SMART Hard Drive Error

[codepath]

My second PC is connected to an APC UPS. However, on the first boot up after the power came back on (after losing it because of a thunderstorm) a POST message from the S.M.A.R.T. enabled Western Digital (WD600BB) hard drive says something vague about an emminent failure and that I should back up data immediately.

I have an external USB/Firewire drive that I could back it up too, but I have never connected it to this PC before and I want to shortest solution in order to save that data before it dies completely. Theoretically, I should just be able to plug it into the PC, it'll recognize it and I can start copying data. But, in emergency situations like this, that never happens. Something always fails and you spend hours trying to figure it out while the HD inches closer and closer to death.

How would you handle this?

Should I waste time trying to analyze the problem using some SMART probe software (like WD's Data Lifeguard Tools)?

Would it be better to hook up the ext. HD to another machine and ensure that it is working there and then take the failing internal drive and install it into that PC and back it up?

Either way, I am going to have to replace it because I just can't trust it anymore. Alas, seems like the closer I get to building my new machine, the more frequently and with more severity are the things which eat into my budget.




codepath

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by codepath

Should I waste time trying to analyze the problem using some SMART probe software (like WD's Data Lifeguard Tools)?

I personally have always had good luck with using Western Digital drives. However, you are using a rather old and aging 60GB EIDE hard drive after all. And to be honest, 60GB of storage just doesn't cut it anymore if you enjoy digitial music, movies, games and such. Therefore, I would not be so quick to deem your budget compromised because of a potentially failing hard drive. I would chalk this up as a something that you were going to upgrade/replace anyway (as you should do), perhaps with a larger and faster Western Digital or Seagate SATA model, if your system supports that of course.

To answer your question, I would run the WD Data Lifeguard tool first before doing anything rash. Find out what you can, then go from there. If you need help picking out a replacement hard drive (which would have ultimately gone into the new computer you wanted to build anyway), let us know and we'll help you choose one to fit your budget.

[One4yu2c]

SMART errors can be indicative of looming failure, or cause worry over a hard drive that will continue to operate for years to come. I would err on the side of caution though, particularly since a recent thunderstorm prompted the alert, and get that data backed up ASAP.

I see no reason why you couldn't use the external drive, and for added peace of mind, backup the really important documents and files to a CD or DVD as well. Then go get that WD drive replaced if it's under warranty, and if not, use it as an excuse to upgrade.

[Jokerswild]

I didn't know they could keep going for years with a smart error. I have a old 250 gig HDD I'll have to throw in a computer to see how long it works.

[codepath]

This is just one of many other things that has come up since I decided to build a new machine (car probs, hot water heater, etc).

This drive was in my box (just used to store MP3s) and it worked fine. I put it in my wife's machine (where it is now) just a week or two ago because her original drive failed (started making a tink-tink-tink sound and then died just after completing a backup of her data). That drive didn't have SMART so there was no warning. It just started tinking and I scrambled as fast as I could to get the data off of there before it was too late. And I mean that the second I clicked the confirmation on the 'Backup Complete' dialog, it literally died that second. I do not want to relive that experience.

So, as rescuing that data (again) is paramount, I think that I will put the external drive on my box and ensure that it is working and then move the failing drive to my box and get that data off of there asap. Once I know that it is safe (again), I can worry about just how critical the situation really is (run diags, etc). If that data gets lost, she'll go ballistic. And I am talking orbital tragectory.

I know that I can replace this drive with a bigger one for about $50. So, it's not really the money at this point.

Is it possible that there is something else going on? Maybe something on her mobo is failing that is killing hard drives? I'd go insane if i bought a new drive and put it in there only to have some other gremlin the box kill that one too.


codepath

[codepath]

Also, shouldn't the UPS have protected everything plugged into it. I mean, isn't that it's only reason for being.

Should I file a claim against the APC warranty? Of course, I would have to absolutely prove the UPS failed to protect it no matter how coincidental the timing. that would be difficult to do with an old hard drive.


codepath

[Lead Head]

I wouldn't file a claim, especially since the hard drive is still working. My old laptop has thrown smart errors at me before, and the hard drive still keeps on going.

[Jokerswild]

I only use a surge protected power strip on my pc's and have not lost anything yet because of power outages from thunderstorms. The ups gives you back-up power for saving data or making a safe shutdown and aside from that I don't believe there's much more in the way of protection unless it has AVR capabilities.

[One4yu2c]

Originally Posted by Jokerswild

The ups gives you back-up power for saving data or making a safe shutdown and aside from that I don't believe there's much more in the way of protection unless it has AVR capabilities.

Even basic level UPS backups designed for PCs should have built-in surge protection functionality. Coverage and compensation, however, will vary from brand to brand, as well as the specific model.

[Phosphorous]

Originally Posted by Jokerswild

I didn't know they could keep going for years with a smart error. I have a old 250 gig HDD I'll have to throw in a computer to see how long it works.

Actually, funny thing is I have a WD 160gb drive that is on my old system that is getting the same exact error and has been for about 2 years now.

It's an old @$$ system so I don't want to put any money into it. Good thing I have plenty of IDE drives here at work to steal, I mean aquire, I mean test to make sure another drive fixes the problem.