Found a 1tb harddrive with 'bad sectors'

S

scotty777

...doesn't know
Joined
Jul 26, 2006
Messages
9,285
Reaction score
13
Location
Johannesburg (Northcliff)
I recently found a 1 terabyte harddrive, or my sister did when she was cleaning out a room. So I figured I'd try it out.

When I plugged it into my pc, it kept disappearing from windows, so I thought it might need an update. After I downloaded the update and installed it (everything went smoothly), the harddrive is much more stable now, and lasted a whole night of moving stuff onto it (I thought that might be a good way to test it).

However, after checking things with HD tune, it says that the harddrive has a number of bad sectors, and it recommends I replace it.

My question is, obviously the harddrive was a little bit funny at first (my guess being the dodgy software), but do you think it'll still be 'ok' to use for now? it seems stable, now more bad sectors have been detected and I really would like to have the harddrive working.

any thoughts?
 
What brand of drive is it and how old? It's not too hard to partition off bad sectors but RMA'ing is always the best choice.
 
Read the SMART values and check for the reallocated sector count. Convert that figure from hex to decimal and see how many are bad. Ususally as bad sectors start to appear they spread fairly quickly.

I wouldn't trust any valuable data to it. Use it for series or replaceable things.
 
cerebus said:
You might get lucky on a warranty swapout. Do some calling around to the suppliers to find out if it's still covered. Start with Frontosa maybe.
Click to expand...

Just checked the Seagate website, warranty expires on the 9th of July -2012 :D.

Ok, so who do I return said hard drive to? Frontosa? Or is there an actual seagate return place?


South_Bit said:
Read the SMART values and check for the reallocated sector count. Convert that figure from hex to decimal and see how many are bad. Ususally as bad sectors start to appear they spread fairly quickly.

I wouldn't trust any valuable data to it. Use it for series or replaceable things.
Click to expand...

In HD Tune pro, it says that the reallocated Sector count is 2, threshold is 36 and data is 4015? It does say that it's failed though :/
 
Last edited:
scotty777 said:
Just checked the Seagate website, warranty expires on the 9th of July -2012 :D.

Ok, so who do I return said hard drive to? Frontosa? Or is there an actual seagate return place?
Click to expand...

You need to start calling suppliers to find out who holds the warranty. Start with Frontosa and they will probably give you suggestions whom to contact next.
 
cerebus said:
You need to start calling suppliers to find out who holds the warranty. Start with Frontosa and they will probably give you suggestions whom to contact next.
Click to expand...

Ohhh, so it's the suppliers that actually return these things? Hmmm, interesting. Ok, sweet, thank you :).

I take it there's no Seagate office in SA (go figure :P).
 
I emailed frontosa, they were unable to assist me though :(.

However, I also emailed Rectron, and it looks like they willing to help me out! I just need to make my way up to midrand now :p,

Thank you for your help Cerebus :)
 
scotty777 said:
I emailed frontosa, they were unable to assist me though :(.

However, I also emailed Rectron, and it looks like they willing to help me out! I just need to make my way up to midrand now :p,

Thank you for your help Cerebus :)
Click to expand...

A winner is you!
 
cerebus said:
A winner is you!
Click to expand...

winnerwk3.jpg
 
Nice, you could sell that for a healthy profit or load it with porn. Win either way.
 
I love MyBB for reasons like this. People can help so much. You're a lucky guy. :D
 
I have a 1.5TB western digital hard drive that is failing and I also emailed rectron and they reckon if it faulty they will replace it no problem.

There is a fee of R175 though to replace it and you need to take the drive to rectron and collect a new 1.
 
cavedog said:
There is a fee of R175 though to replace it and you need to take the drive to rectron and collect a new 1.
Click to expand...

WTF should you pay if it's still under warranty?

Only thing I can think of is that they did not supply the drive in the first place maybe? Try Drive Control Corporation (DCC) as they are WD distributors in SA.
 
ponder said:
WTF should you pay if it's still under warranty?

Only thing I can think of is that they did not supply the drive in the first place maybe? Try Drive Control Corporation (DCC) as they are WD distributors in SA.
Click to expand...


Yes I never bought it from them. I bought it on bid or buy about 1 year ago and the drive started to give problem lately. It like freezes windows when something is being copied to it and if i download something to it it says write error and try to copy from it it says read error and then windows freezes with the hdd led in the front case staying lid

So rectron wants me to pay R171 including vat and they want me to bring the hdd so cause I'm not that close to a rectron branch I would have to courier it to them and arrange for couriers to collect it too.

This could end up costing me like R500 to get it replaced then.
 
Last edited:
Phone DCC and ask them if the drive came from them, they can tell from the serial number.

Don't you ever drive through to durban or know someone else that does?

Alternatively just send it via registered mail.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X