Seagate Hard drive problem?

[kbaasit]

Hi,

I have just formatted my Hard drive Seagate: ST31000528AS 500 GB, and installed Win7 64bit OS. The reason for my formatting the drive is due the hard drive always seemed to be running. i.e. lite on, on mostly blinking. The drive always seems to be reading something even when I am just sitting looking at the PC! With nothing open execpt for the OS..

Since I have everything newly installed presumably nice and fresh! It is doing the same thing as it did before I formatted and re-installed! I biought the drive frm a PC shop about 8-9months ago. Last nite there is an intermittent buzz sound coming from roughly the same area as the Hard drive about every 10-15 secs. Not sure if it is the drive or not. The buzzing has gone.

I ran HDDScan and gave me the attached report.


Under the Read test selection Iget the following (which seems to take forever to complete:
(taken at 35% complete)

Open Disk
Test : RD-Read

Executing
Block start at 0 time 170ms
Block start at 256 time 105ms
Block start at 2560 time 194ms
Block start at 2816 time 558ms
Block start at 3072 time 121ms
Block start at 3328 time 250ms
Block start at 3584 time 355ms
Block start at 3840 time 347ms
Block start at 4096 time 501ms
Block start at 4352 time 98ms
Block start at 4864 time 56ms
Block start at 7424 time 153ms
Block start at 9472 time 88ms
Block start at 9728 time 56ms
Block start at 9984 time 55ms
Block start at 11264 time 226ms
Block start at 12288 time 63ms
Block start at 15616 time 560ms
Block start at 15872 time 582ms
Block start at 16128 time 484ms
Block start at 16384 time 56ms
Block start at 16640 time 137ms
Block start at 16896 time 186ms
Block start at 17152 time 291ms
Block start at 17408 time 56ms
Block start at 17664 time 323ms
Block start at 18688 time 54ms
Block start at 18944 time 97ms
Block start at 19200 time 65ms
Block start at 20992 time 64ms
Block start at 22528 time 67ms
Block start at 26624 time 57ms
Block start at 30208 time 65ms
Block start at 54784 time 57ms
Block start at 75264 time 114ms
Block start at 78848 time 57ms
Block start at 196352 time 98ms
Block start at 1318144 time 154ms
Block start at 1318912 time 65ms
Block start at 1373184 time 62ms
Block start at 6294272 time 97ms
Block start at 6294528 time 72ms
Block start at 6294784 time 56ms
Block start at 6295808 time 97ms
Block start at 6299136 time 50ms
Block start at 6299904 time 54ms
Block start at 6300416 time 81ms
Block start at 6300928 time 186ms
Block start at 6301440 time 50ms
Block start at 6310400 time 113ms
Block start at 6310656 time 153ms
Block start at 6311680 time 50ms
Block start at 6316544 time 325ms
Block start at 6316800 time 70ms
Block start at 6317056 time 56ms
Block start at 6317312 time 56ms
Block start at 6318080 time 136ms
Block start at 6318592 time 129ms
Block start at 6318848 time 159ms
Block start at 6319104 time 92ms
Block start at 6319360 time 63ms
Block start at 6319616 time 56ms
Block start at 6391808 time 89ms
Block start at 6392832 time 57ms
Block start at 6394112 time 131ms
Block start at 6397184 time 56ms
Block start at 6411776 time 50ms
Block start at 6419200 time 50ms
Block start at 6424576 time 57ms
Block start at 6427136 time 81ms
Block start at 6427392 time 105ms
Block start at 6429696 time 57ms
Block start at 6436864 time 50ms
Block start at 6477824 time 73ms
Block start at 6490368 time 138ms
Block start at 7235840 time 58ms
Block start at 7236096 time 64ms
Block start at 7728896 time 84ms
Block start at 21261824 time 76ms
Block start at 25481984 time 106ms
Block start at 25734144 time 60ms
Block start at 28246528 time 67ms
Block start at 32698368 time 71ms
Block start at 33890048 time 175ms
Block start at 35135488 time 66ms
Block start at 36368640 time 60ms
Block start at 36373248 time 50ms
Block start at 39235584 time 83ms
Block start at 39239936 time 63ms
Block start at 40478464 time 69ms
Block start at 41507584 time 85ms
Block start at 42287872 time 83ms
Block start at 42290944 time 64ms
Block start at 44782080 time 66ms
Block start at 48824320 time 58ms
Block start at 49963264 time 78ms
Block start at 50054656 time 65ms
Block start at 51690752 time 58ms
Block start at 54184192 time 62ms
Block start at 59890688 time 82ms
Block start at 84699136 time 50ms
Block start at 84699648 time 63ms
Block start at 84700160 time 60ms
Block start at 84783104 time 57ms
Block start at 85886720 time 79ms
Block start at 107818496 time 52ms
Block start at 107820288 time 62ms
Block start at 115994368 time 50ms
Block start at 157449472 time 168ms
Block start at 179619584 time 79ms
Block start at 186151424 time 57ms
Block start at 186184448 time 57ms
Block start at 201077504 time 80ms
Block start at 201084928 time 87ms
Block start at 202223616 time 57ms
Block start at 202345472 time 57ms
Block start at 202353408 time 57ms
Block start at 212325120 time 84ms
Block start at 212331264 time 67ms
Block start at 212332288 time 54ms
Block start at 213583616 time 58ms
Block start at 214844160 time 70ms
Bad block found, start LBA : 224128000
Block start at 224128256 time 156ms
Block start at 232892416 time 97ms
Block start at 233138688 time 81ms
Block start at 267085312 time 65ms
Block start at 334931200 time 105ms
Block start at 335112192 time 86ms
Block start at 350668544 time 65ms
Block start at 359203584 time 64ms
Block start at 366503680 time 105ms
Block start at 382552832 time 72ms
Block start at 383532288 time 58ms
Block start at 383744512 time 51ms
Block start at 384685312 time 65ms
Block start at 384689664 time 50ms
Block start at 391723264 time 111ms
Block start at 394769152 time 53ms
Block start at 394822912 time 52ms
Block start at 397843200 time 68ms
Block start at 397844480 time 51ms
Block start at 397845504 time 67ms
Block start at 398061056 time 51ms
Block start at 436513280 time 57ms
Block start at 436515584 time 58ms
Block start at 436518400 time 66ms
Block start at 440862208 time 53ms
Block start at 449478144 time 57ms
Block start at 452075776 time 50ms
Block start at 453268480 time 88ms
Block start at 454075392 time 357ms
Block start at 454078208 time 52ms
Block start at 455951360 time 63ms
Block start at 459053056 time 87ms
Block start at 459056896 time 65ms
Block start at 460137472 time 54ms
Block start at 462398720 time 83ms
Block start at 463171072 time 57ms
Block start at 464139264 time 57ms
Block start at 464396032 time 57ms
Block start at 476603904 time 115ms
Block start at 477378304 time 57ms
Block start at 482611200 time 64ms
Block start at 482618624 time 103ms
Block start at 483703808 time 78ms
Block start at 489802496 time 51ms
Block start at 493414400 time 81ms
Block start at 493423872 time 631ms
Block start at 493424128 time 718ms
Block start at 493428992 time 606ms
Block start at 493433856 time 534ms
Block start at 493434112 time 1502ms
Block start at 493434368 time 953ms
Block start at 493444352 time 153ms
Block start at 493447680 time 54ms
Block start at 493448960 time 51ms
Block start at 493485568 time 64ms
Block start at 493485824 time 225ms
Block start at 493488640 time 52ms
Block start at 493489408 time 59ms
Block start at 493489920 time 55ms
Block start at 493490176 time 57ms
Block start at 493490944 time 51ms
Block start at 493491712 time 58ms
Block start at 493494528 time 160ms
Block start at 493495808 time 51ms
Block start at 493496320 time 74ms
Block start at 493496832 time 63ms
Block start at 493499136 time 99ms
Block start at 493499648 time 79ms
Block start at 493501440 time 67ms
Block start at 493501952 time 64ms
Block start at 493503744 time 50ms
Block start at 493504000 time 76ms
Block start at 493506048 time 63ms
Block start at 493508352 time 60ms
Block start at 493510656 time 71ms
Block start at 493512192 time 53ms
Block start at 493512960 time 60ms
Block start at 493513216 time 62ms
Block start at 493514752 time 77ms
Block start at 493515264 time 61ms
Block start at 493515776 time 64ms
Block start at 493517568 time 68ms
Block start at 493518080 time 71ms
Block start at 493520384 time 57ms
Block start at 493521408 time 56ms
Block start at 493521920 time 63ms
Block start at 493522688 time 62ms
Block start at 493524480 time 56ms
Block start at 493524992 time 119ms
Block start at 493525248 time 73ms
Block start at 493525504 time 89ms
Block start at 493525760 time 72msBlock start at 679411712 time 152ms
Block start at 679411968 time 64ms
Block start at 679413760 time 64ms

Thanks.

[jdeb]

Send the info to Seagate for warranty claim.
Warranty & Returns | Seagate

You have to follow the exact packaging instructions when sending it back.

[glc]

You have to use SeaTools and get a report for a warranty claim.

[kbaasit]

So I guess you are saying that my HD is on its way out?

[jdeb]

appears that it is. Seagate is not on our recommended list these days.

[NetworkLabs]

Yes! Seagate is known to recieve the Click of Death and fail even if it's a brand spanken new Hard Drive! I'm sorry but most likey it's dead. I made the mistake of buying a Seagate External Hard Drive. One day, it stopped working and I just formatted my Hard Drive on my PC to install Windows Server 2008
R2 Enterprise. Well, I thought I lost everything! Turns out, the Hard Drive has a Wire Short! So I highly do not recommend getting a replacement and try your best to get a Refund. And go with a Brand like Westell. I think that's the name...

[glc]

Umm, that would be Western Digital.

Have you run SeaTools yet? Is the drive still on warranty?

[kbaasit]

Yes I did. Fail long and short DST tests.

Have my RMA # and am now returning the thing.

What a bloody headache!!

Thanks for your help.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by kbaasit Yes I did. Fail long and short DST tests. Have my RMA # and am now returning the thing. What a bloody headache!! Thanks for your help.

I hate their return packing policy. Not a big deal for me but I can imagine most people buy OEM drives with no packaging and have to fumble around to make a box, foam etc. I always have packing foam at my disposal as my mother in law does upholstery work.

[kbaasit]

That's np. I keep the clamshell plastic thing it came with (usual) practice of mine! plus I asked the guy at aPC shop I go to every note and then if he can give me done packaging to shop the drive, which he had.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by kbaasit That's np. I keep the clamshell plastic thing it came with (usual) practice of mine! plus I asked the guy at aPC shop I go to every note and then if he can give me done packaging to shop the drive, which he had.

That makes it pretty painless, at least for the return part

[kbaasit]

Not so sure if I should continue on with this thread. Seeing as it kind of relates, I thought this would be the best place!

Anyway I received my replacement 1TB Barracuda HDD from Seagate and would ask what you guys would recommend to changing this the most painless / quickest and efficient way.

I would like to use my existing Hard Drive that will get sent back to Seagate, seeing as the setup has all the current win 7 home premium updates etc. Plus everything else that I recently copied over from my external drive. Including all my acount settings from MS Outlook etc. Please note that my existing drive is partitioned C and D at 50% each and would be nice to reduce the C 50% as D drive is my Data drive... or is this ration a good one?

Once done, what is the best way to completely clean the drive on its way out, prior to sending back to Seagate.

Thanks,

[glc]

If the drive is still in good enough shape, you can use Seagate Disk Wizard (which is an OEM version of Acronis True Image) to clone it to the new drive, and I believe you can adjust partition sizes with it. However, with those errors I don't hold out much hope for a successful clone.

SeaTools for DOS can be used to zero fill the drive.

[kbaasit]

does the cloning not also clone errors from the hard drive? Or are they physical errors and as such cannot be cloned... what of the files that may be in those damaged areas of the drive etc?

I guess the definition of a successful clone would be that the replaced hard drive works just fine... and if seatools is run on it, passes the tests!?

[glc]

Usually, a clone operation will hang up on bad sectors and won't let you finish. I have had reasonable success by running Spinrite on the bad drive before cloning, but that's not free software and it can take several days to do its thing.

[kbaasit]

Me again!

Well, after trying Seagate, DiscWizard I was able to CLone the hard drive's C partition, however the D partition although seen when going thru the cloning process shows as being cloned. After disconnecting the original drive and restarting, it didn;t boot, so I was advised at the DOC startup screen to insert the OS CD and run Repair. After doing this, WIN 7 opened fine, only showing the C partition.

BTW, it didn't copy the D partition. Same size part. on the orig drive as the destination.

Any ideas where I went wrong?

Thank you (once again)

[glc]

Exactly what does Disk Management say about the drive?

[kbaasit]

Not sure what disk Management is. Please see the attached if this help?

Pls let me know if the attached helps?

[kbaasit]

If I don't select the delete partition, you can see the Next button is greyed out.

So I select the Delete part. This brings me to the next screen: Moving Method
As Is
Proptional
Manual

[kbaasit]

The next screen after Clone 5 is to Reboot.

[glc]

Those tell me that your old drive doesn't have a D partition - "unallocated" means that it's not a partition any more. Any data that you had in there is no longer there, unless data recovery software can find something.

If you want to make the unallocated space on the new drive a usable partition, use Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) to do so.

[kbaasit]

Hi, the attached just taken from Win explorer of the origin drive.

[kbaasit]

Hi ...

I think I have figured this out (partially)

My C drive has all of that was supposed to be cloned. However, the D partition files are there, but are not seen at all.

The drive is 1TB, the missing files from the D partition would be almost 400GB.

IS there anyway I can allocate these files that are unseen?

[larrymoencurly]

I strongly suggest you try MHDD because it always shows fewer slow sectors, I suspect because it runs under DOS instead of Windows.

When I've run MHDD to test new 2TB Samsung HD204UI and Hitachi 5K3000 drives, it reported hundreds of sectors that each needed over 100mS to read and a few sectors that needed between 150ms - 500ms. These drives passed factory diagnostics and generic SMART tests, including the one in Seagate's SeaTools. MHDD never showed sectors needing over 500mS or outright bad sectors with those drives, only with drives that had been dropped and wouldn't pass factory diagnostics.

OTOH all the Hitachi 1TB 7K2000C drives I've tested with MHDD showed only a few sectors that needed more than 50ms, and I believe my WD drives had none that slow.

[kbaasit]

Thanks for the response to my earlier email. However, as the thread developes you'll notice I have moved on from the diagnostics part to asking how I can get back unallocated space since I ran Seagate's DiscWizard.

It was suppose to copy files / partitions etc. My original drive had two partitions on it, the new drive ended up with one (see previous) posts.

Thanks

[glc]

Like I said, your D partition got blown away somehow. It's no longer a partition, it's unallocated space.

http://www.pcmech.com/forum/attachme...one-step-4.jpg

I don't know how I can make this any clearer. Your partition is GONE.