I/O write errors? External HDD

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TheBlackOut

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Apr 13, 2008
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http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2258/62004108rj3.png < The error

No matter what the torrent client, usually one torrent faills and cannot write. Right now I have about 10 torrents going, but it doesn't matter if I stop all the others, restart the failed one, it will fail again. If I continue the others ones afterwards, they'll all run fine while just that one fails. If I move the existing files to my internal and start again, it will work.

What's the problem? Obviously it's not the traffic to to the USB drive itself, or the other 9 torrents would fail too; I doubt it's the external HDD going bad, the tool I used reported no bad sectors, even when I used to the 'extensive' search or whatever the program called it.

http://www.westerndigital.com/...oducts.asp?DriveID=326

It also happens when I am just transferring files....

Ah, I used "Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows" and did a "EXTENDED TEST - performs a Full Media Scan to detect bad sectors. Test may take several hours to complete depending on the size of the drive." and it found nothing.

Any help?
 
jaqie

jaqie

Platinum Member
Apr 6, 2008
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First a bit of advice: I used to be a die-hard azureus fan, until I actually tried utorrent, then I swore I would never touch azureus again... you may want to try it, it's quite amazing how efficient the software is.

This problem seems to be (from the anecdotal evidence you have given) a problem somewhere in the usb system or the usb>ide conversion subsystem. You may want to google that hard drive model to find if I/O errors are common for that drive (especially under heavy usage) - this may be an indicator of a poor USB>IDE adapter chip in the external case. Just another thought: tried it in a different USB port with a different USB cable yet?
 
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TheBlackOut

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Apr 13, 2008
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Oh I've been on uTorrent for two months, but it couldn't do some of the things I wanted it so I've switched back. It is great software but in terms of customization for experienced intermediate/pro torrents, it's not that customizable.

I'll buy a new USB cord this weekend, but I've tried many different USB ports and no dice. It's just kind of weird, the other torrents will not fail (you'd think if the drive fails to write, they'd all stop, but only one!) and keep chugging along while that one fails by itself.

In fact, when I got home today, they all finished except the one that failed after I restarted it before I left, bummer.

I'll also take your advise and google, but I would hope Western Digital wouldn't make a crappy external HDD! Thanks for your help.
 
jaqie

jaqie

Platinum Member
Apr 6, 2008
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the hdd inside is their standard great drive... they may very well outsource the adapter box, and almost certainly outsource the chip on the PCB of the converter, in which case...

...Does uTorrent ever get failed torrents with the drive?
 
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webada

Guest
Mar 26, 2008
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forget torrent stuff, just the fact that when you do a simple file transfer it exhibits the same symptom isolates the problem from torrent software.

there is a bug for transferring btw 32bit f/s to 64bit. what version of vista are you running? what's the FS on the external HD? did you try formatting with same os and see if the problem still exists?

if the above is all clear, then its probably your HD enclosure, meaning the controller inside. Changing cable is a good step, next thing I would do it plug the drive to internal and see. If problem goes away, then it is enclosure.
 
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webada

Guest
Mar 26, 2008
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oh and yea, utorrent is great, its the best pgm out there for BT downloads, imo. I don't do much with it, just simple BT downloads.
 
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TheBlackOut

Member
Apr 13, 2008
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Originally posted by: jaqie
the hdd inside is their standard great drive... they may very well outsource the adapter box, and almost certainly outsource the chip on the PCB of the converter, in which case...

...Does uTorrent ever get failed torrents with the drive?
Click to expand...

Ah.. And maybe you skipped over this part (I skim as well) "No matter what the torrent client" from the OP. ;)

Originally posted by: webada
forget torrent stuff, just the fact that when you do a simple file transfer it exhibits the same symptom isolates the problem from torrent software.

there is a bug for transferring btw 32bit f/s to 64bit. what version of vista are you running? what's the FS on the external HD? did you try formatting with same os and see if the problem still exists?

if the above is all clear, then its probably your HD enclosure, meaning the controller inside. Changing cable is a good step, next thing I would do it plug the drive to internal and see. If problem goes away, then it is enclosure.
Click to expand...
Originally posted by: webada
oh and yea, utorrent is great, its the best pgm out there for BT downloads, imo. I don't do much with it, just simple BT downloads.
Click to expand...
Oh I know I was just saying how I noticed the problem was from torrenting, but as I tried to move files, I noticed it too.

Where did I mention I had Vista? :S I've always had XP, Pro SP2, 32-bit. The file system is NTFS and I formatted it within XP, I think with Windows itself.

Oh and I'll try the internal idea. Truth be told, this drive is being used not much travel wise, could keep it as an internal drive if it proves to be it.

Thanks for the replies guys. :)
 
T

TheBlackOut

Member
Apr 13, 2008
147
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Ah, I can't unscrew the closure because one screw is covered by a sticker that says "VOID IF BROKE", dont wanna do that now do we? :p
 
jaqie

jaqie

Platinum Member
Apr 6, 2008
2,471
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WD's drive internal is usually an OEM drive which comes with the OEM warranty (unless they have changed that in the last few years) meaning the drive itself will be under warranty as an internal drive, but the external adapter will not.

If you are having problems with it and it is under warranty, that is what the warranty is for!
 
D

dclive

Elite Member
Oct 23, 2003
5,626
2
81
Originally posted by: TheBlackOut
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2258/62004108rj3.png < The error

No matter what the torrent client, usually one torrent faills and cannot write. Right now I have about 10 torrents going, but it doesn't matter if I stop all the others, restart the failed one, it will fail again. If I continue the others ones afterwards, they'll all run fine while just that one fails. If I move the existing files to my internal and start again, it will work.

What's the problem? Obviously it's not the traffic to to the USB drive itself, or the other 9 torrents would fail too; I doubt it's the external HDD going bad, the tool I used reported no bad sectors, even when I used to the 'extensive' search or whatever the program called it.

http://www.westerndigital.com/...oducts.asp?DriveID=326

It also happens when I am just transferring files....

Ah, I used "Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows" and did a "EXTENDED TEST - performs a Full Media Scan to detect bad sectors. Test may take several hours to complete depending on the size of the drive." and it found nothing.

Any help?
Click to expand...

I suggest simply reading the Windows event logs and looking for disk related errors - 9, 51, 53, etc... and posting those here.
 
D

dclive

Elite Member
Oct 23, 2003
5,626
2
81
Originally posted by: TheBlackOut
"An error was detected on device \Device\Harddisk1\D during a paging operation.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp."


When Azureus popped up the warning, there was like 15 "51" errors. If you want more info from these errors, please tell me how!
Click to expand...

You have a hardware issue. I suggest talking to the drive manufacturer.
 
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