Question New Drive - Bizarre S.M.A.R.T results (pre-failure/old-age??) is it CMR or SMR?

Sep 23, 2024
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The drive is supposed to be new so I don't understand these s.m.a.r.t values.

Device Model:
WDC WD80EDAZ-11CEWB0

Is it CMR or SMR?
Sadly WD refused to elaborate. The smart data doesn't display whether TRIM is supported so I honestly don't know.

SMART OUTPUT:
conducted on a Pi 4 via USB, rpios, gsmartcontrol/smartctl
Screenshot-2024-12-11-19-54-09-80-8d485484d290ec17555e7acc83d01a83-1-1.jpg


SMART Error Log Version: 1
No Errors Logged

SMART Self-test log structure revision number 1
Num Test_Description Status Remaining LifeTime(hours) LBA_of_first_error
# 1 Short offline Completed without error 00% 0 -
# 2 Short offline Completed without error 00% 0 -
# 3 Conveyance offline Completed without error 00% 0 -

SMART Selective self-test log data structure revision number 1
SPAN MIN_LBA MAX_LBA CURRENT_TEST_STATUS
1 0 0 Not_testing
2 0 0 Not_testing
3 0 0 Not_testing
4 0 0 Not_testing
5 0 0 Not_testing
Selective self-test flags (0x0):
 
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Solution
Raw Sector Read is at prefail
Relocated Sector CT is the worst, at prefail + at 200 sectors despite this hdd being turned on at best 2-3x for a few moments without any file transfer.
Also all the other fields showing "old-age" despite this drive being new.
Offline uncorrectable error at number 253.
Those are normalized values.
None of current/worst values are below threshold value. It is all fine.

Prefail and old-age are types of attributes. It doesn't mean attribute has reached prefail or old-age level.
Relocated Sector count is 0.
Offline uncorrectable is 0.

You need to learn, how to read SMART values.
Sep 23, 2024
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What about the smart data though? That's the most concerning part to me.

As mentioned, the short test was conducted on a Raspberry Pi 4 via GSmartControl. You gotta admit, those values are weird for a new drive (not refurbished. Sold as completely new by hardware store in packaging etc).

Is the RPI / RPi OS at fault?
 
Sep 23, 2024
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Which value is concerning for you?
I didn't see anything weird.
Raw Sector Read is at prefail

Relocated Sector CT is the worst, at prefail + at 200 sectors despite this hdd being turned on at best 2-3x for a few moments without any file transfer.

Also all the other fields showing "old-age" despite this drive being new.

Offline uncorrectable error at number 253.
 
Raw Sector Read is at prefail
Relocated Sector CT is the worst, at prefail + at 200 sectors despite this hdd being turned on at best 2-3x for a few moments without any file transfer.
Also all the other fields showing "old-age" despite this drive being new.
Offline uncorrectable error at number 253.
Those are normalized values.
None of current/worst values are below threshold value. It is all fine.

Prefail and old-age are types of attributes. It doesn't mean attribute has reached prefail or old-age level.
Relocated Sector count is 0.
Offline uncorrectable is 0.

You need to learn, how to read SMART values.
 
Last edited:
Solution
Sep 23, 2024
15
1
15
Those are normalized values.
None of worst values are below threshold value. It is all fine.

Prefail and old-age are types of attribute. It doesn't mean attribute has reached prefail or old-age level.
Relocated Sector count is 0.
Offline uncorrectable is 0.

You need to learn, how to read SMART values.
The threshold of relocated sector ct is 140.
The worst is 200.

Doesn't that mean there are more relocated sectors than the threshold?

S.M.A.R.T values have always seemed cryptic to me honestly. One day I'll find a good book or lengthy doc.
 
The threshold of relocated sector ct is 140.
The worst is 200.
Doesn't that mean there are more relocated sectors than the threshold?
No. That's not, how normalized values work.

You start with 100 (or 200) and then value decreases.
When current value has decreased enough and has reached threshold value, then you have failure condition.

Actual relocated sectors count is zero - value in data column.
 
Sep 23, 2024
15
1
15
No. That's not, how normalized values work.

You start with 100 (or 200) and then value decreases.
When current value has decreased enough and has reached threshold value, then you have failure condition.

Actual relocated sectors count is zero - value in data column.
Ohhhhh, it all makes sense now, thank you.

Based on all the available information, I conclude that this drive is healthy and ready for use as a backup archive.

Thank you again for your help, much appreciated.