ONLY 1.77MB bad the rest of 500GB approximately is good.

Then: Why is the HDD going crazy with change the HDD if the entire HDD is good? Could be the HDD lost the ability to Reallocated Sectors? (then when appear new bad sector they would not be Reallocated to a good sector)



** 3626 because 1813 BAD sectors plus 1813 Reallocated Sectors (from the bad sectors)

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Could be the HDD lost the ability to Reallocated Sectors? (then when appear new bad sector they would not be Reallocated to a good sector)

That is exactly the reason you are being told to replace the drive. The spare sector table has now been depleted. Bad sectors will continue to spread and can no longer be mapped out by the controller. As soon as one of those bad sectors develops in the boot block or MBR it's game over. Drives are cheap, replace it.

 

[principiantehardware]

Ok, perfect. Thank you for your replies.

Only for curiosity:

Question 1: Is there some difference between SeaTools "Long Test"** and CHKDSK /r***? Could be that for SeaTools "Long Test" works in Hardware and for CHKDSK /r works logically (then if I format the HDD I would have to do a CHKDSK again)?

Question 2: Is a good practice to use manufacturer's repair software before to chkdsk for example?

Question 3: About SMART Fail ID 5 (There is an image on the top). The HDD lost the ability to Reallocated Sectors (for example when appear new bad sectors they would not be Reallocated to a good sector) but it could be a problem related to firmware, then: If I update the firmware****... Could it solve the problem related to: Reallocated Sectors?



** Long test (Prueba larga): realiza una exploración completa de la unidad. Ésta se usa normalmente para encontrar y reparar los sectores defectuosos.
*** CHKDSK /r. /r: Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information. The disk must be locked. /r includes the functionality of /f, with the additional analysis of physical disk errors.
****Firmware: It is a computer program which establish the logic in low level that control the any device of electrical network. (Source: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firmware -I did an English translation-)