Hard drive failure imminent

[Michael McNamara]

I powered on my Windows Vista desktop this morning only to see Windows running a check disk against my second drive (D:) a 3.5" Western Digital 250GB SATA drive. It reported multiple bad sectors and promptly deleted a few files that were occupying the bad sectors. Thankfully this drive doesn't hold the operating system, Windows Vista, but it does hold a large number of application installations and data files.

I'm guessing that I'm like 99% of everyone out there that doesn't really perform the needed backups. I do thankfully have a process setup to mirror (robocopy) the family videos and photos to another computer in the house. I need to search out a decent sized SATA hard drive to replace the dying drive, however, in the interim I did pickup a Western Digital Passport 320GB USB drive today from BestBuy to backup the drive just in case it dies tomorrow.

It was also a great excuse to upgrade the home network from 10/100Mbps to 10/100/1000Mbps with a Netgear GS608 switch. Hopefully the file copies between the different computers within the house will go much faster after the upgrade.

Cheer!

[Michael McNamara]

I hooked up the Western Digital 320GB Passport this morning and started copying my personal DVD library (105GB). I wasn't too excited when Windows Vista shot back that it would take approximately 8 hours for the copy to complete.  I know there is an option to "optimize performance" but I don't feel like restarting my desktop right now.

[Michael McNamara]

Well it didn't really take 8 hours to backup the disk... the disk had so many bad blocks that it was really slowing down the process but it finished in probably around 3 1/2 hours. The disk really is getting worse though so I'll definitely need to replace the drive as soon as possible.

Thankfully a 1TB Western Digital is shipping from NewEgg today and should be here tomorrow.

[peterjamesdonnelly]

Stick your failing hard disk in a plastic bag (good and heavy and waterproof) along with some silica gel to keep it all dry.  freeze that sucker for day or two and whip it out and copy immediately.  It's got me out of a few holes.  crazy but true.  Can't say for definite in your case but it might just buy you time.

[Michael McNamara]

Thanks for the tip Peter...

I managed to get all the data off the drive before I replaced it. It's amazing how much space home movies of the kids takes up these days!

[stauftm]

I've heard great things about SpinRite, creator Steve Gibson. It comes at a cost, but again I've heard great things. I listen to Steve Gibson's 'Security Now' podcasts, probably one of the more honest people in the industry.

[Michael McNamara]

I can remember browsing GRC way back in the days.

Steve definitely knows his stuff.

Cheers!

[rjenk]

I have to agree on the "freeze the drive" suggestion.  I have had several (mainly WD) drives that had failures that were related to a controller chip on the drive electronics slowly dying.  The chip would be extremely hot to the touch.  I have put the drive upside down, placed an anti-static bag over the electronics and then put an ice pack over the failing component letting the ice cool it through the bag (keeping any condensation from the ice pack away from the components).  Worked well enough for me to get the data off the drives. 

In the cases with the WD drives, the platters/heads are fine, it is just the external circuit board (I had been a big fan of WD but have noticed some problems lately - probably best for another discussion).  If you can match the board revision, date, and ROM version, you can replace the board and have a fully functioning drive again.  I have found replacement boards online and on ebay.  I had to do that in one instance in order to get data off of a drive for a physician.  The board was almost as much as a new drive but it allowed for the data recovery.

Take care.