Barracuda XT, Barracuda, Barracuda Green, DiamondMax and other desktop SATA and IDE drives

[BAJRANGBAL]

I bought my ST3500418AS 500 GB  a year ago with my pc. Occasionally i test hard disk using SeaTools for Windows and tested only Short DST and Short Generic till now and get passed. Weekly i run defragmentation, CHKDSK Error checking, TuneUp Defrag, TuneUp Disk Doctor and were clean.

But i am seeing a slow in read and write speed and copypaste, moving speeds are also lagging. Now hearing some printer like noises from it.

Yesterday when i tested Short DST, Long DST, Long Generic, all showed 'FAIL', except Short Generic which showed 'Pass'.They are still showing the same results.

I tried HD Tune, and think some results are bad.

In HD Tune Health Tab, i am getting an yello warning ID titled '(C5) Current Pending Sector' and it says the drive has 1 unstable sector. But after chkdsk error checking am not getting anything.

The File Benchmark results are different in E: and F: compared to the similar speeds of C: and D:.

Does the disk really have any problem?. See the screenshots in detail.

How about upgrading firmware revision to CC46?. But the Serial Number Check Utility says no CC46 upgrade is available for 9VM2C19Y, eventhough ST3500418AS is included in the CC46 compatible Barracuda 7200.12 drives list here -> Barracuda 7200.12 Firmware Update

Why?

Specs:

System:

Intel C2Q Q9550 2.83ghz

2 GB DDR2 RAM

500 GB ST3500418AS CC35 REVISION

Hard Disk:

Serial No. - 9VM2C19Y

Total size - 466 GB

C - 35 GB Free ( 80 GB Total)

D - 51 GB   "     ( 129 GB Total)

E - 63 GB   "               "

F - 63 GB   "               "

Software:

Windows 7 Professional SP1 RTM 32bit

Windows XP Professional SP3 on VMware Workstation 7.1.3

SeaTools for Windows 1.2.0.4

HD Tune Pro 4.60

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Screenshots:

SeaTools:

HD Tune:

[zasy99]

Just out of interest, what does SMART indicate for "Reallocated Sectors Count"?

For more info on your particular SMART error go here and here.

You could try a low-level format to see if it can correct that sector.

The fact that it sounds like a printer isn't good though.  What does the SeaTools warranty check have to say?

Oh yeah, and back up all the data on that drive, please

[BAJRANGBAL]

Reallocated Sector Count:

Warranty:

What about trying SeaTools for DOS?...

And one thing i forgot to say that i am seeing a little fluid like thing occasionally in the screw side of the black outside hard coating of hard disk, which is always in contact with the aluminium cabin case where hard disk is screwed to case. The other screw side of the hard disk is clean.

[zasy99]

Well, that's good (the part about your drive being in warranty).

I would honestly contact Seagate support directly and explain your issues and send them those test results, especially since the drive fails 3 out of 4 tests.

You have no relocated sectors, good, having one pending sector is not the end of the world either.

Of more concern than either of those two above is the strange mechanical noise you hear although having not heard it myself I cannot comment on it.

Try a low level format to see if you can correct that sector then try running the tests again.

Not sure about the liquid you mention.

In parallel I would contact Seagate with your concerns.

Good luck.

[BAJRANGBAL]

Yesterday when i opened SeaTools for Windows, i was surprised to see only one ST3500418AS listed. From the day i bought my pc a year ago, i was seeing two ST3500418AS drives in SeaTools with the same Serial Number till yesterday as seen in the above SeaTools Test Results screenshots i posted.

What happened to the other drive?. Why i was seeing two drives in SeaTools, when i have only a single internal 500GB ST3500418AS?.
Is this a symptom of my hard disk death?.

Screenshots:

[BAJRANGBAL]

I yesterday changed the SATA cables of hard disk with that of DVD drive and DVD drive, with that of hard disk. Again for my surprise, the other missing ST3500418AS reappeared in SeaTools and now like past, there is two ST3500418AS listed in SeaTools!!.

What the crapp?!!.. Do you know why i am seeing two same drives in SeaTools when i have only 1 internal ST3500418AS 500GB hard disk?..

Screenshots:

I am moving to try SeaTools for DOS. Hope all goes well..

[BAJRANGBAL]

HURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!.

GONEEEEE!!.

Ran your SeaTools for DOS. Found 1 error(s) in sector 126.....something in Long Test. Repaired and showed 'Long Test passed after repair'. Also ran Short Test and it also showed passed.

The yellow 'Current Pending Sector' error in HD Tune is now gone and a green 'OK' has taken its place.

Seagate you saved my disk from death, from losing money, time and frustration. I am grateful to you very much to create a wonderful program like SeaTools.

We can find errors by doing a small check on SeaTools for Windows and then choose whether to load SeaTools for DOS CD. Amazing!.

These are the final screenshots:

Thanks zasy99 for your support.

SeaTools Rockss!!...Seagate Rockss!!...

But my one doubt still remains uncleared...Why i am seeing two same drives in SeaTools instead of one?.

[BAJRANGBAL]

Can i now try ST3500418AS CC46 Firmware Upgrade, eventhough my serial number is not accepted in the Serial Number Check Utility. 

My ST3500418AS is in the compatible Barracuda 7200.12 Firmware Upgrade List, but Serial Number Check Utility says 9VM2C19Y has no firmware upgrades.