Question How do I test old HDDs to see if they have failed or not ?

[knowledge2121]

My understanding is that I have to do a full format and then look at the SMART report...

Besides doing a full format, Do the following methods also work:

• Use the "clean all" command in Diskpart.
• format <drive>: /fs:NTFS /p:0
• Use a software to zero out the drive.

which method is the fastest way to do this ?

 

[USAFRet]

My understanding is that I have to do a full format and then look at the SMART report...

Besides doing a full format, Do the following methods also work:

• Use the "clean all" command in Diskpart.
• format <drive>: /fs:NTFS /p:0
• Use a software to zero out the drive.

which method is the fastest way to do this ?

A "Full format" from Windows File explorer (Vista and later) writes zeros to the entire drive.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/p...server/format-command-not-write-zeros-to-disk

 

[SkyNetRising]

My understanding is that I have to do a full format and then look at the SMART report...

You can look at SMART data without doing any of those other things.

• Use the "clean all" command in Diskpart.
• format <drive>: /fs:NTFS /p:0
• Use a software to zero out the drive.

which method is the fastest way to do this ?

Clean command is fast - it just removes all partitioning data.

Format can be done in quick and full mode.
Quick - fast (just overwrites file allocation table).
Full - long (tests every sector).

Zeroing a drive - long. Similar to full format.

 

[knowledge2121]

A "Full format" from Windows File explorer (Vista and later) writes zeros to the entire drive.

so when I uncheck quick format, it performs a full format right?

You can look at SMART data without doing any of those other things.

I thought I have to do a full format to test all sectors ? so that it shows in the SMART report ?

 

[USAFRet]

so when I uncheck quick format, it performs a full format right?

Yes.


In what context are we checking these drives?
Looking at (and understanding) the SMART data is critical.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I thought I have to do a full format to test all sectors ? so that it shows in the SMART report ?

SMART report is just a collection of drive statistics and counters.
You can read it at any time.

 

[Misgar]

When I want to test a brand new or second hard hard disk thoroughly, I run a Hard Disk Sentinel surface scan. At the end you should know if there are any weak/bad blocks, or pending sectors.

There are several options. Some tests are read-only and do not usually affect existing data, or you can opt for a more thorough write/read test which takes twice as long.

On a 4TB hard disk you can expect tests to take 4 to 8 hours, but at least you'll know every sector has been checked.

https://www.hdsentinel.com/help/en/61_surfacetest.html

A lot depends on how much you value your data, as to what test(s) you run.

 

[Starnet]

Download Hdat2, free utility for HDD, free and super flexible, if you have a seasoned drive it's really good for freshening up and re-certifying old HDD's