Well, to make an LonG story short… The drive is only several weeks new and i already spotted Pending Sectors through hdd software (hdtune)… Sure enought chkdsk TOOK an LOOONG very LOONG time to analyse the drive but it finished the task on all partitions !! But…at first the vallue of pending sectors started at 3 …after chkdsk → 2 … so it dropped… and iam not sure what that means exactly!! I have DL DLG tool to test the drive and sure enough… quick Test failed… extended test DID NOT…at FIRST !! The extended test did somewhat completed (took several hours) but whit the warning FAIL → 08-error … probebly the kind of error you see when it fails to repair the drive !! Hence the pending sectors…right? Yet despite all that, the drive STATUS is CHECKED GREEN A OK through DLG tool !! Again, what does that exactly mean ? Still usable or not ? I ask because … the drive is not used for boot system … but only for storage… And i still have an old drive with the very same symptons that is working for years without any problems still now …!! Iam planning to do an ZERO-WRITE fill of the entire drive in the hopes to re-allocate those bad clusters/sectors … That said, if the drive still doesn’t pass the short test ! Does that mean i need to replace it regardless of the overal status ? So what are my other options here if that does not help getting me through the DLG TESTS !.. iam from europe region… Have bhought the drive online, so if i have to replace it … i might very well work via WD hq to rma the thing i presume. thanks in advance, cheers,
Hi yes you can do the RMA with WD also a advanced RMA is avalible. http://support.wdc.com/warranty/index_end.asp?lang=en you can check the Warranty status and start the RMA from there. If it was my new drive I would not attempt to repair it or fix it just RMA it.
An update to my previous inquiry…
Well, i zerowrote the dirve through dlg…
after an couple hours i get the message zero write fail continue or cancel request !
So, after repeatedly getting those messages i cancelled… but now comes the weird part!!
Though it seems that dlg didn’t finish the lowlevel format everything turns up just ok sudden !
The Short and Extended smart test pointed out that everything about the drive is just a OK now !!
Now, to be sure i did do another format but this time an Enhanced secure erase by using an 3rd party linux utility and partionated afterwards…
Then, i re checked and tested the smart status from the drive … and again, the dlg gives the drive an clean bill of health !!
Now, i tend to give it another try for the last time and keep the hdd for now…
Fortunately i did not had much data stored on that faulty drive to take an backup from !!!
But with the first signs of trouble, i will RMA emediatly !!!
Iam shocked an appaled that this drive fails so soon!!!
Not only because it fails whitin the first few weeks since i got it !!!
But also, because this is my first WD in awhile ive purchased and bam… its bullseye !!
cheers,
Update to what i have experienced earlier with this drive !!
As of late … a few months later since i bhought this drive new, according to hdtune the drive has NOW 10 pending sectors and the drive stopped the Surface SCAN at 1,1% bad blocks !!!
when the drive only warned me about 7 pending sectors i did an extended & short diagnostic test using WDtool and the utillity claimed that there’s nothinug wrong with the drive = PASSED TESTS !!!
Now… besided the smart status warning the drive partitions are sometimes not accesable through explorer resulting in computer halt/freez for an long time … !!!
Is this my cue to RMA the drive … !! … is it possible to try and use the format tool to do several passes (/p:3 ?) and try to realocate those bad blocks???
cheers,
I strongly suggest that you copy any data from the drive that is important and start the RMA procedure. I would not trust this unit any longer than absolutely necessary, if at all.
Hi as I told you in your first post you do not try and fix a new hard drive as it may show clear for a bit but the troubles will start again. Use the links I gave you and please RMA the drive.
Yes well… iam currently doing an chkdsk on it just to be sure i BACKUP good data as much as possible !!
I hesitated to RMA… because although hdtune reports many warnings and counting WDlife tools alway’s claim that everything about the drive is just “Fine” !!!
That said, WILL WD HQ take this faulty drive back solely based on the many warnings hdtune reports !!!??
Also, its my first time i rma an component to an company !!
How’s the procedure to rma something ?
To where do i send this faulty HDD ? Or will WD send me an box in which i have to return the hdd ?
And to add insult to injury, i JUST HOPE i have ENOUGH SPARE DISK SPACE somewhere else (laptop/internals) to backup an HALF Terrabyte by now i!!!
EDIT: Appearantly i have to print an label and send it back to them in a WD approved Box … or i’ll risk voiding my waranty !!!
IAM NOT HAPPY with this !!!
First WD in awhile … and now this -_- !!!
cheers,
Hi yes the box thing I have learned if I buy something in a box I throw throw the box in the closet and keep it just in case. WD is not really firm on there shipping requirement put the drive in a antistatic bag wrap 2 inch foam around it and any smaller box will do. Now if you are worried about what hd tune reports and I am not to fond of hd tune, try a trial copy of Hard Disk Sentinel it does a good job and will give you a report on the drive in about a min if it finds anything also in hard disk sentinel check the smart data tab see if there are any problems the line would have a flag by it a yellow one. Also on the Over view tab it should say Estimated Remaining lifetime over 1000 days
err… well iam baffled Hammey !!
I have backed up the drive and did an FULL CLEAN sweep through Diskpart windows 7 util (CLEAN ALL cmd line)…
And the DRIVE seems to BE JUST OK → GREEN OK according to HDTUNE … NO MORE BAD BLOCKS found either now !!!
Now, my question is WILL WD HQ still replace this drive if i return it in this good condition ? I mean, is it possible that the drive had some “soft bad sectors” meaning, not hardware related kind of issue and there for possible will not fall under waranty !!!??
sigh!!! This is ackward… I wos convinced due to those many BAD BLOCKS (surface scan) that the drive physical (beyond repair) wos damaged !!
What NOW !!
EDIT: Forgot to mention… just have downloaded an free/trial copy of HD sentinel and the app also reports an CLEAN BILL of HEALTH now after the CLEAN sweep through Diskpart !!!
Healt condition = 100%
Performance = 100%
LIfe time = more than 1000 DAY’s !!!
so AGAIN, WHAT NOW … rma or NOT !!! Or in my case … CANCEL RMA !!!
In that regard, if i cancel an RMA can i re apply for an RMA again in the future ?
sigh !!
EDIT 2 :
So yes, just have format & repartioned the disk through win7 disk management …
And the status is unchanged and the drive seems to be in perfect condition now according to both hd sentinel and hdtune !!
But for how long !!!
Here u are, allow me to show u the logs from both hdtune and hdsentinal for comparisons !!
Hdtune log:
3,Spin Up Time,63,177,171,OK,000000004A3A,0,Enabled
4,Start/Stop Count,0,251,251,OK (Always passing),000000001269,0,Enabled
5,Reallocated Sectors Count,63,253,253,OK,000000000001,0,Enabled
6,Read Channel Margin,100,253,253,OK,000000000000,0,Enabled
7,Seek Error Rate,0,253,252,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
8,Seek Time Performance,187,251,235,OK,000000009776,0,Enabled
9,Power On Time Count,0,117,117,OK (Always passing),00000000676B,0,Enabled
10,Spin Retry Count,157,253,252,OK,000000000000,0,Enabled
11,Drive Calibration Retry Count,223,253,252,OK,000000000000,0,Enabled
12,Drive Power Cycle Count,0,244,244,OK (Always passing),000000000F19,0,Enabled
192,Power off Retract Cycle Count,0,253,253,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
193,Load/Unload Cycle Count,0,253,253,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
194,Disk Temperature,0,47,253,OK (Always passing),000000000024,0,Enabled
195,Hardware ECC Recovered,0,253,220,OK (Always passing),000000002BF7,0,Enabled
196,Reallocation Event Count,0,253,253,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
197,Current Pending Sector Count,0,253,253,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
198,Off-Line Uncorrectable Sector Count,0,253,253,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
199,Ultra ATA CRC Error Count,0,157,1,OK (Always passing),0000000000E9,0,Enabled
200,Write Error Rate,0,253,252,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
201,Soft Read Error Rate,0,253,252,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
202,Data Address Mark Errors,0,253,251,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
203,Run Out Cancel,180,253,252,OK,000000000000,0,Enabled
204,Soft ECC Correction,0,253,252,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
205,Thermal Asperity Rate,0,253,252,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
207,Spin High Current,0,253,252,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
208,Spin Buzz,0,253,252,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
209,Offline Seek Performance,0,234,234,OK (Always passing),0000000000E6,0,Enabled
210,Vendor-specific,0,253,252,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
211,Vibration During Write,0,253,252,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
212,Shock During Write,0,253,252,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
And HD sentinal log:
1,Raw Read Error Rate,51,200,194,OK,0000000001B5,0,Enabled
3,Spin Up Time,21,180,175,OK,0000000007A6,0,Enabled
4,Start/Stop Count,0,100,100,OK (Always passing),0000000003B1,0,Enabled
5,Reallocated Sectors Count,140,200,200,OK,000000000000,0,Enabled
7,Seek Error Rate,0,200,200,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
9,Power On Time Count,0,100,100,OK (Always passing),0000000000ED,0,Enabled
10,Spin Retry Count,0,100,100,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
11,Drive Calibration Retry Count,0,100,100,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
12,Drive Power Cycle Count,0,100,100,OK (Always passing),000000000063,0,Enabled
191,G-Sense Error Rate,0,88,88,OK (Always passing),00000000000C,0,Enabled
192,Power off Retract Cycle Count,0,200,200,OK (Always passing),00000000002B,0,Enabled
193,Load/Unload Cycle Count,0,200,200,OK (Always passing),0000000004AF,0,Enabled
194,Disk Temperature,0,117,105,OK (Always passing),00000000001E,0,Enabled
196,Reallocation Event Count,0,200,200,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
197,Current Pending Sector Count,0,200,200,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
198,Off-Line Uncorrectable Sector Count,0,100,253,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
199,Ultra ATA CRC Error Count,0,200,200,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
200,Write Error Rate,0,100,253,OK (Always passing),000000000000,0,Enabled
So again, Still fit for RMA or shall i Cancel this Ordeal !!!
sigh !!
The drive can be replaced since it has been showing errors on multiple applications.
Follow the RMA process provided on the following link:
How to get an RMA, (Return Merchandise Authorization) or replace a defective product under warranty
Hi do as John012 said I missed his reply but no need to take a chance on the drive.
Personally I’d make sure some reallocated sectors were present on the drive before RMAing it…
The way it works is that if reading data from a sector fails it marks it as pending. The next time you write data to that sector it writes and then checks it, if it can’t be read back again it’s marked as a reallocated sector and swapped out with a spare one. If it can be read back the pending count is decremented and it keeps using that sector. Writing zeroes to the drive is not a fix for pending sectors, yes, it might make the pending count go away but the next time you actually try to use the sector you will corrupt the data and get a pending count again. If you’ve got pending sectors what you’re best to do is delete the data and fill the drive up with data again, or write a random pattern to the drive. Then if the pending sectors go away, fine, but if they turn into reallocated sectors it’s RMA time.
As far as I know WD don’t replace drives based on pending sectors, but 1 reallocated sector is enough for an RMA.
Zatick,
What u type makes sense…
Only…you say writing zero’s to the drive doesnt fix pending sectors ??? Now, i thought i have done that by using disk part “Clean All” = Secure erase cmd line !!?
According to the www it fills the entire HDD with 100111 (data?) to wipe everything !!
And sure enough, i have no more pending sectors, realocated sectors (data ?) … SO FAR (holding fingers acrossed)
thanks to that method i have used through diskpart section in windoz…
Very good to KNOW that WD replaces the hdd ONLY when there are realocated sectors… and by realocated do u mean i have to check for the DATA count in the smart status ?
Also, do other companies (brands) have the same return policy ?
Again, thanks for the helpfull tips every one.
cheers,
When I said writing zeroes doesn’t fix pending sectors, what I meanis that if there are actually bad sectors and they are showing as pending sectors, if you write zeroes the pending count might go to 0. But as soon as you try and use the sector again it will go back to pending, it is not fixed, just hidden. If the sectors are not actually bad, writing zeroes will clear the pending count, but that’s kind of pointless because there is not really any harm having good sectors showing as pending, which is why I disagree with everyone saying to write zeroes to the drive. Writing a random pattern to the drive is better, because if the sectors are bad it will cause them to become reallocated, and it they are actually good it will cause them to be cleared.
I didn’t say WD ONLY replaced a drive when there are reallocated sectors 
My understanding is that is a WD DLG long test fails the drive will be RMA’d, no questions. WD will also replace a drive if it has one or more reallocated sectors, you can email their support people and they will confirm that. One reallocated sector will not make a WD DLG scan fail, so reallocated sectors are an exception to the rule and I know of no such exception for pending sectors. And like I’ve tried to explain, sometimes if there are pending sector counts the drive is perfectly fine, which is why it is risky trying to RMA a drive iwth pending counts, and why I think you should push them over to reallocated sectors first
Yes, u actualy didn’t say that WD ONLY replace the drives based on realocated sectors.
I meant to say that i understand that it is one of the conditions to replace an hdd.
About the wipe/erase methods u mentioned…
I think i understand where u going at…
If i understand u correct, the smart status hides / mask the true condition of the drive when using an wipe/erase method in which the drive is filled with only Zeros … right!
But when using an method by which u write an pattern to an drive, the smart status woud be more consistent afterwards … right?
Iam not entirely sure, but haven’t i zerod my drive and wrote some patterns allong the way using diskpart clean all method ?
I have read that , diskpart uses Enhanced Secure erase method which means that the drive write zeros and data in the process !!?
but beside all that, zatick…
I have checked the smart status on 1 or more occasions since i have cleaned the drive for the last time .
And the smart status seems to stay spotless, also i did an Torough Surface scan (not the quick route) and every block checked GREEN OK now
Before, i had 1 RED BAD block and the drive/ system even froze on JUST THAT 1 bad block 
I wos baffled about that, because i have seen drives pass the scan tests with much MUCH more BAD BLOCKS…
BUT then AGAIN, i took the Torough surface scan and not the quick route.
The Quick surface scan showed NO BAD blocks back then …
The drive + operating system only acted up when i did an Torough scan !!!
Yes, the operating system that resides on an entire different internal drive did froze too lol !!!
thanks=kuddos for the peptalk
cheers,
It’s not really that it masks problems on the drive, it’s that when you write zeroes the zeroes seem to be able to be read back okay even if the sector corrupts data. Basically the first time the drive can’t read a sector it marks it pending, the next time it marks it reallocated. So you need to put data in the sector twice in a fow (and zeroes count as data) that presents the error.
The thing with locking up the system is normal. Each sector has ECC (error correction codes), which can detect and correct corruption in the data. So if the data is corrupt, the drive can use the ECC to figure out the original data unless it’s too corrupt, now, when a sector is pending a desktop drive will spend up to 3 minutes trying to read the data, so it reads it over and over again trying to get a good read, and if that fails it goes to reallocated.
Anyway, good it’s sorted
