S.M.A.R.T - Read Error Rate and Write Error Rate, is bad?!

[Heiseh KiiN]

Hi, my HDD have some Read Error Rate (179) and Write Error Rate (57), should I be worried?

 

[fzabkar]

I would compare your results against other users of the same model.

I hope the following URL doesn't get mangled by the forum's anal HTML parsing ...

http://www.google.com/search?q=hd103SJ+%22read+error+rate%22+OR+%22write+error+rate%22

 

[SuperSoph_WD]

Hey there, Heiseh KiiN!

I'd suggest to back up all the data from that drive ASAP.
Read Error Rate indicates that there is a problem with the disk heads or maybe a bad connection with to the PSU. I'd suggest to re-seat the cables to the HDD and test it once again. The higher this Read Error Rate parameter is, the more possible HDD failures!

The Write Error Rate parameter indicates the number of errors appearing while you are recording data to the drive. It may be caused by problems with the disk surface or the read/write heads.

I strongly recommend checking your warranty and contacting your HDD manufacturer to RMA your drive.
You should be able to get a replacement product, just make sure you backup the data beforehand.

Hope this helps!
SuperSoph_WD

 

[Heiseh KiiN]

Hey there, Heiseh KiiN!

I'd suggest to back up all the data from that drive ASAP.
Read Error Rate indicates that there is a problem with the disk heads or maybe a bad connection with to the PSU. I'd suggest to re-seat the cables to the HDD and test it once again. The higher this Read Error Rate parameter is, the more possible HDD failures!

The Write Error Rate parameter indicates the number of errors appearing while you are recording data to the drive. It may be caused by problems with the disk surface or the read/write heads.

I strongly recommend checking your warranty and contacting your HDD manufacturer to RMA your drive.
You should be able to get a replacement product, just make sure you backup the data beforehand.

Hope this helps!
SuperSoph_WD

Hi!
Thanks for the reply. Is it really that bad?! I tested with HD Tune and Sentinel as well and all say that the HD is healthy.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

First thing is to replace the SATA cable. They're cheap and not worth messing with. While you're in there reseat all connections to the drive by removing, then replugging, don't simply push on them.

 

[SuperSoph_WD]

Hi!
Thanks for the reply. Is it really that bad?! I tested with HD Tune and Sentinel as well and all say that the HD is healthy.

Not necessarily. If two out of three utilities say it's okay, I'd be inclined to believe them (and those specifically are pretty good diagnostics/testing tools). I'd still backup the data regularly, this is the best way to avoid the headaches of data loss. Unfortunately, mechanical drives often fail unexpectedly.
However, I'd recommend keeping an eye on the SMART data every once in awhile though, making sure everything is okay.
You can still post the screenshots of those utilities if you want to.

PS: Just saw what @ex_bubblehead mentioned, he is right! Wouldn't hurt to try with a different SATA cable.

Hope we were helpful!
SuperSoph_WD

 

[Heiseh KiiN]

First thing is to replace the SATA cable. They're cheap and not worth messing with. While you're in there reseat all connections to the drive by removing, then replugging, don't simply push on them.

So, it's probably the cable and not a physical problem and I shouldn't worry as long as the number stays the same?!

Not necessarily. If two out of three utilities say it's okay, I'd be inclined to believe them (and those specifically are pretty good diagnostics/testing tools). I'd still backup the data regularly, this is the best way to avoid the headaches of data loss. Unfortunately, mechanical drives often fail unexpectedly.
However, I'd recommend keeping an eye on the SMART data every once in awhile though, making sure everything is okay.
You can still post the screenshots of those utilities if you want to.

PS: Just saw what @ex_bubblehead mentioned, he is right! Wouldn't hurt to try with a different SATA cable.

Hope we were helpful!
SuperSoph_WD

Yeah, I tested with CrystalDiskInfo, HD Tune and Sentinel and they all say it's ok.
Just wondering if those values will be a problem on the near future.

 

[SuperSoph_WD]

So, it's probably the cable and not a physical problem and I shouldn't worry as long as the number stays the same?!

Yeah, I tested with CrystalDiskInfo, HD Tune and Sentinel and they all say it's ok.
Just wondering if those values will be a problem on the near future.

Most probably if those were the problem, you'd hear it and feel it in the overall performance of the drive.
Swap the SATA cables and test it again, I think that will get the S.M.A.R.T. values back to normal.

SuperSoph_WD

 

[fzabkar]

FWIW, most other examples on the Internet report 0 for the raw Write Error Rate and close to 0 for the Read Error Rate.

A value of 0x179 corresponds to 377 in decimal, and 0x57 = 87.

Here is an example of a bad drive:

http://malthus.mooo.com/viewtopic.php?t=1024

I would keep an eye on those values.