HDD issue. Dead or not?

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Tarmacadam

Tarmacadam

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Oct 7, 2013
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Hello everyone,
I am experiencing some weird issue with my HDD lately, I could say that I tried almost every single possible thing to try to fix it but with no avail. I would like to know from any of you if there's any other solution I could also try apart from the ones I will mention below. Otherwise I will have no choice than to send my laptop to the service as it's still under warranty, even though I've been trying to avoid that.

I will start with some irrelevant information:
It's an Asus X55VD with 6GB of RAM, 2Ghz i3 processor and 1GB dedicated video card (nvidia geforce 610M), 500GB HDD from HGST. The motherboard supports UEFI.

It is (or was) running Windows 8.1 Pro 64bit. There were absolutely no problems with the hard drive or any suspicious signs.
However, some time before its "crash", the HDD started acting up, i.e. I've been getting some weird errors in event viewer (can't remember the error code but it was related to the hard drive about the fact that it might fail or something like that). I did not ignore that message and did some backups (phew!).
However, after the windows update, those messages suddenly stopped showing up.
It was working well until the point when I had to update again. My laptop took about 45 minutes to start up after the update, which I think is not normal at all.
Anyway, apparently the antivirus I had installed was really slowing my laptop down so I removed it and my laptop worked like a charm again. No issues were reported for the next five days.
At some point however, I wanted to download a steam game and I kept getting this "disc busy" indicator, even though the HDD was operating with speeds of 0.1MB/s, yet it was showing me that the HDD usage was between 99 and 100% in task manager.
I gave up on downloading the game and tried to find a workaround for that "disk busy" issue. I was pretty busy with school so I didn't have much time to deal with it so I just let it go.
On one evening, as I was working with photoshop on a booklet layout, I encountered some big issues with saving the file after editing it. When I clicked on "Save As..." in PS, it took the program like 5 minutes to show the file destination window and another 5 minutes after I finally clicked on Save. I tried to open chrome and it refused to do so and then I started worrying. So I plugged my external HDD in to save the file I was working on to it. I had no chance though, because the transfer speed was very low and it got stuck at some point. I tried with a memory stick, same thing happened.
I told myself I have no other option than to reboot my machine and I also did it. But after that reboot, it refused to boot up again and it took like 20 minutes until Windows' "automatic repair tool" showed up and which got stuck at some point as well.

Now, I tried the following:
1. I gave the laptop time (more exactly like 5 hours) to run that automatic repair tool. After like 2 hours it told me the automatic repair failed and it gave me different startup options which were also not very helpful.
2. Ubuntu Live CD.
It starts up, but it doesn't mount my /dev/sda at all. I tried force mounting it but with no avail. Note that my HDD IS recognized in the BIOS.
When I go on and try to install ubuntu, I first take some steps like accepting the agreement and until I connect to a wifi network. After I click continue on that step, the mouse turns into a "loading" sign, forever. (As I know the steps, I knew Ubuntu should've asked me about whether I want to override Windows or do something else)
I waited like an hour to see if it proceeds to that step but nothing happened. It just got stuck there.
3. Windows 8 CD
I thought Ubuntu could've had an issue (which I highly doubt) but after boot from the Windows 8 CD, the same thing happens. It just refuses to proceed to the partitioning step, even though the drive is recognized in BIOS.
4. Inserted another HDD in the laptop, to check if it's really the HDD that is the issue and I got my confirmation.
A different HDD works very well with the same laptop.

What I did not try yet was to insert the HDD in a computer with multiple sata/molex ports, boot from a "healthy" HDD and check if it can see mine. But I don't have this possibility and I highly doubt it would work.

I am certain that the HDD is the issue, but I want to know what your opinions/suggestions are, if there's anyhing else I could try to make it work or if I should just give up and ultimately take the final step as in sending it to the service.

Thank you!
 
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iganas

iganas

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May 16, 2014
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For the second point, you will not see your C: volume in Live CD because windows8 locks it upon shutdown, since it needs to keep it in a certain state as to be able to boot fast next time. In other words, the drive gets hybernated, which in turn prevents any access to it.

But in general your HDD is certainly failing, and has to be replaced. You can try running "chkdsk /f", and if unsuccessfull - "chkdsk /r" from a command promt in any windows install. That could relocate data in the damaged area of the disk, hopefully getting your laptop to boot, but even if that helps, you should consider replacing it asap.

The reason it didn't save your photoshop file even to the external drive is most likely because the main windows processes were stuck from encountering a failing hard drive.
 
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M

mbarnes86

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Sep 16, 2010
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Hi

You said the drive is hitachi
So why not get the hitachi bootable diagnostics disk and test the drive
From their website or on Hirens cd ISO image

You should always test for physical faults before running chkdsk
Or windows repair

You can not repair the disk except occasionally a temporary repair to minor faults
May enable disk to work long enough to get some data rescued

The more you use the drive the less chance you get of recovering data on this faulty drive




Repair is uneconomic £40 to £50 ukpounds for average new laptop hard disk 320 to 500 GB



Regards
Mike Barnes
 
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Tom Tancredi

Tom Tancredi

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May 9, 2013
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Uhmm they sell 1TB 2.5 drives for around $49US or so. Swapping the HDD out is a easy and worthwhile solution I would say mbarnes86 is quite out of his knowledge

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_nr_p_n_size_browse-bin_4?rh=n%3A340831031%2Ck%3Ainternal+hard+drive%2Cp_n_size_browse-bin%3A187141031%7C187142031&sort=price-asc-rank&keywords=internal+hard+drive&ie=UTF8&qid=1400272477&rnid=187137031

I would suggest http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-HD754JJ-750GB-720RPM-Internal/dp/B0042FFXLA/ref=sr_1_21?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1400272483&sr=1-21&keywords=internal+hard+drive
 
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Solution
M

mbarnes86

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Sep 16, 2010
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Hi Tom

I was using UK boxed prices in retail stores such as PC World
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/components-upgrades/internal-hard-drives/2-5-inch-hard-drives/715_7051_70055_xx_xx/xx-criteria.html

I know you can get them much cheaper on line especially if OEM

Tarmacadam said
'I am certain that the HDD is the issue, but I want to know what your opinions/suggestions are, if there's anyhing else I could try to make it work or if I should just give up and ultimately take the final step as in sending it to the service.'

I assumed this ment serviceing or repairing the hard disk.

Unless still within guarantee after extracting any important data the disk should be smashed then disposed of in accorance with local requirements for electronic waste .

regards
Mike Barnes
 
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pmk5788

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Dec 13, 2014
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Same thing happened after i hibernate my lap while downloading or installing (cant remember exactly) windows updates. Same things happened to me as described in this guys question. Should i replace my HDD too?
 
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Tom Tancredi

Tom Tancredi

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You can't "hibernate...while downloading or installing", it interferes with the download and installing. Hibernating is PUTTING TO SLEEP the computer, that it isn't doing anything (hence the ENGLISH word HIBERNATE).

Honestly the issue is User Error. You just leave the computer alone while it downloads / installs windows updates. If your 'done' with the computer when you click SHUT DOWN the icon shows it needs to do installs, will do them and SHUT OFF the computer when it is done (hence the Eglish phrase SHUT DOWN).
 
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fzabkar

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Sep 22, 2010
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@pmk5788, you really should start your own thread, but your drive obviously has 280 bad sectors. A SMART report by CrystalDiskInfo or smartmontools (Linux) should provide more details.

Other than that, it appears that your third partition (923GB "free space") is damaged in some way. You could try UFS Explorer or R-Studio for Linux.
 
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Tom Tancredi

Tom Tancredi

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1) you shouldn't partition up the drive like that because with the way Windows works since Vista there is no need to partition drives up due to the new filing method of different program elements are in many directories across a volume, not in just 'one folder'.
2) you should NOT have done FAT. FAT is faulty and was back with DOS days, at a minimum it should have been FAT32 but NOT for VISTA forward, it is normally NTFS as the file system for Windows (50GB partiion)
3) You can't run Vista forward on such a small (50GB) partition, even Windows 7 takes up 18GB, add in Office (just to type a letter) and your at nearly 40GB, which leave really no room for Temp files nor for windows Paging (virtual RAM) . Easily run out of space and cause Windows to basically eat over itself.
4) Your second partition is only 10GB EXT2?? Are you running a DUAL BOOT system? That is dangerous if you don't know (as I pointed out above) what your doing and cause Master Boot (MBR) corruption as each OS tries to say they are the Boot OS.

The answers to your issue should be done as follow:
1) Make a DBan CD and wipe the drive completely
2) Insert Windows CD and just go with the defaults it needs to use the ENTIRE drive as C:
3) complete the setup as follows:
A) go to www.filehippo.com and download / install AVira (recommended), Comodo, Panda or AVG (AVAST! got hacked so I do NOT recommend them).
B) Download / Install Malwarebytes
C) Do all Windows Updates Including options except BING?
Check them and repeat till ALL are installed.
D) Download and run Slim Drivers, install all the latest updates but you don't need to reboot until you do the last update
E) Install al your Windows APPS.
F) Download Oracle's VirtualBox https://www.virtualbox.org/ and then get your Linux / other OS you want to mess with ISO and follow the steps to make 'Virtual OS' which will take up the amount of space you allocate to that image (i.e. you set it up with 50GB, then 50GB will be take from C: and allotted to the image file).

Now you can have as many 'OSes' as you want, but you also have a functional Windows based PC.
 
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Tom Tancredi

Tom Tancredi

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Not really unusual when you consider the time period was still revolving around 'breaking' the MB limit most things were still in KB for programs, files, etc. That said, REALLY did you need to correct that one aspect that it was FAT32 instead of FAT16?? The point is it shouldn't been in FAT (12,16,32 or 99999!) at all.



DUH! I didn't say that was a screenshot of the MBR, pmk5788 showed there were MANY bad sectors (you even pointed it out) and the first two partitions are FAT and EXT32, which Windows can NOT read the latter, and is the file system for Lunix based OSes. As pmk5788 stated "windows updates" that means the FAT is a Windows installation and had a Linux as the second OS.

The ONLY way to logically install that SECOND OS after Windows is using Linux's built in MBR Boot Menu, even if this was a PIRATE COPY of Windows (using Linux to wrap Windows and prevent Windows from 'validating' itself) that pmk5788 was trying to do. Still comes with the same problem, Windows will boot and say it IS the main Boot OS, and attempt to write over the MBR and its Partition to ensure it IS the sole and only Boot OS. This conflicts with the Linux MBR Boot menu, which attempts to correct Window's Errors, eventually leading to the same bad sectors (two OSes trying to rewrite to the same single location) WITH A IMPROPER INSTALL.

Not to mention all the other facts I brought up still would cause the same issues or COLLECTIVELY they caused the issues and will continue to until pmk5788 addresses it as I suggested IF he wants a Windows based PC first and foremost (could always swap it around and do a Virtual OS of Windows and a BASE Linux install on his PC).

So in summary fzabkar; your answer does NOT address the problem nor offers other solutions. Stop nitpicking on one small point when the overwhelming issue is still there.
 
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pmk5788

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Wow guys, your assumptions were wrong. I was using original windows 8 copy. I was running ubuntu from a pen drive since i cant mount my hdd.
 
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pmk5788

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I just tried formatting using different file systems to see if i could fix it. The problem is, i was able to delete/create partitions in my hdd but i wasnt able to mount it.
 
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Tom Tancredi

Tom Tancredi

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Yes I understand that and while I am NOT talking about the Pen Drive (the 16GB San Cruz) THIS image https://s.yimg.com/hd/answers/i/ae784964e8ed47db92980bfcc7988196_A.jpeg?a=answers&mr=0&x=1418659906&s=0a6ded9ef83e6b1ece35e0a72031b050
Shows the SELECTED 1TB is broken into 4 partitions, as I noted a 50GB FAT, a 10GB Ext, 923GB blank, 17GB Swap file - which is another LINUX based formatted segment. As I noted Windows 8 can NOT understand what EXT is, so it would NOT have put that there, and ONLY Linux makes a '17GB Swap' Partition which again Windows has no clue what that 'thing' is much less it is a Swap File.

Further Windows 8 doesn't do FAT32 by default because you can't "Secure" the profiles from one another (Bob can't see Jill's files) unless you use NTFS. I have seen FAT32 put on a Tablet Factory install, which only have 32 to 64GB RAM drives (like cell phones) like that, but again that would mean someone has a 'ISO' of a tablet drive image that you used somehow to try and install on this TB drive (aka a Pirate edition). NO that can't be "NTFS" showing as FAT because Ubuntu for a very long time has known and can read NTFS formatted drives / partitions, and labels it correctly.

So the only way THIS IMAGE occurred was manually by yourself; you selected to install it this way, and you were doing one of three ways;
1) you tried to setup a dual boot of Windows and Linux,
2) you tried to 'wrap' Windows in Linux to Pirate it (known technique)
3) or you completely don't know what you were doing and kept 'clicking' with your Ubuntu when you booted up, causing it to 'prep for install' or actually install Ubuntu ALSO onto the TB now, along with some weird insane way you forcibly setup a very small incorrectly formatted partition for just Windows (again you don't know what your doing).

In all cases, ti doesn't matter what you thought / believe you should / were doing, the solution now is as I noted above to be able to have a 'normal' clean Windows install.
 
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pmk5788

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Guess that's my SSD cache? I have no idea... but today i fixed my HDD to another pc with windows and cformated and created ntfs partition with my computer -> device manager and then when i fix it to my lap and turn it on, HDD was mounted and i was able to copy/paste/delete/open the files stored. But when i tried to install ubuntu the install wizard didnt even open. So i tried ubuntu checkdisk and it said my hdd has 2 errors... the hdd became unmountable again. I guess i'll have to replace my HDD
 
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Tom Tancredi

Tom Tancredi

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No the SSD Cache was the 16GB Samsung on the LEFT of the picture which wasn't selected to show in the RIGHT.

Based on your now 'further actions' you really do NOT know what your doing AND you substatiated what I said, you were trying to put TWO OSes on ONE computer drive. There is SPECIAL ways you have to be 'technically savvy' enough to do to even make it work, and your not doing it 'correctly', so you keep screwing the MBR and partitions up.

NO the DRIVE WORKS RIGHT... YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING / PROCESS IS WRONG.

Either follow the steps I said AND you get Windows with a Virtual OS install of Ubuntu OR bring it to a QUALIFIED tech who can do it for you. ALL YOUR STEPS ARE WRONG YOUR DOING (stuck in another windows and formatted it.. shakes my head).
 
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Tom Tancredi

Tom Tancredi

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Yeah the disk is fugled up. DBan doesn't use any 'OS' as part of what it does, so as a external test it works pretty reliably to 'bench test' for hardware failure. The first sign is if it takes more then a couple hours, and per that read out I say it was running a hell long time. Means there is A) Failure with HDD B) Failure with I/O Controller (Mobo) C) PSU related problems (not enough power will cause the 'heavy use' of the HDD to fail to work 100% effectively).
 
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pmk5788

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It took 15 hours to complete.and there cant be any problem with power because i tried using a laptop and a desktop. So i'll have to replace a HDD :'( leNOvo sucks. 1st the speakers, then the keyboard and then the HDD. leNOvo made my life a hell
 
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