Some Help From the Pros - Bad Drive?

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IamTimTech

Admirable
Oct 13, 2014
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Hey everyone, thanks for stopping in and taking time to offer advice. I just traded the PC in my sig for a collection of parts from someone who thought they wanted to build a PC and then decided they didn't have the time or knowledge set to do so. Here is a list of the parts:s

i5-4690K
8GB Corsair Vengeance (XMP enabled, 1600Mhz Dual Channel)
Asus Z97-E
EVGA GTX 970 SSC
Seagate 1TB Barracuda (I think this is the problem I am experiencing)
WD Enterprise NAS 3TB Drive (My mass storage drive, goes into all of my builds)
EVGA NEX 650G1 PSU

My problem is this. Yesterday my GF complained that my PC took a very long time to boot. I also have experienced exactly 1 Display driver crash and recovery, 3 chrome crashes, 1 adblock plus crash and 2 realy really really slow boots after a normal posting time. I have also noticed that when I open a new tab it fails to load until I refresh. Today I noticed considerable drive noise coming from my PC and I was rather disappointed. Just putting my ear up to the drive cage I believed it to be the Seagate drive but could not single it out. So I tested my 3TB and it tested fine and considering it never gave me any trouble 2 days ago in my old PC I didn't think it would be it. I ran a quick test with WD Diagnostics to test the Seagate and it came out fine and now I am running a full test.

I am not 100% certain this is a drive failure but given the noise and other symptoms and my extreme bias for WD I tend to believe this drive is faulty. I just wanted feedback from my fellow community members. Also what else do you guys think it could be. Temps are fine, drivers are up to date and this is a 3 day old install of Windows 8.1.

 
Solution
SuperSoph_WD
Hi again, Tim!

According to these listed SMART attributes, there shouldn't anything wrong with the drive. However, I'd still use a different computer to check the drive and see if the noises are still present. Meanwhile, it would help if you can share the rest of the SMART attributes from the DLG's extended test results.
I think that a clean install of Windows would help you determine if the issue is a hardware or a software-related. Just don't forget to unplug the secondary storage drives from the motherboard while performing the clean install on the SSD, so you'd avoid the OS confusion.
And, of course, don't forget to back up any essential data beforehand as well.

Keep me posted! :)
SuperSoph_WD
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

Glorious
Jul 30, 2014
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Hey there, Tim!

I'm sorry to hear about your issues with the HDDs in your system. :( Once you run the extended tests on the drive, make sure you share the SMART data results. I'd recommend you to back up any data from it before proceeding with the troubleshooting, though.
You mentioned that you hear unusual noises coming from the drive, right? Could you describe it? I'd recommend you to check this article and determine whether or not the noises are normal: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=3SENf9

The best way to rule out a software failure would be to re-install Windows again and see if the problem persists. If it does, it's most probably a hardware issue, indeed.

Keep me posted though!
SuperSoph_WD
 
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IamTimTech

Admirable
Oct 13, 2014
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Ok super! Well there is good news. This is a fresh build and the 3TB is backed up to our server at work so no worries there. I have done some work on the PC. I removed the WD 3TB, put it in the shop machine and did fine, made no noise and tested good. The Seagate remained in the current build and it is the one which makes the noise: this is a noise I've heard before in other drives. It is a chugging/friction/vibration sound when the disk spins; like a bad spun bearing. I've experienced this in new Seagate, Hitachi and Toshiba drives that all worked fine for long periods of time so I don't just assume it is a sign of a failing drive.

I started an extended test when I left work last night and when I woke up the PC this morning it had closed the results window, I think perhaps because I woke it with the enter key. But it didn't say that the drive was bad after so I know it passed on the whole. I will run a test now. The crashes are all minor; I open a new tab and it will fail to load until I refresh, the next tab opens fine. Adblock has not crashed again. I also have not experienced long load times again yet.

I will post back the results of the test but since this will be my machine until I find it a new home I am likely to install windows fresh on a 250Gb SSD and continue to use my 3TB for storage.
 
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

Glorious
Jul 30, 2014
6,758
3
45,960
Hi again, Tim!

According to these listed SMART attributes, there shouldn't anything wrong with the drive. However, I'd still use a different computer to check the drive and see if the noises are still present. Meanwhile, it would help if you can share the rest of the SMART attributes from the DLG's extended test results.
I think that a clean install of Windows would help you determine if the issue is a hardware or a software-related. Just don't forget to unplug the secondary storage drives from the motherboard while performing the clean install on the SSD, so you'd avoid the OS confusion.
And, of course, don't forget to back up any essential data beforehand as well.

Keep me posted! :)
SuperSoph_WD
 
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