HDD Health, Reallocation Event Count?

[LABFE]

When I check the health of a hard drive I use GSmartControl and take a look at "reallocated sector count" and "current pending sector count." For the disk in question, the raw value for each is 0. However, this disk has another category called "reallocation event count" and it shows a raw value of 240 (56028 0). Can someone enlighten me? The PC has Windows update issues that I wasn't able to repair and now looking to do a clean install if the disk is okay. It's not an SSD. The pc is a 3yr old notebook.

 

[jbartlett323]

Not every drive manu writes data to the same place, so its possible instead of making 2 entry's (reallocations and reallocation events) this drive relies on the 1 entry of events. Either way, you are most likely sitting on a bad/failing drive, based on that field alone.
Now its also possible that that count represents how many sectors where put in "Pending Reallocation" and were later found by the drive to be readable. Honestly, while not a direct indication of failure, I would still err on the side of its toast.
I would definitely let my customer know the risks and my professional opinion. If they took that info, and still chose to have me reload an OS on this drive, I would be very clear that they are still liable for full charge even if the drive fails mid-way through reinstall.

 

[HFultzjr]

After doing a Google search for "reallocation event count", I would replace the drive.
Might want to consider an SSD. It will make you look like a hero.

 

[Larry Sabo]

Have you tried using the drive manufacturer's diagnostic tool? What's the make and model of the drive?

According to Wikipedia, Reallocated events: "The raw value of this attribute shows the total count of attempts to transfer data from reallocated sectors to a spare area. Both successful & unsuccessful attempts are counted." So, one way it could be so high while zero sectors have been reallocated, is for writes to the spare area to have failed, which could be due to bad heads and/or bad media.

 

[AnthonyK]

I would run CrystalDisk info and base my judgement from that. If something don't look right, I would let the customer know they have a ticking time bomb and let them make the decision of having the hdd replaced or upgraded to ssd. I don't even waste my time anymore...

 

[cypress]

I run a Crystal Disk Info and if shows up Caution, I will quickly fire up gSmartControl. If it flags red on the reallocated sector count and also fails a short test I then image the drive and call the client to recommend a replacement.

 

[GTP]

Personally I would just replace the drive, rather than spend time trying to figure out if it's ok or not. Your customer trusts you and will appreciate it. If you tell them the drive is ok and it fails, what then?
HDD prices are so cheap now its not worth the time to diagnose.
IMHO, I would image the drive to an SSD. You will be a hero and you will have a very happy customer!

 

[Larry Sabo]

Personally I would just replace the drive, rather than spend time trying to figure out if it's ok or not.

What do you tell your customer when the problem is not fixed by doing so? It's best to be absolutely sure of the cause of problems, so you can be confident that you have fixed them, IMHO.

 

[Krynn72]

What do you tell your customer when the problem is not fixed by doing so? It's best to be absolutely sure of the cause of problems, so you can be confident that you have fixed them, IMHO.

If you saw several reallocation events and no reallocated sectors or anything... would you continue diagnosing windows update errors? I got to agree with Barcelona here, if I see any tripped-red attributes from GSmartControl, I replace the drive. Whats the point in diagnosing software issues on a likely failing hard drive? Even if you clone it and bring over the original problem, its better to diagnose that issue on a healthy drive.

 

[labtech]

I would simply check the SMART values with multiple tools for consistency purposes. Of course, after being comfortable there is a backup (clone or otherwise), I would run some scans with MHDD (anything outside a Windows environment) and see what is found.

 

[Larry Sabo]

If you saw several reallocation events and no reallocated sectors or anything... would you continue diagnosing windows update errors? I got to agree with Barcelona here, if I see any tripped-red attributes from GSmartControl, I replace the drive. Whats the point in diagnosing software issues on a likely failing hard drive? Even if you clone it and bring over the original problem, its better to diagnose that issue on a healthy drive.

I would test the drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic program to verify the SMART attributed reported by gSmartControl. If it confirms the Warning status, then I'd change the drive and continue diagnosing the update problem.

I was responding to the philosphy that "HDD prices are so cheap now its not worth the time to diagnose." Diagnosis can include cloning to/swapping in a known-good drive, but I felt that replacing the drive because replacements are cheap was just shot-gunning the problem.

 

[labtech]

OK, suppose you do this and two tools say it's OK but one says it's bad.

I say this makes the disc bad. What do you think? And what do you tell the client?

(If you hear the gear lock but you get two greens and a red, what do you tell ATC and do you land anyway? I'm all for rolling the fire trucks.)

I would check with 3-5 tools.
Hdtunes, hddscan, MHDD, smartmontools, crystaldiskinfo, r-studio, etc.

Based on findings, I will tell customer the truth. And if you, as an expert, conclude the drive is no longer safe, then present options and quotes.

 

[Krynn72]

I would check with 3-5 tools.
Hdtunes, hddscan, MHDD, smartmontools, crystaldiskinfo, r-studio, etc.

You must have a lot of time to dedicate to one job if you run all these tools just to confirm a bad drive.

 

[labtech]

You must have a lot of time to dedicate to one job if you run all these tools just to confirm a bad drive.

I specialize in data recovery. So, knowing exactly what is going on with a drive is critical (more so than time spent on it, even though I can collect SMART info on drives is less than 10 seconds, even on damaged drives). I actually don't use any of those suggested tools much. I use much more advanced tools. Just mentioned those as they are free and listed several as many people often find it challenging to find/install/run them. So, just wanted to be helpful.

Many customers are price conscious, so I have often had people actually move forward with a used drive in their new laptop rather than buying a new one, of course after explaining the risks involved.

 

[labtech]

Is there something wrong with a used drive that is stable mechanically, at firmware level and free of bad sectors? Especially at the insistence of a cheap customer who won't pay for a new drive? Don't think so.
Same with used cars. I make customers recommendations, at the top is always new - if they don't want it, then used is their only other option. It's reality.

 

[GTP]

I would check with 3-5 tools.
Hdtunes, hddscan, MHDD, smartmontools, crystaldiskinfo, r-studio, etc.

Based on findings, I will tell customer the truth. And if you, as an expert, conclude the drive is no longer safe, then present options and quotes.

Do you pass the cost of "running three to five tools" on to your customer?
My customers would rather have their computer back - with a new, reliable drive - than have to pay for extra time spent on the inevitable!

 

[GTP]

Or you'll have an unhappy customer with a large bill and the original problem unresolved. It'll boot and fail faster, though.

Simply imaging to an SSD won't fix the problem if the data on the "failing" HDD has already become corrupted or the HDD isn't failing at all - that still hasn't been established. We do know there's an unresolved problem with Windows Updates.

You can't be sure that this machine's fixed without wiping and reinstalling on the SSD anyway so that's the only option that you should offer your client. On a three-year-old laptop that's a borderline proposition but it's the the client's call at that point - it's an economic decision, not a technical one.

Sorry, I must have missed the bit about "Windows Updates!" I was thinking the OS was sound, just the drive being "dodgy!"

 

[labtech]

Do you pass the cost of "running three to five tools" on to your customer?

It takes less than a minute at most to run multiple tools for a SMART read. It is part of the diagnosis process in determining what may be possible wrong with a drive (Clients have a really bad habit of lying, so have to rely on information on/about drive.) In most cases, I work with drives damaged way beyond being able to read SMART with the mentioned tools in a Windows/linux/Mac environment (which require for the drive to mount successfully.) In data recovery, mounting a damaged drive on Windows or whatever is a cardinal sin leading to more damage.

Hey, customers vary. Some listen and get new stuff according to recommendation. Some consider it, but eventually change their mind, and some straight up refuse to spend a dime, BUT of course they ALL want their files back. So have to store them on something, whether new or used.

 

[labtech]

Well, I will say one more thing and close on it as we have gone off topic.

I have encountered bottom feeders at the 3 figure level, 4, 5, and 6.

At the end of the day, we all find ourselves in a market to be what would be perceived as a bottom feeder. Fact of the matter is we all dislike feeling like one when faced with an unfavorable deal.

So, my perspective is: while there are many out there who intentionally try to pull one on you, there are some people who simply can't afford the bill, so they just push to try make it work. Easy to judge and argue. Prefer to give people at least one chance in accepting a decent deal that would make them happy, get their data back, educate them and get back in the game. If it does not work out, then that's fine, at least I am at peace I tried.

We need more of this in this overpriced world, rather than showing them the door. The integrity of a deal has become a joke nowadays. I personally can't stand when that happens to me, especially when it is over some bs policy, plain stupidity or straight up greed.

P.S. Your Craiglist statement easily falls under the "This could be the single most alarming statement I've ever seen anyone make here." category.

Back to work...