Dead hard drive or not?

[hazard0us]

Hello,

I have a Samsung SATA hard drive which is failing. I can't pass any SMART tests (short and long) and on HD sentinel health is at 0%.

Here is the summary: "Failure Predicted - Attribute: 1 Raw Read Error Rate, Errors occurred while reading raw data from a disk. Indicate problem with the disk surface or the read/write heads. Replace hard disk immediately.".

However I used the Reinitialize disk surface function and it was successful (see print screen below, in french).
This drive also passed the read test.

So I can't understand why this drive is supposedly dead but doesn't appear so when I performed a read test or when i reinitialize disk surface


Tested performed by using Hard Disk Sentinel 5.00 PRO.

Hard drive information :
SAMSUNG HM321HI

Code: Select all

 Hard Disk Summary
   -------------------
    Hard Disk Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 2
    Interface  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : S-ATA II
    Disk Controller  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) 8 Series/C220 Series SATA AHCI Controller - 8C02 (AHCI) [VEN: 8086, DEV: 8C02] Version: 9.4.0.1017, 2-25-2013
    Disk Location  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Channel 3, Target 0, Lun 0, Device: 0
    Hard Disk Model ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : SAMSUNG HM321HI
    Firmware Revision  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 2AJ10001
    Hard Disk Serial Number  . . . . . . . . . . . . : S26YJDSZ213286
    Total Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 305242 MB
    Power State  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Active
    Current Temperature  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 24 °C
    Maximum Temperature (Ever Measured)  . . . . . . : 37 °C, 22/10/2017 02:56:59
    Minimum Temperature (Ever Measured)  . . . . . . : 24 °C, 22/10/2017 20:22:58
    Maximum Temperature (During Entire Lifespan) . . : 45 °C
    Power On Time  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 200 days, 21 hours
    Estimated Remaining Lifetime . . . . . . . . . . : 0 days
    Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : -------------------- 0 % (Failure Predicted)
    Performance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : #################### 100 % (Excellent)

    Failure Predicted - Attribute: 1 Raw Read Error Rate, Errors occurred while reading raw data from a disk. Indicate problem with the disk surface or the read/write heads.
    Replace hard disk immediately.
      It is recommended to backup immediately to prevent data loss.

    ATA Information
   -----------------
    Hard Disk Cylinders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 620181
    Hard Disk Heads  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 16
    Hard Disk Sectors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 63
    ATA Revision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : ATA8-ACS version 6
    Transport Version  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : SATA Rev 2.6
    Total Sectors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 625142448
    Bytes Per Sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 512
    Buffer Size  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 8192 KB
    Multiple Sectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 16
    Error Correction Bytes . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 4
    Unformatted Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 305245 MB
    Maximum PIO Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 4
    Maximum Multiword DMA Mode . . . . . . . . . . . : 2
    Maximum UDMA Mode  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 300 MB/s (6)
    Active UDMA Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 300 MB/s (5)
    Minimum Multiword DMA Transfer Time  . . . . . . : 120 ns
    Recommended Multiword DMA Transfer Time  . . . . : 120 ns
    Minimum PIO Transfer Time Without IORDY  . . . . : 120 ns
    Minimum PIO Transfer Time With IORDY . . . . . . : 120 ns
    ATA Control Byte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Valid
    ATA Checksum Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Valid

    Acoustic Management Configuration
   -----------------------------------
    Acoustic Management  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Acoustic Management  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Disabled
    Current Acoustic Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Default (00h)
    Recommended Acoustic Level . . . . . . . . . . . : Max performance and volume (FEh)

    ATA Features
   --------------
    Read Ahead Buffer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported, Enabled
    DMA  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Ultra DMA  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    S.M.A.R.T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Write Cache  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Host Protected Area  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Advanced Power Management  . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported, Disabled
    Extended Power Management  . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    Power Up In Standby  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    48-Bit LBA Addressing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Device Configuration Overlay . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    IORDY Support  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Read/Write DMA Queue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    NOP Command  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Trusted Computing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    64-Bit World Wide ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 0250904E09031D15
    Streaming  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    Media Card Pass Through  . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    General Purpose Logging  . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Error Logging  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    CFA Feature Set  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    CFast Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    Long Physical Sectors (1)  . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    Long Logical Sectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    Write-Read-Verify  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    NV Cache Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    NV Cache Power Mode  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    NV Cache Size  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    Free-fall Control  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    Free-fall Control Sensitivity  . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    Nominal Media Rotation Rate  . . . . . . . . . . : 5400 RPM

    SSD Features
   --------------
    Data Set Management  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    TRIM Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    Deterministic Read After TRIM  . . . . . . . . . : Not supported

    S.M.A.R.T. Details
   --------------------
    Off-line Data Collection Status  . . . . . . . . : Never Started
    Self Test Execution Status . . . . . . . . . . . : Test Failed And Handling Damage Is Suspected
    Total Time To Complete Off-line Data Collection  : 4860 seconds
    Execute Off-line Immediate . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Abort/restart Off-line By Host . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    Off-line Read Scanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Short Self-test  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Extended Self-test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Conveyance Self-test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    Selective Self-Test  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Save Data Before/After Power Saving Mode . . . . : Supported
    Enable/Disable Attribute Autosave  . . . . . . . : Supported
    Error Logging Capability . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Short Self-test Estimated Time . . . . . . . . . : 2 minutes
    Extended Self-test Estimated Time  . . . . . . . : 81 minutes
    Last Short Self-test Result  . . . . . . . . . . : Never Started
    Last Short Self-test Date  . . . . . . . . . . . : Never Started
    Last Extended Self-test Result . . . . . . . . . : Never Started
    Last Extended Self-test Date . . . . . . . . . . : Never Started

    Security Mode
   ---------------
    Security Mode  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Security Erase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Security Erase Time  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 78 minutes
    Security Enhanced Erase Feature  . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Security Enhanced Erase Time . . . . . . . . . . : 78 minutes
    Security Enabled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : No
    Security Locked  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : No
    Security Frozen  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
    Security Counter Expired . . . . . . . . . . . . : No
    Security Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : High

    Serial ATA Features
   ---------------------
    S-ATA Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
    S-ATA I Signaling Speed (1.5 Gps)  . . . . . . . : Supported
    S-ATA II Signaling Speed (3 Gps) . . . . . . . . : Supported
    S-ATA Gen3 Signaling Speed (6 Gps) . . . . . . . : Not supported
    Receipt Of Power Management Requests From Host . : Supported
    PHY Event Counters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Non-Zero Buffer Offsets In DMA Setup FIS . . . . : Not supported
    DMA Setup Auto-Activate Optimization . . . . . . : Supported, Disabled
    Device Initiating Interface Power Management . . : Supported, Disabled
    In-Order Data Delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    Asynchronous Notification  . . . . . . . . . . . : Not supported
    Software Settings Preservation . . . . . . . . . : Supported, Enabled
    Native Command Queuing (NCQ) . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Queue Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 32

    Disk Information
   ------------------
    Disk Family  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : SpinPoint M7E
    Form Factor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 2.5" 
    Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 320 GB (320 x 1 000 000 000 bytes)
    Number Of Disks  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 1
    Number Of Heads  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 2
    Rotational Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 5400 RPM
    Rotation Time  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 11,11 ms
    Average Rotational Latency . . . . . . . . . . . : 5,56 ms
    Disk Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Serial-ATA/300
    Buffer-Host Max. Rate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 300 MB/seconds
    Buffer Size  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 8192 KB
    Drive Ready Time (Typical) . . . . . . . . . . . : 4 seconds
    Average Seek Time  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 12,0 ms
    Track To Track Seek Time . . . . . . . . . . . . : ? ms
    Full Stroke Seek Time  . . . . . . . . . . . . . : ? ms
    Width  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 69,9 mm (2,8 inch)
    Depth  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 100,0 mm (3,9 inch)
    Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 9,5 mm (0,4 inch)
    Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 105 grams (0,2 pounds)
    Acoustic (Idle)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 2,4 Bel
    Acoustic (Min Performance And Volume)  . . . . . : 2,6 Bel
    Acoustic (Max Performance And Volume)  . . . . . : 2,6 Bel
    Required Power For Spinup  . . . . . . . . . . . : 1 000 mA
    Power Required (Seek)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 2,4 W
    Power Required (Idle)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 0,9 W
    Power Required (Standby) . . . . . . . . . . . . : 0,3 W
    Manufacturer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Samsung
    Manufacturer Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : http://www.samsung.com/Products/HardDiskDrive/index.htm

    S.M.A.R.T.
   ------------
No.  Attribute                Thre.. Value  Worst  Data                Status                   Flags                                                  
1    Raw Read Error Rate      51     1      1      000000008AFC        Pre-Failure: Data loss.. Self Preserving, Error-Rate, Performance, Statistica.. 
2    Throughput Performance   0      252    252    000000000000        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Performance, Statistical              
3    Spin Up Time             25     94     93     0000000007D5        OK                       Self Preserving, Statistical, Critical                 
4    Start/Stop Count         0      99     99     00000000078D        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical              
5    Reallocated Sectors Co.. 10     252    252    000000000000        OK                       Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical, Critical    
7    Seek Error Rate          51     252    252    000000000000        OK                       Self Preserving, Error-Rate, Performance, Statistical  
8    Seek Time Performance    15     252    252    000000000000        OK                       Self Preserving, Performance                           
9    Power On Time Count      0      100    100    0000000012D5        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical              
10   Spin Retry Count         51     252    252    000000000000        OK                       Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical              
11   Drive Calibration Retr.. 0      100    100    00000000001A        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical              
12   Drive Power Cycle Count  0      99     99     000000000701        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical              
191  G-Sense Error Rate       0      100    100    000000001B99        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Statistical                           
192  Power off Retract Cycl.. 0      252    252    000000000000        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Statistical                           
194  Disk Temperature         0      64     56     002D000B0018        OK (Always passing)      Statistical                                            
195  Hardware ECC Recovered   0      100    100    000000000000        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Event Count, Error-Rate, Statistical  
196  Reallocation Event Count 0      252    252    000000000000        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical              
197  Current Pending Sector.. 0      252    100    000000000000        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical              
198  Off-Line Uncorrectable.. 0      252    252    000000000000        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Event Count                           
199  Ultra ATA CRC Error Co.. 0      200    200    000000000000        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Event Count, Performance, Statistical 
200  Write Error Rate         0      100    100    0000000007FB        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Error-Rate, Statistical               
223  Load/Unload Retry Count  0      100    100    00000000001A        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical              
225  Load/Unload Cycle Count  0      99     99     000000003CF8        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical              
254  Free Fall Event Count    0      100    100    000000000001        OK (Always passing)      Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical              

    Transfer Rate Information
   ---------------------------
    Total Data Read  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 0 MB,  305 490 MB since installation  (22/10/2017)
    Total Data Write . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 0 MB,  0 MB since installation
    Average Reads Per Day  . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 305 490,00 MB
    Average Writes Per Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 0,00 MB
    Current Transfer Rate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 0 KB/s
    Maximum Transfer Rate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 0 KB/s
    Current Read Rate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 0 KB/s
    Current Write Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 0 KB/s
    Current Disk Activity  . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 0 %

[hazard0us]

Overview :
https://ibb.co/jXBPkw




short test result :
]https://ibb.co/ejCmyG




Reinitialize disk surface :
https://ibb.co/eo3Fsb



read test :
https://ibb.co/imhVQw

[hdsentinel]

Generally even if the disk surface seems working, (readable, writable) the hard disk recorded problems and the error-level threshold reached.
This is why 0 % health displayed - and if I'm correct, Windows also complains about the status of the hard disk, new operating system installation may be not possible on this drive because of this problem.

Interesting that no bad sector reported, so there seems no specific error related to one or more sector(s) on the disk surface, but there may be more serious problem related to the head(s) (or a different component) in general.

In such cases, if the hard disk would be covered by warranty, then you may ask for replacement - as the hard disk is considered as "bad", even if it seems working. I mean it is possible that the stored data may become corrupted/damaged and the drive (even seems working) may not able to hold stored data correctly.

(I do not really see the images/screenshots, the links to the images seem not correct).

[hazard0us]

Thank you for your quick response.
Yes you're right, Windows complains too. I was more thinking of using this driving as an external drive (i have an USB3 enclosure). But i was wondering if there is a huge risk of losing data ? I am not planning to use it for a backup purpose but usually when i copy data I do "cut/paste" and not "copy/paste"...

No warranty on this drive, it is way too old.

PS: I modified the screenshots in my previous email

[hazard0us]

No idea if it's very risky to use this disk as a USB storage drive?

[hdsentinel]

Yes, it is a good question.

Generally for secondary storage yes, it may be still used - just considering that it may fail or data corruption may happen any time.

Personally I'd try this:

1) select Disk menu -> Surface test -> Write + Read test
2) before starting the test, select the Configuration page in this window and in the "Write pattern" section, select "Random data" or "Sector number" option.
3) then start the test.

This way Hard Disk Sentinel will overwrite all sectors with non-zero data and when the overwrite completes, it starts reading back the surface and comparing the result with the original written information.

This way you can verify if any NON-ZERO data can be really written and could be read back - and correct, not damaged.
This would ensure that the hard disk can really keep actual stored data.

The Reinitialise disk surface test was also good - but after the clearing and overwrite, it verified that all sectors are empty. I'd verify if any real data could be stored, read back - without damages.

If this test shows no problems then yes, it may be still be used.

[hazard0us]

Thanks, I did this Write + Read test with ramdom data and everything looks fine (all blocks are good).

So I'll use this hard drive as a USB drive but i'll be careful.

At first I was thinking about using the old "freezer trick" to pass the SMART tests but it might not be necessary...

[hdsentinel]

Sounds promising - then yes, it may be still used.

No, the "freezer trick" would not reset errors or so. In some rare cases (depending the actual situation) yes, it may be helpful if the hard disk is not working at all: could not start up and the system does not recognise the drive.

If possible, please send a developer report (Report menu -> Send test report to developer option), would be nice to see the current status of the drive now, after the tests completed without errors.

[Nero]

probable reasons for the error:
1. Damage to the translator
2. S.M.A.R.T damage
3. Damage to the firmware
4. Cable damage