Storage Solutions Bad Sectors Need Help !!!!

[challapradyumna]

My PC was acting strange from a few days Hanging every few minutes . I was getting random chkdsk on boot . I am doing an error test with HD Tune , i'll post the screen shot once that is completed.


1. Bad Sectors = Drive Dying??
2.Can i use the Drive with bad sectors??
3.Can the bad sectors be repaired??
4.Anything else i should know

---------- Post added at 10:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 PM ----------

Most of the Bad Sectors are in OS partition.

 

[ALPHA17]

1. Bad Sectors = Drive Dying?

2.Can i use the Drive with bad sectors?

3.Can the bad sectors be repaired?

4.Anything else i should know

Well here are your answers --

1) Bad sectors does not necessarily a dying drive but it is definite indicator of performance and reliability about to take a nose dive. Bad sectors are areas that the hard-drive finds hard to utilize [read and write operations], this can be a software induced situation [LOGICAL bad sector] OR in the bad cases this means physical degradation [PHYSICAL bad sector] has taken place on the platter. The former can be repaired by doing a complete zero-fill operation on the hard drive but the latter means that your hard drive is on its last legs and can die on you real rapid.

2) You can but the greater the number of these 'bad sectors' more your performance will degrade so best is that you stem the issue now by doing a zero-fill operation and then reinstalling Windows / whichever OS you prefer.

3) As I explained in the first answer yes and no it all depends what is the case you are getting bad sectors in the first place LOGICAL bad OR PHYSICAL bad sectors, if it latter you really have no choice; but in the former cases the zero-fill operation [which reverts the hard-drive to its base conditions] should revitalize the parameters of your drive. For more on this, read this article, another case on tom's forum and types of bad sectors.

4) Please take an immediate back-up of all your sensitive / prize data and do the zer0-fill operation as suggested, this should solve your problem if it is LOGICAL bad sector but to be careful just keep monitoring the hard-drive health parameters with a software like HDTune OR Crystal Disk Info as even after this occurrence of bad-sectors in your hard-drives is a clear indicator it is about to collapse.

If it is PHYSICAL bad sectors you face, a full-format will not cure the issue. Time to back-up the full drive once more and filing it for RMA [if under warranty] OR burying it with full battle honours.

Hoping for a speedy resolution of your issues. Cheerio!!

 

[challapradyumna]

Total 61 bad sectors. The Drive is still under warranty. It is a WD Caviar Blue. What happens to the data on this Drive during RMA ? . I have nothing to backup , i should buy a 50 DVD set and fill them up with this.

 

[arup]

What happens to the data on this Drive during RMA .

In RMA, if they find problem, they replace the HDD and send you a replacement drive. Later they repair your HDD and that repaired HDD will be sent to another RMA person and so on.....
So, backup your data before sending to RMA.

 

[ALPHA17]

Total 61 bad sectors. The Drive is still under warranty. It is a WD Caviar Blue. What happens to the data on this Drive during RMA ? . I have nothing to backup , i should buy a 50 DVD set and fill them up with this.

As I said back up all the important data [this does not encompass movies rips and *AHEM* software setup], then do a zero-fill operation if this solves you problem [proving that the bad sectors are LOGICAL in nature] then continue maintaining the status quo of the backup with respect to the data on the failing hard-drive till the hard drive crashes OR till you purchase a new hard-drive.

If the bad sectors persist after the zero-fill operation they are PHYSICAL bad sectors and are a direct indicator that the hard drive platter has undergone physical degradation. In this case immediately apply for an RMA, but be warned it can take upto ~4 weeks for a replacement drive to find its way to you.

Steps in Western Digital RMA --

1) register your product;
2) apply for the RMA, via requisite online procedure;
3) they will note down the issue and provide you with an appropriate RMA / service challaan;
4) In WD's case a person will come to you and collect the hard-drive from you, in Seagate's case the user / owner is directed to the nearest affiliate service centre;
5) twiddle your thumbs and blow bubbles while the service centre guys poke around your devices ascertaining its death [that is why before you submit the drive for RMA please to a multi-pass over-write and fill the drive with junk data so that none of your personal memories / fetishes fall into someone else's lap];
6) twiddle your thums some more, go for a walk, read a book [in general kill time waiting for your replacement];
7) WD assigned courier will drop of the drive at your doorstep, Seagate will inform you that your replacement drive has arrived at the service centre and you go collect it.
8) Install OS and grouse that you lost all your 'maal'. OR install a new distro and start killing the drive again. Rinse. Repeat till whenever you need too.

Some important pointers for hard-drives whilst RMA-ing --

• your data is yours alone, you are responsible for it. So I reiterate format your drive multiple times before sending it to the service centre;
• the drive you get is mostly a refurbished piece and I think we have to register it to avail RMA on the replacement;
• thanks to the artificial inflation created by Seagate and Western Digital this procedure can take a long time and it is recommended that you buy a replacement just in case.

Hope this helps, Cheerio!!

 

[challapradyumna]

The drive has warranty till june 2014 i'll hold on to this until i buy a new drive and then send this for RMA. I have lot's of stuff that is not currently available easily .

---------- Post added at 11:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 PM ----------

BTW i have installed a new OS in a different partition and tried some softwares on the damaged partition. Some bad sectors were cured but some are still there.

 

[ALPHA17]

BTW i have installed a new OS in a different partition and tried some softwares on the damaged partition. Some bad sectors were cured but some are still there.

RMA is your call but better that you start keeping a regular back-up as well as start saving up for a new hard-drive.

How did you format the partition, was it a proper format OR fast one?

The sectors that could not be cured, might not have been in the area you formatted for setting-up the OS OR they might be PHYSICAL bad sectors which is bad news in itself this means your drive is ready to nose-dive real soon, so keep your ears up.

Hope this helps, Cheerio!!