My hard drive failed a SeaTools "Long Generic" scan. How likely is it to be failing?

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hbenthow

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Dec 11, 2014
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I have a 1 TB Western Digital external hard drive hooked up to my computer via USB.

I have been slightly worried about the possibility of it going out, as I've had it for three years now and it seems to be getting a tad noisier and slower to start up lately (although that could be my imagination). So I downloaded SeaTools for Windows and ran two tests. The first one (Short Drive Self Test) passed. The second (Long Generic) reported (in its words) "Long Generic - FAIL".

I then downloaded and ran HDDScan, which can apparently find out the S.M.A.R.T. data of a hard drive, and got the following results:

SMARTresults_zps120405dc.jpg


I have no idea how to interpret these results (except that the green dots seemingly indicate success), so I don't know for certain if the drive passed or failed.

My questions are these:

1. Does the S.M.A.R.T. data indicate that the drive is functioning correctly?

2. Even if the S.M.A.R.T. data does indeed indicate that the drive is functioning correctly, should the failure of the Long Generic SeaTools test be considered proof that there is a problem after all that S.M.A.R.T. simply failed to detect?

3. If there is likely to be a problem, is there a way to pinpoint what it is and whether it is most likely a fixable one or one that would require replacement of the drive?
 
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I can't help you with the HDDScan, but you DO need to call WD if that HD is still under warranty. In my experience, anytime one of WD's or Seagate's hard drives fail their test it is failing or about to, and needs replacement.
Pull your data off that drive ASAP. Save it somewhere: the 'cloud', flash drive, another hard drive.That noise you hear is the drive starting to die and the test confirmed it.
I have not heard of any "permanent" fix for a bad hard drive.
If it has no warranty left (warranties vary; some are 1 yr, some 3, and a few are 5) then you will need to buy a new hard drive. Sorry.
 
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No reallocated, pending or uncorrectable errors so there does not appear to be anything obviously wrong with the drive as far as SMART data can tell.

HDDs are delicate precision machines. There is very little in them that even knowledgeable hobbyists would be able to repair without most likely making something else worse. The only people who stand a decent chance of fixing them are people who know them inside-out: the manufacturers. Professional data recovery shops only trust their repairs long enough to get the data off the drives.

If SeaTools gave you a diagnostic code when it failed, write it down, request an RMA and see what Seagate has to say about it.

Edit: Hmm, you might want to use WD's diagnostic tools on a WD drive... SeaTools is for Seagate 8X
 
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If I'm not mistaken, the drive only came with a 1-year warranty, and I bought it three years ago.

I didn't think about the possibility of Western Digital having their own diagnostic tool. After seeing your message, I looked it up and downloaded and installed it. I ran the "Quick Test", which ran for about five minutes and provided the following result:
Test Option: QUICK TEST
Model Number: WD Ext HDD 1021
Unit Serial Number: WCAV5T361454
Firmware Number: 2021
Capacity: 1000.20 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: PASS
Test Time: 19:50:45, December 11, 2014
Click to expand...

I'll run the "Extended Test" as well, but it will take several hours, so I won't know the results untill then.
 
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My bad. Long day. IvalidError is correct, you need to run WD Diagnostics on a WD drive, and I see that you are doing that.
 
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If you see a hardware manufacturer's name attached to a software tool, you can usually safely bet your shorts that the tool in question has been either designed in-house for their own use or tailored to their own products in some way.
 
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Hi there hbenthow,

As you experience some issues with the external drive, I would also advise you to back up the crucial data that is stored on it.
Also, it will be good if you provide a model of the drive.
Apart from that, if the drive passes the extended DLG test, you may want to change the USB cable as well as the port(try the ones on the back of the casing if using desktop computer).
I can't really see the results from HDDScan. Were there any pending, reallocated sectors?

Cheers,
D_Know_WD
 
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I'm actually not certain that I am experiencing issues with it. It's just that it usually takes about three or four seconds to initially spin up and I seem to be hearing the noises it makes louder than before (they sound nothing like the "click of death", though.) The thing is, it could be that these are because A: I use the drive slightly less now, so it has to spin up up more often, and B: I'm not using my air conditioner as much due to it being winter, so that may be why I'm perceiving the drive as noisier. I'm not sure one way or the other.
Also, it will be good if you provide a model of the drive.
Click to expand...
It's a WD Ext HDD 1021

Apart from that, if the drive passes the extended DLG test, you may want to change the USB cable as well as the port(try the ones on the back of the casing if using desktop computer).
Click to expand...
It passed. Here are the results:

Test Option: EXTENDED TEST
Model Number: WD Ext HDD 1021
Unit Serial Number: WCAV5T361454
Firmware Number: 2021
Capacity: 1000.20 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: PASS
Test Time: 10:39:29, December 12, 2014
Click to expand...
I don't think there are any issues with the USB connection. Also, I can't currently change the cable, because the hard drive takes a special kind that has a smaller tip on one end and I don't have any more like it.

I can't really see the results from HDDScan. Were there any pending, reallocated sectors?
Click to expand...
How can I tell?

Here is a link to the photo I posted of the results, maybe it will show up that way:

http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r665/hbenthow/Various/SMARTresults_zps120405dc.jpg

Now that the drive has passed the Western Digital extended test, should I try another test to make sure, such as CrystalDiskInfo (which I've heard is one of the best tests out there)?

EDIT: I just found the log file from my initial SeaTools test. Here are the results:
--------------- SeaTools for Windows v1.2.0.10 ---------------
12/11/2014 12:34:08 AM
Unit Serial: WCAV5T361454
Unit Model: WD Ext HDD 1021
Firmware Revision: 01.00A01
Short DST - Started 12/11/2014 12:34:08 AM
Short DST - Pass 12/11/2014 12:36:12 AM
Long Generic - Started 12/11/2014 12:37:33 AM
Long Generic Aborted 12/11/2014 12:45:01 AM
Long Generic - Started 12/11/2014 12:45:11 AM
Bad LBA: 1953519616 Not Repaired
Bad LBA: 1953519617 Not Repaired
Bad LBA: 1953519618 Not Repaired
Bad LBA: 1953519619 Not Repaired
Bad LBA: 1953519620 Not Repaired
Click to expand...
 
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Yes, it will not hurt to test it with CrystalDiskInfo. The log is showing that there were some bad sectors that were not repaired. If the next tests show similar results, I would advise you to keep non crucial data on the drive as it will be unreliable one.

D_Know_WD
 
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I tried using CrystalDiskInfo, but all it seems able to give is S.M.A.R.T. data. Here are the results I got from it:

SMARTdata2_zps81fd40af.jpg


 
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I'm sorry I took so long to respond, but didn't notice your post until now. I didn't get an email notification for some reason.

I will post what I got using the "copy" function on CrystalDiskInfo below.

By the way, I have since bought an internal hard drive. Would it be wise to copy all my data from the external drive I'm having the issues with to the new drive, then format the old drive (attempting to fix the bad sectors) and use it as a backup?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
WDC WD10EADS-00P6B0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enclosure : WD Ext HDD 1021 USB Device (V=1058, P=1021, sa1) - wd
Model : WDC WD10EADS-00P6B0
Firmware : 01.00A01
Serial Number : WD-WCAV5T361454
Disk Size : 1000.2 GB (8.4/137.4/1000.2/1000.1)
Buffer Size : 32767 KB
Queue Depth : 32
# of Sectors : 1953525168
Rotation Rate : Unknown
Interface : USB (Serial ATA)
Major Version : ATA8-ACS
Minor Version : ----
Transfer Mode : ---- | SATA/300
Power On Hours : 23165 hours
Power On Count : 2893 count
Temperature : 27 C (80 F)
Health Status : Good
Features : S.M.A.R.T., 48bit LBA, NCQ
APM Level : ----
AAM Level : ----

-- S.M.A.R.T. --------------------------------------------------------------
ID Cur Wor Thr RawValues(6) Attribute Name
01 200 200 _51 000000000000 Read Error Rate
03 196 176 _21 000000001838 Spin-Up Time
04 _93 _93 __0 000000001C9F Start/Stop Count
05 200 200 140 000000000000 Reallocated Sectors Count
07 100 253 __0 000000000000 Seek Error Rate
09 _69 _69 __0 000000005A7D Power-On Hours
0A 100 100 __0 000000000000 Spin Retry Count
0B 100 100 __0 000000000000 Recalibration Retries
0C _98 _98 __0 000000000B4D Power Cycle Count
C0 200 200 __0 000000000032 Power-off Retract Count
C1 139 139 __0 00000002D04B Load/Unload Cycle Count
C2 120 _97 __0 00000000001B Temperature
C4 200 200 __0 000000000000 Reallocation Event Count
C5 200 200 __0 000000000000 Current Pending Sector Count
C6 200 200 __0 000000000000 Uncorrectable Sector Count
C7 200 200 __0 000000000000 UltraDMA CRC Error Count
C8 200 200 __0 000000000000 Write Error Rate

-- SMART_READ_DATA ---------------------------------------------------------
+0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9 +A +B +C +D +E +F
000: 10 00 01 2F 00 C8 C8 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 27
010: 00 C4 B0 38 18 00 00 00 00 00 04 32 00 5D 5D 9F
020: 1C 00 00 00 00 00 05 33 00 C8 C8 00 00 00 00 00
030: 00 00 07 2E 00 64 FD 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 09 32
040: 00 45 45 7D 5A 00 00 00 00 00 0A 32 00 64 64 00
050: 00 00 00 00 00 00 0B 32 00 64 64 00 00 00 00 00
060: 00 00 0C 32 00 62 62 4D 0B 00 00 00 00 00 C0 32
070: 00 C8 C8 32 00 00 00 00 00 00 C1 32 00 8B 8B 4B
080: D0 02 00 00 00 00 C2 22 00 78 61 1B 00 00 00 00
090: 00 00 C4 32 00 C8 C8 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C5 32
0A0: 00 C8 C8 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C6 30 00 C8 C8 00
0B0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 C7 32 00 C8 C8 00 00 00 00 00
0C0: 00 00 C8 08 00 C8 C8 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0D0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0E0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0F0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
100: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
110: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
120: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
130: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
140: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
150: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
160: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 82 00 60 54 01 7B
170: 03 00 01 00 02 F8 05 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
180: 00 00 01 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
190: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1A0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1B0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1C0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1D0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1E0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1F0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 52

-- SMART_READ_THRESHOLD ----------------------------------------------------
+0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9 +A +B +C +D +E +F
000: 10 00 01 33 C8 C8 C8 C8 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 15
010: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 00 00
020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 05 8C 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
030: 00 00 07 00 64 64 64 64 00 00 00 00 00 00 09 00
040: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 00
050: 00 00 00 00 00 00 0B 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
060: 00 00 0C 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 00
070: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C1 00 00 00 00 00
080: 00 00 00 00 00 00 C2 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
090: 00 00 C4 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C5 00
0A0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C6 00 00 00 00 00
0B0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 C7 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0C0: 00 00 C8 00 C8 C8 C8 C8 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0D0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0E0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0F0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
100: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
110: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
120: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
130: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
140: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
150: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
160: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
170: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
180: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
190: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1A0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1B0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1C0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1D0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1E0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1F0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ED
Click to expand...


 
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According the these results, the drive should be in a good health. Also, after the drive passes both extended and short DLG tests, most probably there is nothing wrong with it. Though, keep in mind that is always a good idea to have a back up of the most important data.

Cheers,
D_Know_WD
 
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I have bought a new 1 TB hard drive, and copied all of the information off of the old one onto it. Would it be wise to use the "write zeros" option (which destroys all data) in SeaTools on my old one, and then use it as a backup?

 
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"Writing zeros" writes zeros on the hard drive sectors. Even though the tests results showed that there are no bad sectors related issues, it will not hurt to zero the drive. Make sure you back up everything as after this process the data(if any left on the drive) will be unrecoverable.
As you bought a new drive, the old one will be a nice back up one.

D_Know_WD
 
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Thank you. One more question: does writing zeros format the hard drive? In other words, if I write zeros, will the hard drive be empty and ready to use immediately afterwards?
 
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