Windows detected a hard disk problem

[kristell]

I have had this error come up.  i have run chkdsk and restarted computer but it has come up again.  I am on Windows 10.  Can somebody help me to see if there really is a problem and anything I can do before my computer dies??

Really appreciate any help that you can give.  

 

 

Edited May 22, 2016 by kristell

[garioch7]

I am guessing that you have a Seagate hard drive.  "chkdsk" checks and repairs error in the logical file system, but does not do any hardware checking, per se.

If I were you, I would download Seatools for Windows from here.  I note that it does not say that Windows 10 is a supported operating system, so I don't know if it will run, but you could give it a try.

If Seatools won't run, you can obtain a copy of HD Tune from here.  There is a free version, and also a paid version (HD Tune Pro), for which you can have a 15-day trial.  I have HD Tune Pro on both of my Windows 10 computers and it works just fine, even though it doesn't list itself as supporting Windows 10.

Before running any programs, I would make sure that I have backed up all of my programs and data.  Pray that the hard drive won't fail during that process.  They can "go south" very quickly.

Regardless of which tool you run, please run the "Extended" or "Deep" scan, to have the utility thoroughly check the health of your hard drive.

Hope this helps.  Have a great day.

Regards,
-Phil

[kristell]

The seagate is my external hard drive which I use for most of my files in case my pc goes splat!!  I didn't ask chkdsk to check the seagate, just the C drive.  Should I still run the programmes you have suggested?

 

[Aura]

I would run GSmartControl on your both your drives, and post the results here, since one of them is probably failing.

GSmartControl

Follow the instructions below to test your hard drive health with GSmartControl:

• Download GSmartControl and save it on your Desktop;

• Extract the content of the GSmartControl .zip archive and execute gsmartcontrol.exe;

• Identify your drive in the list, and double-click on it to bring up it's window (usually you'll find your drive by it's size or it's brand name);

• Go in the Perform Tests tab, then select Extended Self-test in the Test type drop-down list and click on Execute (this test can take a few hours to complete);

• Once the test is over, the results will be displayed at the bottom of the window. Please copy and paste these results in your next reply;

• Also, go in the Attributes tab and if you have any entries highlighted in red or pink, copy and paste their name in your next reply (or take a screenshot of the GSmartControl window and attach it in your next reply);

  

[kristell]

I did as you said, and this is what happened - it said it would take 3.5 hours but it came back with the response straight away.

Only the one drive showed up in the first menu ST31000520AS

Output:

smartctl 5.43 2012-06-30 r3573 [i686-w64-mingw32-win8] (sf-5.43-1)
Copyright (C) 2002-12 by Bruce Allen, http://smartmontools.sourceforge.net

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family:     Seagate Barracuda LP
Device Model:     ST31000520AS
Serial Number:    5VX0ADWT
LU WWN Device Id: 5 000c50 01bc40767
Firmware Version: CC32
User Capacity:    1,000,204,886,016 bytes [1.00 TB]
Sector Size:      512 bytes logical/physical
Device is:        In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is:   8
ATA Standard is:  ATA-8-ACS revision 4
Local Time is:    Mon May 23 08:48:00 2016 GMTDT
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
                  Enabled status cached by OS, trying SMART RETURN STATUS cmd.
SMART support is: Enabled

=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: FAILED!
Drive failure expected in less than 24 hours. SAVE ALL DATA.
See vendor-specific Attribute list for failed Attributes.

General SMART Values:
Offline data collection status:  (0x00)    Offline data collection activity
                    was never started.
                    Auto Offline Data Collection: Disabled.
Self-test execution status:      (  73)    The previous self-test completed having
                    a test element that failed and the test
                    element that failed is not known.
Total time to complete Offline 
data collection:         (  623) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities:              (0x73) SMART execute Offline immediate.
                    Auto Offline data collection on/off support.
                    Suspend Offline collection upon new
                    command.
                    No Offline surface scan supported.
                    Self-test supported.
                    Conveyance Self-test supported.
                    Selective Self-test supported.
SMART capabilities:            (0x0003)    Saves SMART data before entering
                    power-saving mode.
                    Supports SMART auto save timer.
Error logging capability:        (0x01)    Error logging supported.
                    General Purpose Logging supported.
Short self-test routine 
recommended polling time:      (   1) minutes.
Extended self-test routine
recommended polling time:      ( 215) minutes.
Conveyance self-test routine
recommended polling time:      (   2) minutes.
SCT capabilities:            (0x103f)    SCT Status supported.
                    SCT Error Recovery Control supported.
                    SCT Feature Control supported.
                    SCT Data Table supported.

SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 10
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME          FLAG     VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE      UPDATED  WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
  1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate     0x000f   118   098   006    Pre-fail  Always       -       177094395
  3 Spin_Up_Time            0x0003   095   095   000    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  4 Start_Stop_Count        0x0032   095   095   020    Old_age   Always       -       5304
  5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct   0x0033   018   018   036    Pre-fail  Always   FAILING_NOW 3397
  7 Seek_Error_Rate         0x000f   089   060   030    Pre-fail  Always       -       823278573
  9 Power_On_Hours          0x0032   075   075   000    Old_age   Always       -       21947
 10 Spin_Retry_Count        0x0013   100   100   097    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
 12 Power_Cycle_Count       0x0032   098   098   020    Old_age   Always       -       2643
183 Runtime_Bad_Block       0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
184 End-to-End_Error        0x0032   100   100   099    Old_age   Always       -       0
187 Reported_Uncorrect      0x0032   099   099   000    Old_age   Always       -       1
188 Command_Timeout         0x0032   100   099   000    Old_age   Always       -       8590065667
189 High_Fly_Writes         0x003a   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
190 Airflow_Temperature_Cel 0x0022   075   051   045    Old_age   Always       -       25 (Min/Max 22/25)
194 Temperature_Celsius     0x0022   025   049   000    Old_age   Always       -       25 (0 7 0 0 0)
195 Hardware_ECC_Recovered  0x001a   044   024   000    Old_age   Always       -       177094395
197 Current_Pending_Sector  0x0012   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
198 Offline_Uncorrectable   0x0010   100   100   000    Old_age   Offline      -       0
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count    0x003e   200   200   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
240 Head_Flying_Hours       0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       80466212320024
241 Total_LBAs_Written      0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       3151486173
242 Total_LBAs_Read         0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       2993003878

Read SMART Log Directory failed.

Error SMART Error Log Read failed: Input/output error
Smartctl: SMART Error Log Read Failed
Error SMART Error Self-Test Log Read failed: Input/output error
Smartctl: SMART Self Test Log Read Failed
Error SMART Read Selective Self-Test Log failed: Input/output error
Smartctl: SMART Selective Self Test Log Read Failed

 

 

 

 

 

[kristell]

Just a little update - I have disconnect my external Seagate drive and rebooted the computer - and am still getting the same message.  I was hoping it was just the Seagate that had an issue as I can move everything from there to another drive, but if it is the main computer then I really have problems.  I went in to the gsmart control again to see if I can scan my c and other drives but they are not appearing in the menu.It says No drive selected  When clicking on add device, I am not sure which names to put in - is it just C:?? etc.,  Sorry to be so dim.... hope you are able to help.

[Aura]

There's a difference between hard disk, and a drive/partition. If all your drives are part of the same hard disk, it means that they are all subject to failure,since they are part of the same hardware component. Sorry to tell you this, but your Seagate Barracuda LP hard drive needs to be changed as soon as possible. Which means that you have to back up all your data somewhere else, and buy a new one.

[kristell]

Thank you for your response, I appreciate your help.  My seagate drive is an external usb drive.  I will get a new one.  However, even though I have disconnected it I am still getting the error come up on my computer -does it mean that is going to die soon too?

[David H. Lipman]

Your initial, starting post, indicated an error noted with a Seagate ST310005 20AS represented by volumes "C: and D:".

Therefore you should test the internal and external drives.

 

[Aura]

Are you able to connect your external hard drive again, then go in the Disk Management and take a screenshot of the window for me so I can see how your disks/partitions are setup?

Disk Management Utility

Follow the instructions below to open the Disk Management Utility:

 

• For Windows 7, click on the Windows Start Menu, right-click on Computer and select Manage (requires Admin Rights). From there, click on Disk Management in the left pane;

   

• For Windows 8, bring the cursor in the bottom left-corner of the screen and wait for the metro preview to open, then right-click on it and select Disk Management;

   

• For Windows 8,1 bring the cursor on the Windows logo, right-click on it and select Disk Management;

   

• Open the window to its full size, then take a screenshot of it and attach it to your next reply;

   

How to take a screenshot using the Snipping Tool

Follow the instructions below to take a screenshot using Windows' Snipping Tool:

• Press on the Win Key + R to open the Run box;

• Enter SnippingTool and press on Enter;

• The Snipping Tool will open, asking you to choose the area to take in the screenshot;

• Left click on the area where you want to start the screenshot, keep it, and drag the cursor across the screen;

• Once done, release the left button to take the screenshot;

• In the editing window, click on the File menu then Save As;

• Save the screenshot in a folder that you can access easily;

• Upload your screenshot on Imgur.com, and post the URL for it here;

Edited May 23, 2016 by Aura

[kristell]

Thank you - here is the link: http://imgur.com/sNUdOIa

[Aura]

Do you know what brand/model is your internal hard drive (main HDD, where your Windows is installed)? Also, is your G: partition on a second internal HDD?

[kristell]

It is a Medion pc  - yes the G drive is another external one - nearly ran out of space so bought the seagate.  How do I find out what model the internal hard drive is?

 

[Aura]

Remove your external hard drive, and download the portable version of Speccy.

https://www.piriform.com/speccy/builds

From there, create a system snapshot and share the URL here.

Speccy - Publish a snapshot

Follow the instructions below to download and install Speccy, then to publish a snapshot of your system information:

• Download and install Speccy from Piriform (the download will start automatically a few seconds after clicking on the Speccy link);

  Note: You can opt-out the Google Toolbar installation if you want;

• Once Speccy is installed, launch the program and give it a good minute to load all your system information;

• After that, click on the File menu in the top left corner, and select Publish Snapshot;

• A window will appear asking you to confirm your decision to publish a snapshot. Click on Yes;

• A new window will appear after, with a URL link to your snapshot. Click on Copy to Clipboard button to copy that URL to  your clipboard, then paste it in your next reply and post it;

[kristell]

Thank you again - here's the link http://speccy.piriform.com/results/UdhkVzX2Wc6pTpR3wkefUmk

[Aura]

Sorry to tell you this, but it seems that the hard drive shown in GSmartControl as the failing one is actually your internal hard drive (look at the model number). Therefore, what I said above still applies: this HDD cannot be trusted anymore to hold data, so you should back up everything you can as soon as possible on one of your external HDDs, buy a new one, and replace it.

[kristell]

Buy a new computer as well as the seagate?  

[Aura]

No no, you don't need to buy a new computer. All you need to buy is a new internal hard disk drive (HDD), and replace your old one with it. You'll have to reinstall Windows on it though.

[kristell]

So will I lose all of my programmes as well as the data?  

 

[Aura]

You'll have to reinstall all your programs, yes. As for the data, you can back up all your files on one of your external HDD, like documents, movies, music, pictures, etc.

[kristell]

ok - thank you - so the Seagate is actually ok then?

 

[Aura]

Your external hard drive is, yes. Your internal hard drive (which is also a Seagate) isn't.

[kristell]

OK - that's made it quite clear then - really appreciate your help.  Many thanks.

[Aura]

No problem kristell, you're welcome  

[David H. Lipman]

39 minutes ago, Aura said:

You'll have to reinstall all your programs, yes. As for the data, you can back up all your files on one of your external HDD, like documents, movies, music, pictures, etc.

Not necessarily.  He may be able to clone the bad HD to a new HD using Acronis or other imaging software.