Need help with potentially damaged hard drive

[PapiDimmi]

I own an external USB hard drive. It cost about $135.

I have used a free program called CrystalDiskInfo to check the health of my hard drive. It says that the health status is “Caution.” It tells me that the “current pending sector count” is 100. I am not entirely sure what this means. After doing some research, I’ve learnt that my hard drive is at risk for corruption and that I should back up my files and replace it immediately.

This drive was too expensive for me to just throw it away. I bought this hard drive over a year ago, so I’m not sure if it still has a warranty.

Can someone please tell me what I should do? Should I contact the store who sold me the hard drive and find out if the product still has a warranty and replace or repair it if it has, or is there anything I can do to fix this issue? Would formatting the hard drive help? I have purchased so many external hard drives, and I really don’t want to purchase another.

 

[popatim]

please post up your entire Crystal Disk Info results for us. Thanks.

 

[PapiDimmi]

Here are the statistics:

Spoiler

Model : ST2000LM003 HN-M201RAD
Firmware : 2BC10007
Disk Size : 1.81 TB
Buffer Size : 32767 KB
Queue Depth : 32
# of Sectors : 3907029168
Rotation Rate : 5400 RPM
Interface : UASP (Serial ATA)
Major Version : ATA8-ACS
Minor Version : ATA8-ACS version 6
Transfer Mode : SATA/300 | SATA/600
Power On Hours : 1072 hours
Power On Count : 440 count
Temperature : 28 C (82 F)
Health Status : Caution
Features : S.M.A.R.T., APM, AAM, 48bit LBA, NCQ
APM Level : 0080h [OFF]
AAM Level : FE00h [OFF]
Drive Letter : G:

-- S.M.A.R.T. --------------------------------------------------------------
ID Cur Wor Thr RawValues(6) Attribute Name
01 100 100 _51 0000000000E1 Read Error Rate
02 252 252 __0 000000000000 Throughput Performance
03 _86 _86 _25 0000000010DC Spin-Up Time
04 _98 _98 __0 000000000809 Start/Stop Count
05 252 252 _10 000000000000 Reallocated Sectors Count
07 252 252 _51 000000000000 Seek Error Rate
08 252 252 _15 000000000000 Seek Time Performance
09 100 100 __0 000000000430 Power-On Hours
0A 252 252 _51 000000000000 Spin Retry Count
0C 100 100 __0 0000000001B8 Power Cycle Count
BF 100 100 __0 00000000000E G-Sense Error Rate
C0 252 252 __0 000000000000 Power-off Retract Count
C2 _64 _62 __0 0030000C001C Temperature
C3 100 100 __0 000000000000 Hardware ECC recovered
C4 252 252 __0 000000000000 Reallocation Event Count
C5 100 100 __0 000000000001 Current Pending Sector Count
C6 252 252 __0 000000000000 Uncorrectable Sector Count
C7 200 200 __0 000000000000 UltraDMA CRC Error Count
C8 100 100 __0 000000000012 Write Error Rate
DF 100 100 __0 000000000001 Load/Unload Retry Count
E1 _99 _99 __0 000000003FD1 Load/Unload Cycle Count

-- IDENTIFY_DEVICE ---------------------------------------------------------
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
000: 0040 3FFF C837 0010 0000 0000 003F 0000 0000 0000
010: 5333 3452 4A39 4447 3138 3536 3138 2020 2020 2020
020: 0000 FFFF 0004 3242 4331 3030 3037 5354 3230 3030
030: 4C4D 3030 3320 484E 2D4D 3230 3152 4144 2020 2020
040: 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 8010 4000 2F00
050: 4000 0200 0200 0007 3FFF 0010 003F FC10 00FB 0000
060: FFFF 0FFF 0000 0007 0003 0078 0078 0078 0078 0000
070: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 001F 1D0E 0004 004C 0040
080: 01FF 0028 746B 7F69 6123 7469 BC41 6123 407F 00B2
090: 00B2 0080 FFFE 0000 FE00 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
100: 88B0 E8E0 0000 0000 0000 0000 6003 0000 5000 4CF2
110: 0F17 3FC2 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 401C
120: 401C 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0021 0000
130: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
140: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
150: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
160: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0003 0000
170: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
180: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
190: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
200: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 003F 0000 0000 4000
210: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 1518 0000 0000
220: 0000 0000 103F 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
230: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0001 0400 0000 0000 0000 0000
240: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
250: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 47A5

-- 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 64 64 E1 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 26
010: 00 FC FC 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 23 00 56 56 DC
020: 10 00 00 00 00 00 04 32 00 62 62 09 08 00 00 00
030: 00 00 05 33 00 FC FC 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 07 2E
040: 00 FC FC 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 24 00 FC FC 00
050: 00 00 00 00 00 00 09 32 00 64 64 30 04 00 00 00
060: 00 00 0A 32 00 FC FC 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0C 32
070: 00 64 64 B8 01 00 00 00 00 00 BF 22 00 64 64 0E
080: 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 22 00 FC FC 00 00 00 00 00
090: 00 00 C2 02 00 40 3E 1C 00 0C 00 30 00 00 C3 3A
0A0: 00 64 64 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C4 32 00 FC FC 00
0B0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 C5 32 00 64 64 01 00 00 00 00
0C0: 00 00 C6 30 00 FC FC 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C7 36
0D0: 00 C8 C8 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C8 2A 00 64 64 12
0E0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 DF 32 00 64 64 01 00 00 00 00
0F0: 00 00 E1 32 00 63 63 D1 3F 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 6C 57 00 5B
170: 03 00 01 00 01 FF 00 75 01 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 43

-- SMART_READ_THRESHOLD ----------------------------------------------------
+0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9 +A +B +C +D +E +F
000: 10 00 01 33 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 00
010: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 19 00 00 00 00
020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
030: 00 00 05 0A 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 07 33
040: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 0F 00 00 00 00
050: 00 00 00 00 00 00 09 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
060: 00 00 0A 33 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0C 00
070: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 BF 00 00 00 00 00
080: 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
090: 00 00 C2 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C3 00
0A0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C4 00 00 00 00 00
0B0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 C5 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0C0: 00 00 C6 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C7 00
0D0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C8 00 00 00 00 00
0E0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 DF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0F0: 00 00 E1 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 46

 

[PapiDimmi]

So, is anyone going to help me?

 

[D_Know_WD]

Hi there PapiDimmi,

First of all, you should back up the data stored over there.

There are some read/write errors as well as a single weak sector. Look at the RAW values.
If the drive is under warranty, just contact the place you got it from and see what the guys over there will tell you.

In case it is not, you can write zeros on it and re tests it, so you can see if you will get different SMART results. This is a process that fills in 0 value in each sector, so you need to back up the data stored on it.

Thread on zero writing: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1711997/software-wipe-hdds.html

Let me know how this goes,
D_Know_WD

 

[PapiDimmi]

Hi there PapiDimmi,

First of all, you should back up the data stored over there.

There are some read/write errors as well as a single weak sector. Look at the RAW values.
If the drive is under warranty, just contact the place you got it from and see what the guys over there will tell you.

In case it is not, you can write zeros on it and re tests it, so you can see if you will get different SMART results. This is a process that fills in 0 value in each sector, so you need to back up the data stored on it.

Thread on zero writing: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1711997/software-wipe-hdds.html

Let me know how this goes,
D_Know_WD

Hey, I need some help.

So, you want me to format my hard drive, but I have 536 GB of data on it, and I have nowhere else to store that, so if I were to format my hard drive, I’d lose everything on it, which I, obviously, don’t want to do.

Can you please explain to me what “current pending sectors” mean? I’m not big on hard drive tech. CrystalDiskInfo tells me that my hard drive has 100 current pending sectors, and it says that it’s “caution” level, but another one of my hard drives, apparently, also has 100 current pending sectors, but its status is “good.” Why is 100 current pending sectors okay for one drive and bad for another? I have absolutely no idea what this means. Also, is 100 current pending sectors worse or better than, say, 200 current pending sectors?

I also have the following question: Are the files stored on my hard drive in danger of being corrupted? The current pending sectors of my drive have been a hundred for months, so I’m not sure if my drive’s in danger or not.

Is there any possible thing that I can do to either fix my hard drive or know if my files are in danger without having to format it? Like I said, I can’t format it, since I have nowhere to store the files on it.

 

[DSzymborski]

Hi there PapiDimmi,

First of all, you should back up the data stored over there.

There are some read/write errors as well as a single weak sector. Look at the RAW values.
If the drive is under warranty, just contact the place you got it from and see what the guys over there will tell you.

In case it is not, you can write zeros on it and re tests it, so you can see if you will get different SMART results. This is a process that fills in 0 value in each sector, so you need to back up the data stored on it.

Thread on zero writing: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1711997/software-wipe-hdds.html

Let me know how this goes,
D_Know_WD

Hey, I need some help.

So, you want me to format my hard drive, but I have 536 GB of data on it, and I have nowhere else to store that, so if I were to format my hard drive, I’d lose everything on it, which I, obviously, don’t want to do.

Can you please explain to me what “current pending sectors” mean? I’m not big on hard drive tech. CrystalDiskInfo tells me that my hard drive has 100 current pending sectors, and it says that it’s “caution” level, but another one of my hard drives, apparently, also has 100 current pending sectors, but its status is “good.” Why is 100 current pending sectors okay for one drive and bad for another? I have absolutely no idea what this means. Also, is 100 current pending sectors worse or better than, say, 200 current pending sectors?

I also have the following question: Are the files stored on my hard drive in danger of being corrupted? The current pending sectors of my drive have been a hundred for months, so I’m not sure if my drive’s in danger or not.

Is there any possible thing that I can do to either fix my hard drive or know if my files are in danger without having to format it? Like I said, I can’t format it, since I have nowhere to store the files on it.

Any data without a backup solution is already in danger. A format may fix the problem. Or your hard drive may become unusable before you read this message. Or it may work for 10 years. If you're not backing up your most important data, then question isn't if it'll ever be lost forever, it's when.

 

[PapiDimmi]

I have three external hard drives, all of which are filled with stuff. I do back up my most important files, but it’s hard when I have so many files and barely any space.

 

[popatim]

Sounds like you know you need more backup space and what to do with this drive.
Me - I would get a new drive and if this drive basically can be saved relegate it to being a backup drive.