HDD gives "Reallocated Sector Count is failing now"

jos hens

Honorable
Oct 25, 2013
2
0
10,510
Hi All,

My PC gives this error message "windows detected a hard dsik problem",

running Speedfan gives "Reallocated Sector Count is failing now" and the report below is generated.

I read somewhere that this SMART data sometimes do not represent reality. Is this disk dying or can it be saved?

Thanks

Jos

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Troubled attributes:
Attribute Reallocated Sector Count is failing now! Its current value is 25, the worst value was 25 and the threshold is 36. According to the manufacturer, this is a pre-failure condition.

SERIOUS ISSUE : your hard disk has 3109 reallocated sectors. Hard disks do have spare sectors (usually from 256 up to 2560) used to replace bad ones. This remapping operation is transparent to the end user. Anyway, this can lead to degraded performances (because remapped sectors are in different places of the disk than the original ones and the head needs additional moving). If reallocated sectors grow over time, you might encounter some serious troubles. A backup of the most important data is suggested anyway.

BLOCKING ISSUE : your hard disk has 16 pending sectors. Those are sectors that couldn't be properly read and that the hard disk logic is waiting for a write operation to try to remap to a spare sector (if available). According to the Reallocated Sector Count attribute, your hard disk seems to be either low or out of spare sectors. A simple disk surface scan won't be enough to force the remap operation. You need a read/write surface scan to remap the sector. The best option should be a tool that knows about what should be read from that sector so that it has some option to apply the best fix to the missing data.

BLOCKING ISSUE : your hard disk has 16 offline uncorrectable sectors. Those are sectors that an offline scanning found as unreadable. Offline scanning is a process that can be automatically started by the hard disk logic when a long enough idle period is detected or that can be forced by some tool. Those unreadable sectors are identified and the hard disk logic is waiting for a write command that will overwrite them to try to remap them to spare sectors (if available). According to the Reallocated Sector Count attribute, your hard disk seems to be either low or out of spare sectors. A simple disk surface scan won't be enough to force the remap operation. You need a read/write surface scan to remap the sector. The best option should be a tool that knows about what should be read from that sector so that it has some option to apply the best fix to the missing data.

NOTE : your hard disk Power On Hours Count attribute current value (96) is below the normal range (98 - 100) reported for your specific hard disk model. Basically your hard disk was powered on for more than the maximum time the average user did. This means that either all of the reports collected are from hard disks that were not powered on for too long (this is realistic for recent models) or that your hard disk is becoming old. Usually this is not considered as a pre-failure advisory, but you should check whether you want to replace the hardware or keep an eye on its performances over time.

NOTE : your hard disk Power Cycle Count attribute current value (96) is below the normal range (100 - 100) reported for your specific hard disk model. Basically your hard disk was power cycled more times than the maximum number the average hard disk was. Power cycles put some stress on the hard disk mechanic. Sometimes power cycles can be caused by a loose hard disk power connector. Make sure it is properly fastened.

The overall fitness for this drive is 0%.
The overall performance for this drive is 94%.
 
A nice explanation.

I would prepare now to do something about it.
Most data can probably be read, but don't count on it.

Hard drive vendors will have diagnostic programs for their drives. WD calls then data lifeguard.
Run their device specific diagnostics. I would expect it to show similar results.


See if you can't back up what you value to a different device.
It is, perhaps a time to replace the drive.
Once you have done that, you could possibly salvage the drive by reformatting it.

If you have not yet done so, this would be an opportune time to go to a SSD.
A SSD is one of the most satisfying performance upgrades you can make today.
 

jos hens

Honorable
Oct 25, 2013
2
0
10,510
Thanks for your valuable input
Backup is running at this moment

Vendor has been asked for a replacement as it is less than 2 years old

will see what chkdsk will bring

I keep you posted