Error while repairing bad sectors - 08 on WDC WD10EARS-22Y5B1 (WD Caviar Green)

For all of you, if you expirienced problem like my with bad sectors and specific Error 08, notified at extended test with WD Diag tool, then to next, this solved for now my problem, but i’m not sure it will not happen soon…

First of all you need WD diagnostic tool, called " Data Lifeguard Diagnostic" ,  I tried with CD version, IMG was burned ok, at i tried to boot it, but after starting boot screen it notifies “can’t locate license agreement file” bla bla, even that .txt file is located on CD, i tried other media, other dvd rw burners, but again same **bleep**, WD didn’t provide good CD IMG file, and it’s useless on their support-download section

http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=608&sid=2&lang=en

i didn’t have other option, than to use DOS version  -floppy disk version… I found some old floppy disk, put files from archive on floppy from link above, and put to put floppy, with instructions from WD site, from link above, i tried to start it with this instructions

“4. At DOS prompt type DLGDiagv519.exe to run the program.”

typing this it wouldn’t start, WD provided wrong instructions for DOS!

You have to do following:

type dir *exe at dos prompt, with this dos command it will list you all files with .exe extension, and wd dg tool, it’s recognized by dos like “DLGDiag~1.exe” , and you have to type DLGDiag~1.exe at dos prompt A:\DLGDiag~1.exe to start this tool…

I hope they will put this in their instructions, then other customers will not be confused for solution, i solved it by myself…

Next what i tried to solve famous Error 08 after extended test is using function “ZERO FORMATING” - WRITE ZEROS TO DRIVE - The Write Zeros option, wipes all data off your drive. This option used when your data is no longer usable or recoverable. If you no longer need any data from your drive and would like to start over, run this option to set your drive to an as new condition. NOTE: Please make sure that you have selected the correct drive to perform this function on as once ran, no data will be recoverable

from WD DG tool, it will offer you 2 option for ZERO FORMAT - 1st and last million of hdd sectors, or full zero format, choose “full zero format”, it will put zeros on all hdd sectors 1TB = 1953525168 sectors to zero, something like hard reset on ppc devices :slight_smile: , it put device in factory state, like when it was bought…

After finishing zero format of this 1TB hdd - 2-3 hours, dependent of your PC configuration, i started again Extended test, and miracle, this time it didn’t notify ERROR 08 - can’t repair bad sectors, etc.

I’m not sure is this solved my problem for longer time, i wrote to WD support, to confir me this, or to bring this problematic HDD to retail shop where i bought, i wait on their response, even they didn’t response on last question more than  3 days… And didn’t respond on this my last question…

It seems i’m not only with this problem, many people all around are with similary problem with this WD Caviar Green 1TB !!!

http://icrontic.com/discussion/81134/1tb-western-digital-green-hard-drive-failure

http://bolt.cd/board/computer-internet-support/614829-fixing-bad-sectors-hdd-wd-1tb-faster-way-than-chkdsk.html

http://forum.hddguru.com/1tb-green-drive-blank-sectors-t20195.html

http://community.wdc.com/t5/Desktop/WD10EARS-bad-sectors/td-p/190888

http://datacent.com/datarecovery/hdd/western_digital/WD10EARS-00Y5B1

http://www.otest.co.uk/p/western-digital-tests/caviar-green-wd10ears-00y5b1-1-tb-reviews.html

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1679337

http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/137188-hdd-too-many-bad-sectors-what-should-i-do.html

and always bad sector after shorter period of using, even warranty period didn’t pass…