SATA HDD sometimes busy after crash and recovery

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Kozdar

Commendable
Jun 19, 2016
4
0
1,510
Context:
Apparently my HDD WDBlue WD10EZEX (1TB) crashed, it almost didn't suffer any physical damage from my guess (only a very small strike of bad sectors), but it managed to corrupt my partitions, i managed to recover completely one of my 3 partition on that disk and backed all of my most important files.
I managed to partition around bad sectors because there weren't many of them (most at the start of the disk within windows and 1 or 2 there and there, lost only 8 gb with partitioning 300MB to each side from a bad sector) and i am still recovering one of my partition that had some nice to have stuff.
I completely forfeited to recover the partition with the windows and the strike of bad sectors.

The important bits of latest s.m.a.r.t. report this:
# Name......................................Value..Worst..Threshold...RAW
1. Read Error Rate.......................200.....200.........51.........23721
3. Spin-Up Time............................181.....171.........21.........1941
4. Start/Stop Count.......................98.......98...........0..........2130
5. Reallocated Sectors Count.......200.....200........140..........0
197 Current Pending Sectors.......194.....194..........0...........999

Problem:
The drive works fine but slowdowns sometimes randomly, probably because the drive tries to do something with the pending sectors.
If i could i would probably buy another HDD or use warranty but i can't, yes i know it's "falling" and that i shouldn't use it.
I tried to normally format the bad sectors so the drive could reallocate them but it did nothing and only raised the Pending Sectors Count. (makes sense because i almost didn't touch bad sectors at all before this)
I guess i could try and low format the entire drive but i don't have space to copy all the nice to have files from this drive.
Is there any other solution?
I guess the drive may work just as a data storage (no programs or other things because of the slowdowns) but that's a shame.
Any help would be appreciated.
 
Solution
SuperSoph_WD
Good job with the low-level format (writing zeros), @Kozdar! I guess you can do whatever you want with this WD Blue of yours, since it's out of warranty. The most important thing is to not trust any important data with it after tampering with it physically. Unfortunately, mechanical hard drives are a pretty sensitive piece of hardware and can fail unexpectedly due to various reasons, really. That's why we always recommend regular backups and keeping at least two copies of your files stored in different locations (on different storage devices).

Hope I was helpful. :)
Cheers,
SuperSoph_WD
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

Glorious
Jul 30, 2014
6,758
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Welcome to the TH community, Kozdar!

I'd definitely NOT trust any data with your WD Blue, unfortunately! :( Things might only get worse for the drive's health. I'd advise you to use WD's Data LifeGuard Diagnostics for Windows and run the QUICK and EXTENDED tests from the brand-specific utility as well.
I'd also suggest you check the warranty because if it's still covered, you should be able to send an RMA request. In order to do that you will need to get in touch with our Customer Support by phone or e-mail.

Even if it's not covered, I'd simply replace the drive instead of using it as a secondary data storage. This would only put your files at risk.

Hope this helps you. Let me know if you have more questions!
SuperSoph_WD
 
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K

Kozdar

Commendable
Jun 19, 2016
4
0
1,510
I think you are right, i will check the warranty and i would probably low-format it and see if it will get better.
The last day after the post i carefully did reset the smart and the relocation list(pending list) and leaved the disk turned on for the night so it could get itself sorted out.
From what i seen there is no big improvements on random slowdowns that do confirm there is nothing much to do that a low-format and possible replacement. (it works fine for about 3 minutes then slowdowns and work randomly(without file errors at least but it do take it's sweet time))
the QUICK and EXTENDED smart tests before the reset were throwing 07 (Failed Read Test Element), Failure checkpoint = ~(196)?(Unknown Test) and died in the first 3-4 seconds.
After the reset there are some improvements but still aren't good,
QUICK 07 (Failed Read Test Element), Failure checkpoint = 102 (Unknown Test) 44 seconds.
EXTENDED 08 Too many bad sectors detected 8 minutes 30 seconds.
I will keep you updated after i check the warranty and/or low-format it.
 
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K

Kozdar

Commendable
Jun 19, 2016
4
0
1,510
I finally low-formated the drive and it seems the drive did move the error sectors and quick test was positive with no errors found, i will probably merge the bad sectors list as i have nothing to lose in the hdd and perform an extended test and will partition it again and install an operating system and see how the drive performs. I keep updated my progress.
 
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

Glorious
Jul 30, 2014
6,758
3
45,960
Hey there again, @Kozdar!

I just saw your updates from the failed tests in your previous post. Have you checked the warranty on your WD Blue HDD?
Trust me, it's better get this HDD replaced, rather than trying to make it work. If it fails the diagnostic tests, it's definitely not to be trusted with any essential data. Otherwise, you will lose it and suffer the data loss headaches. :(

You cannot merge the bad sectors and if the WD Blue is failing due to too many of them, it means that the number of corrupted/bad sectors will only increase. Please, check your warranty. If it's covered, you should be able to RMA it, once you get in touch with our Customer support. You can find their contacts in my fist reply here or on our official website.

Best of luck! Keep me posted, though.
SuperSoph_WD
 
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K

Kozdar

Commendable
Jun 19, 2016
4
0
1,510
Yeah i checked the warranty now and is out of it, honestly i wasn't expecting much considering the drive date was 14 DEC 2012 and i bought it 18 FEB 2013, i guess 3 and half years is not bad.
I passed format a few more times and it started to give write errors at the end of the drive, the hardware test were showing fine physical read and writes on tracks but errors in logical read (some sometimes periodic) and write (i guess depends on part of the disc) of LBA. depending on configuration if it's on PIO or (U)DMA
I already bough replacement drive, the only thing is that i am not sure what to do with this one, other that open it and check if there really any kind of physical fragments breaking the drive. (not recommended but what to do if i don't have warranty anyway)
 
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

Glorious
Jul 30, 2014
6,758
3
45,960
Good job with the low-level format (writing zeros), @Kozdar! I guess you can do whatever you want with this WD Blue of yours, since it's out of warranty. The most important thing is to not trust any important data with it after tampering with it physically. Unfortunately, mechanical hard drives are a pretty sensitive piece of hardware and can fail unexpectedly due to various reasons, really. That's why we always recommend regular backups and keeping at least two copies of your files stored in different locations (on different storage devices).

Hope I was helpful. :)
Cheers,
SuperSoph_WD
 
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