Strange HDD Issue - Bad Sectors/Malware?

[aleader]

I recently started having issues when I would try to install/update games on Steam. The download would just stop, and I would get a 'Disk Write Error' underneath it. Could not start them again. I followed all the advice to wipe the d/l cache, flush DNS, turn off auto-detect in LAN settings, nothing worked. So I just wiped Steam and tried to reinstall.

Firstly, this is on an ASUS Z97 Pro Gamer, Win 7-64, WD10EZEX 1TB HDD (about 2 years old). I had it partitioned into 2 drives (F: and G), one for games (600GB), one for storage (the rest).

Anyways, tried to reinstall Steam on the F: drive and it would install fine (although a bit slowly), but when it tried to update, I'd get the 'Steam needs to be online to update' error at different times during the update. The update would always start and get anywhere from 1/4 to 3/4 to the end and then crash.

I checked the F: drive for errors (Disk Mgmt) and it did say it had fixed and recovered bad sectors. Tried to update Steam again, same result. Ok, formatted F: Same issue. Checked G: for errors and could not as it said the drive was in use?? Neither of these are system drives obviously. My system is on an SSD, and I also have another SSD that I just put in.

Checked for errors again with EaseUS and disk mgmt, none found, however I noticed that a large chunk (almost half) of F: was 'used'. Checked and it was a recycle.bin file that had been created somehow. Did a full wipe of Data from F: with EaseUS, took forever, but worked. Formatted again, tried to install Steam, same issue. Went into the registry, wiped all traces of Steam, exhausted every avenue, no dice, wouldn't update.

Getting desperate I instead installed Steam to my new SSD. Worked perfectly the first time, so I knew it wasn't an ISP issue. Tried my other SSD, worked perfect. Ok, it's obviously the WD drive.

Thought I would erase the partitions and format the drive and start over. Couldn't get it to work with EaseUS because it kept saying G: was in use 'Windows media streaming' or something flashed on the screen. EaseUS finally was able to attempt wiping the data in the Boot mode outside windows. Took almost 24 hours to get to 20% wiping 400GB G: partition. I shut it down and started over. EaseUS said it was successful upon boot?! I was however able to erase the partitions and merge them and did a quick format of the drive.

Tried to reinstall Steam, same problem with the update. Tried installing Origin on there, it wouldn't complete the DLC updates either. I downloaded the DLD software from WD and checked the drive. All tests passed.

I've since tried transferring files to the drive and installing other software and while it will transfer and install things (none that require internet mind you), it takes achingly long to complete.

Could this be some sort of Malware or just a bad drive that nothing is picking up on?

 

[C1]

Typically when I encounter such behavior, it is the drive going bad. A tip off is that it took so long erasing the drive outside of the OS. The cause is that the drive is having to perform multiple attempts at read/writing (in this case writing to erase).

Use the free program "WIPE" (also known as ZAP) to clear the drive. (400Gb should only take 5 minutes or so & it will show the progress at the cylinder/sector level in real time. (They should be whizzing by on the screen and if not, the drive has issues).

 

[aleader]

Ok, thanks, will do that. Do you mean Disk Wipe 1.7: https://www.lifewire.com/disk-wipe-review-2619131. How about DBAN? I haven't had a drive go bad in over 25 years of building computers, so I'm not used to this. Longshot, but could any of this be SATA cable issues? I will try to switch the cables and see if that helps.

 

[aleader]

Well this is embarrassing...it was the cable. It must have been loose. I've never liked the way some SATA cables connect loosely to the drive/MB. I switched the cables on two drives, problem solved. I suspect that when it is pushed in on the rails the tight fit is moving the cable enough to keep it loose. I have a Rosewill Challenger case that while I love it (and it was $30), is very tight at the back of the drives when you slide them in. I can't understand why the cases are ever designed this way. It would be far more helpful to have the drives slide in from the front of the case (like DVD drives do) instead of into the side. I'm a little baffled still that a loose cable would cause such issues, but there it is.

 

[C1]

Dont feel bad.

Last night Power DvD kept quitting during playing movies from a 2.5" external hard drive with stored VOB files.

Initially thought the drive was going bad, but turned out it was USB connector getting flakey as it has lots of years of wear (connector insert & remove type).

Sprayed drive enclosure side out with DEOXIT, reinserted USB connector & all is now well.

 

[LTC8K6]

I was using latching cables and still got fooled. One of them had cracked at the connector, but it was on the bottom side, and everything looked fine. I finally decided it had to be the cable and when I took it out it was obviously cracked and not making much of a connection.