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S.M.A.R.T. Caution on 1TB HDD, how bad is it?

I

Ime

Diamond Member
Hey guys, I noticed a little sluggish performance backing up my 256GB SSD to my 1TB backup drive in my PC, and decided to run CrystalDiskInfo. This is what I got back. My 1TB backup drive is showing caution. How bad is it?

63kjA1R.jpg
 
Your call. If the # of reallocated sectors is stable and does not increase, the drive should be fine to use.

I have a few ancient Hitachi 1TBs (I'm talking industry first 1TB, the old 5 platter design) that have been working fine 24/7/365 for the better part of a decade with a single reallocated sector in SMART. Passes periodic surface scans, data integrity is intact (verified with MD5 hashes).

However, statistically speaking, a drive with any reallocated sectors has a very much higher likelihood of failing in the near future.

This is different from the reallocated sectors that are detected at the factory, which does NOT show up in SMART. Those are fine and are part of the manufacturing process.
 
Back it up, immediately. Then run a surface scan, then do a "write zeros" pass (or use DBAN bootable CD/DVD), then check the SMART data. If it now shows "reallocated sectors", then those sectors were bad. If it doesn't show any, then it was just a glitch, and those sectors tested good. After that, you can use it as a junk storage drive. I probably wouldn't put an OS or anything important on it. Do surface scans weekly, and then check the SMART data for increasing "reallocated" or "pending" sectors. If they are increasing, then junk the drive, it's on the way out. If they don't increase, then you can continue using the drive for as long as it mechanically survives. Just don't use it for anything important anymore.
 
VirtualLarry said:
Back it up, immediately. Then run a surface scan, then do a "write zeros" pass (or use DBAN bootable CD/DVD), then check the SMART data. If it now shows "reallocated sectors", then those sectors were bad. If it doesn't show any, then it was just a glitch, and those sectors tested good. After that, you can use it as a junk storage drive. I probably wouldn't put an OS or anything important on it. Do surface scans weekly, and then check the SMART data for increasing "reallocated" or "pending" sectors. If they are increasing, then junk the drive, it's on the way out. If they don't increase, then you can continue using the drive for as long as it mechanically survives. Just don't use it for anything important anymore.
Click to expand...

How much is your time worth? A 1TB HD is like $50.

Not to get all high-roller here, but $50 not to spend a half-day of my precious weekend nursing a drive back to "health" just so I can probably replace it later anyway? So worth it.
 
Agreed with dave_the_nerd.

While virtuallarry's procedure isn't wrong, I think it is somewhat mad to do that for a 1tb backup drive. Just replace it and stop having to worry about it.
 
I have a computer with a HDD that has a reallocated sectors count error and I have been monitoring it and so far it's remained the same number, but I plan on getting a SSD for that machine latter on some time. To lazy to clone and install the damn thing. It's a Dell Optiplex 780 I believe and the sucker is a ah heck to open. Point I'm making here is that if you watch the SMART data on the reallocated sectors number stat it may not change, but I would NOT rely on that drive any more.

How old is that massive sucker any way? Usually Hitachi's are good drives.

BTW- I would reupload that image with your serial number blotted or removed. I have heard just blotting an image hackers or the government can still read what's been blotted. Best to cut the number from the image. LOL
 
Last edited:
John Connor said:
I have a computer with a HDD that has a reallocated sectors count error and I have been monitoring it and so far it's remained the same number, but I plan on getting a SSD for that machine latter on some time. To lazy to clone and install the damn thing. It's a Dell Optiplex 780 I believe and the sucker is a ah heck to open. Point I'm making here is that if you watch the SMART data on the reallocated sectors number stat it may not change, but I would NOT rely on that drive any more.

How old is that massive sucker any way? Usually Hitachi's are good drives.

BTW- I would reupload that image with your serial number blotted or removed. I have heard just blotting an image hackers or the government can still read what's been blotted. Best to cut the number from the image. LOL
Click to expand...

The drive itself was purchased in either 2009 or 2010, I bought the same model drive twice a year apart. I replaced one Hitachi drive under warranty when it failed 9 months after purchase. I don't know if this is the replacement drive or the 2nd one I bought I'm afraid.

I'm just going to buy a 3TB drive from Newegg to replace this one, it's only $100 for the Toshiba drive.

Noob question, why would I worry about the serial number being displayed?
 
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