[solved] Reallocated sector count warning: try to recover or toss?

[pavelb]

Hi there,

My storage drive (Samsung spinpoint F3 1TB) started failing while I was downloading a torrent with a failed CRC check (I believe that was the uTorrent error), upon further investigation with HD Tune Pro I found the following problems [attached later].

In short, it looks like there are bad sectors on the drive. I've backed up all the data and am not currently using the drive for anything. I am wondering if I can recover the drive from this (i.e., use the drive again reliably -- I know I can't fix the bad sectors). What should I do with the drive (i.e., format it? use another tool?) and what should I do to check its health again -- is it possible for it to be reliable again? Or should I use it with caution?

Thanks!

PS. I've been reading this recent thread about a similar issue and would possibly like some more info on fixing this drive for use as media storage with periodic backups.

 

[Tsavo]

Take the magnets out of it and toss it.

I loved my Samsung F3's, but all of em are dead and gone but two.

I recently grabbed a few WD WD10EZEX Blues, and they are...seat of the pants...zippier than any F3 I had. Cheap, too.

 

[mikeymikec]

The only reason I can think of to continue using a drive with such problems is due to budget constraints, however I think I would be backing up pretty aggressively.

 

[Soulkeeper]

Those aren't fatal errors.
What really matters is the uncorrectable errors.
Drives have a certain # of sectors for reallocation and I doubt you are anywhere near reaching that limit.

If it was my drive i'd just run normally, keeping an eye on if the reallocations grow.
Of course if you can back things up periodically that would make you safer (always recommended).

Just to note i've got an SSD that came brand new with 88 "Factory_Bad_Block_Ct"
It's been running fine for over a year now and the number hasn't grown.

Also I had a wd raptor that got a few reallocated blocks during the first few weeks, that ran fine and the number never grew.

A recent seagate drive I purchased came with 1 bad block, not even worried about this.

 

[Cerb]

I'd make sure to have data backed up, at least. That's a lot of concurrent pending sectors. However, offline uncorrectable being 0 is alright (if it can read and move the data, on the next access, +1 to reallocated count; if it can't read it, +1 to uncorrectable and +1 to reallocated). Chances are good that you'd be able to get the data off OK...and for that matter, you might be able to keep using it. I'd consider it on its way out, though. Normally, you might see 1 or 2 of those there and there, not 14 and 27.

 

[coffeejunkee]

Those aren't fatal errors.
What really matters is the uncorrectable errors.
Drives have a certain # of sectors for reallocation and I doubt you are anywhere near reaching that limit.

I recently had a drive with current pending sectors and they made files unreadable so I would call that pretty fatal.

 

[nanaki333]

i agree with everyone, just toss them at this point since you have everything. i've actually been having a lot of success with hitachi drives (don't hate!). i still have quite a few spinpoint f1 and f3 drives that are still operational. they were pulled out of operation about 2 years ago, so no failure record!

 

[razel]

Good job on the backup. Now you can play with it. Unlike SSDs, secure erase on an HDD is recommended for situations like yours... Data backed up, looking to double check the drive. After secure erasing the drive, take another look at the SMART values and see if it reallocated anymore sectors. Go from there whether to sell it or keep it. Best of luck.

 

[pavelb]

Good job on the backup. Now you can play with it. Unlike SSDs, secure erase on an HDD is recommended for situations like yours... Data backed up, looking to double check the drive. After secure erasing the drive, take another look at the SMART values and see if it reallocated anymore sectors. Go from there whether to sell it or keep it. Best of luck.

Gonna proceed with a secure erase (since I gather the sector remapping happens automatically) and going to monitor the health status attribute counts after I start using it.

Thanks!

 

[jjsbasmt]

Can't believe that no one asked if the drive is still under warranty. I have returned about a dozen drives for customers over the last few years and had each one replaced under warranty most with brand new drives. I have always believed that one bad sector is too many.

 

[pavelb]

Can't believe that no one asked if the drive is still under warranty. I have returned about a dozen drives for customers over the last few years and had each one replaced under warranty most with brand new drives. I have always believed that one bad sector is too many.

Just checked this thread again by chance, ^ Great idea! ^
The drive was purchased in June '11 so I'm gonna check if there's perhaps a 3 yr manufacturer's warranty!