Hi,
it is possible to allow surface test on Bitlocker enabled drives?
I had one with weak sectors. Full self test fixed nothing. So I wanted to do Read-Write-Read test and it wasn't started (with or without unlocked drive).
So I was forced to delete all Bitlocker enabled partitions from drive and surface test right now ended with all sectors fixed.
Surface test of bitlocker enabled drive
-
hdsentinel
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3115
- Joined: 2008.07.27. 17:00
- Location: Hungary
- Contact:
Re: Surface test of bitlocker enabled drive
Yes of course, it is possible to perform using the Disk menu -> Surface test functions on Bitlocker drives - except the "Read+write+read (Refresh disk surface)" test. Due to the internal encryption of Bitlocker, it is not possible now - still investigating the possibilities.
However, I can confirm that the "Read+write+read (Refresh disk surface)" test is NOT designed to repair weak sectors, it does not repair such problem.
The "Read+write+read (Refresh disk surface)" test designed for 100% working drives, originally designed for flash storage like pendrives/memory cards where the information need to be updated / rewritten.
However, when this test finds a weak sector, it does not attempt to repair it, just reveals such problems and their location (like a simple Disk menu -> Surface test -> Read test).
To repair weak sectors, until now the best was yes, using (after complete backup) destructive Disk menu -> Surface test -> Reinitialise disk surface test, as described at Support -> Frequently Asked Questions -> What is a weak sector? How to repair weak sectors?
( http://www.hdsentinel.com/hard_disk_cas ... ectors.php )
In newer versions (from 4.71.10 version) it is possible to use a simpler method: Disk menu -> Surface test -> Repair disk drive
which designed to perform repairing of such weak sectors quickly and easily (if possible, for example if the drive status is otherwise stable and there are only relatively few problems found) which can be used without complete backup and without performing complete erase.
However, I can confirm that the "Read+write+read (Refresh disk surface)" test is NOT designed to repair weak sectors, it does not repair such problem.
The "Read+write+read (Refresh disk surface)" test designed for 100% working drives, originally designed for flash storage like pendrives/memory cards where the information need to be updated / rewritten.
However, when this test finds a weak sector, it does not attempt to repair it, just reveals such problems and their location (like a simple Disk menu -> Surface test -> Read test).
To repair weak sectors, until now the best was yes, using (after complete backup) destructive Disk menu -> Surface test -> Reinitialise disk surface test, as described at Support -> Frequently Asked Questions -> What is a weak sector? How to repair weak sectors?
( http://www.hdsentinel.com/hard_disk_cas ... ectors.php )
In newer versions (from 4.71.10 version) it is possible to use a simpler method: Disk menu -> Surface test -> Repair disk drive
which designed to perform repairing of such weak sectors quickly and easily (if possible, for example if the drive status is otherwise stable and there are only relatively few problems found) which can be used without complete backup and without performing complete erase.
Re: Surface test of bitlocker enabled drive
It worked for me, whole disk checked and Disk changed SMART: #01: WDC xxxx S.M.A.R.T. 197 (Current Pending Sector Count): 17 -> 0.
Maybe I used weak=pending and you mean weak=bad - of course than Reinitialize is necessary.
Back to problem.
I was unable to launch ANY test an Bitlocker drive -either locked, either unlocked.
I will try to experiment with that in virtual machine to not risk data.
Maybe I used weak=pending and you mean weak=bad - of course than Reinitialize is necessary.
Back to problem.
I was unable to launch ANY test an Bitlocker drive -either locked, either unlocked.
I will try to experiment with that in virtual machine to not risk data.
-
hdsentinel
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3115
- Joined: 2008.07.27. 17:00
- Location: Hungary
- Contact:
Re: Surface test of bitlocker enabled drive
Excuse me for the possible confusion.
Weak sector = pending sectors. These are the same: sectors which are damaged but still in use (not reallocated/replaced by the spare area. Bad sectors are the sectors replaced from the spare area, this is different thing).
So yes, weak sectors can be repaired by the tests: the tests force the hard disk to verify the status of these sectors again and restore their status to normal (then the Current pending sector count decreases) or reallocate them if required (then while the pending sector count decreases, the amounf of reallocated sectors increases).
The mentioned Reinitialize test (and the new Repair Disk Drive test) designed to repair these weak (pending) sectors.
Bad sectors (as they are already reallocated, replaced by the spare area) no need to be repaired - and it is not possible to repair (again) by any means. Their count can be reset to make sure that they should no longer appear and only possible new problems should be counted.
This is described at http://www.hdsentinel.com/faq_repair_ha ... _drive.php
In both locked and unlocked state tests except the mentioned Read-write-read test test should run without problems (for example the Read test and the new Repair Disk Drive test should be able to run). Just checked and verified.
If not, please use Report menu -> Send test report to developer option in Hard Disk Sentinel and try to send an image (screenshot) to info@hdsentinel.com about possible error message (if there is any). This way it is possible to investigate, reproduce the situation and check what may happened.
Weak sector = pending sectors. These are the same: sectors which are damaged but still in use (not reallocated/replaced by the spare area. Bad sectors are the sectors replaced from the spare area, this is different thing).
So yes, weak sectors can be repaired by the tests: the tests force the hard disk to verify the status of these sectors again and restore their status to normal (then the Current pending sector count decreases) or reallocate them if required (then while the pending sector count decreases, the amounf of reallocated sectors increases).
The mentioned Reinitialize test (and the new Repair Disk Drive test) designed to repair these weak (pending) sectors.
Bad sectors (as they are already reallocated, replaced by the spare area) no need to be repaired - and it is not possible to repair (again) by any means. Their count can be reset to make sure that they should no longer appear and only possible new problems should be counted.
This is described at http://www.hdsentinel.com/faq_repair_ha ... _drive.php
In both locked and unlocked state tests except the mentioned Read-write-read test test should run without problems (for example the Read test and the new Repair Disk Drive test should be able to run). Just checked and verified.
If not, please use Report menu -> Send test report to developer option in Hard Disk Sentinel and try to send an image (screenshot) to info@hdsentinel.com about possible error message (if there is any). This way it is possible to investigate, reproduce the situation and check what may happened.