HDD failing

[testcy]

I have an external HDD that started making clicking sounds recently, sometimes pausing for several seconds when accessing or copying files, but giving no errors. Diagnostic software find no problems or bad sectors and SMART values are normal. I am sure that HDD is failing, but is there a way to confirm this?

[Tan3l6]

I'd back up the data before any other symptoms arrive.

[leclod]

I've had problems with an HDD because of insufficient power, maybe your external case/power supply is faulty.

Also I'd try to connect the HDD directly to a desktop and use Crystal Disk Info or HD Sentinel.

[podkall]

2 minutes ago, leclod said:

I've had problems with an HDD because of insufficient power, maybe your external case/power supply is faulty.

Also I'd try to connect the HDD directly to a desktop and use Crystal Disk Info or HD Sentinel.

CrystaldiskInfo can read external disks too

[leclod]

4 minutes ago, podkall said:

CrystaldiskInfo can read external disks too

Ok, I thought this might be the case.

But connecting the HDD directly to a desktop might show if the "bad" behaviour is due to the HDD or to the External enclosure

Edited July 8, 2024 by leclod

[testcy]

30 minutes ago, Tan3l6 said:

I'd back up the data before any other symptoms arrive.

I already did that.

21 minutes ago, leclod said:

Ok, I thought this might be the case.

But connecting the HDD directly to a desktop might also show if the "bad" behaviour is due to the HDD or to the External enclosure

I am not sure if inside this external HDD there is a SATA that can be connected directly to a motherboard.

[Tan3l6]

7 minutes ago, testcy said:

I am not sure if this external HDD contains a SATA that can be connected directly to a motherboard.

There should be. Very-very certainly.

[OddOod]

8 minutes ago, testcy said:

I already did that.

Good

8 minutes ago, testcy said:

inside this external HDD there is a SATA

Almost certainly. What make and model?

[testcy]

3 minutes ago, Tan3l6 said:

There should be. Very-very certainly.

I was previously advised not to be so certain.

3 minutes ago, OddOod said:

Good

Almost certainly. What make and model?

Toshiba HDTC610EK3B1.

[Mumintroll]

The clicking sound of death is usually caused when the read/write head moves to the center of the disc and touch the pillar. That's where the spare sectors are, which data is moved to from a suspicious bad sector if it managed to read the data on the bad sector. In the SMART table look at the reallocated sector count, if you have alot there then that's what is causing the clicking noise. Whenever the harddrive needs to read anything that is reallocated there it'll move its head and tap that pillar in the center.

 

Make backups as soon as possible.

Even if you don't have any reallocated sectors, that noise could still be a mechanical failure coming soon.

[OddOod]

37 minutes ago, testcy said:

I was previously advised not to be so certain.

Toshiba HDTC610EK3B1.

Yeah, that's a SATA drive inside.

[testcy]

1 hour ago, Mumintroll said:

The clicking sound of death is usually caused when the read/write head moves to the center of the disc and touch the pillar. That's where the spare sectors are, which data is moved to from a suspicious bad sector if it managed to read the data on the bad sector. In the SMART table look at the reallocated sector count, if you have alot there then that's what is causing the clicking noise. Whenever the harddrive needs to read anything that is reallocated there it'll move its head and tap that pillar in the center.

 

Make backups as soon as possible.

Even if you don't have any reallocated sectors, that noise could still be a mechanical failure coming soon.

What is a lot?

56 minutes ago, OddOod said:

Yeah, that's a SATA drive inside.

Which SATA is inside the external HDD and how do I access it?

[kokosnh]

Can you post a screen from smart table in crystaldiskinfo of that HDD 

[Ryker Robb]

2 hours ago, Tan3l6 said:

There should be. Very-very certainly.

 

2 hours ago, OddOod said:

Good

Almost certainly. What make and model?

Most newer 2.5 inch external drives are actually using usb now, so this isn't always the case anymore.

2 hours ago, testcy said:

I was previously advised not to be so certain.

You are correct.

 

[Ryker Robb]

1 hour ago, Mumintroll said:

The clicking sound of death is usually caused when the read/write head moves to the center of the disc and touch the pillar. That's where the spare sectors are, which data is moved to from a suspicious bad sector if it managed to read the data on the bad sector. In the SMART table look at the reallocated sector count, if you have alot there then that's what is causing the clicking noise. Whenever the harddrive needs to read anything that is reallocated there it'll move its head and tap that pillar in the center.

 

Make backups as soon as possible.

Even if you don't have any reallocated sectors, that noise could still be a mechanical failure coming soon.

Pillar? I don't think there's anything called a pillar that the heads would be "tapping", but otherwise, you're correct. Some HDDs are very quiet when reallocating sectors though, so this isn't always the case.

[Ryker Robb]

50 minutes ago, testcy said:

Which SATA is inside the external HDD and how do I access it?

You'll have to disassemble the outer casing to get to the drive inside, and plug it in to you motherboard like any other sata drive

[Ryker Robb]

3 hours ago, testcy said:

I have an external HDD that started making clicking sounds recently, sometimes pausing for several seconds when accessing or copying files, but giving no errors. Diagnostic software find no problems or bad sectors and SMART values are normal. I am sure that HDD is failing, but is there a way to confirm this?

There's this program called victoria that i really like, you can use it to do a full surface scan, and see if there are any slow sectors on the drive as well. Hdd clicking isn't always bad though, sometimes it's normal operation.

[Mumintroll]

15 minutes ago, Ryker Robb said:

Pillar? I don't think there's anything called a pillar that the heads would be "tapping", but otherwise, you're correct. Some HDDs are very quiet when reallocating sectors though, so this isn't always the case.

It's hard to describe, but the discs has a hole in the middle, and through it is a pillar that spins which makes the discs spin. Spindle pillar? Spinning motor?

 

Here's a video of it.

 

The heads move back and forth. The spare sectors are close to the center and when it read those it comes into contact with the spindle motor, tap tap tap tap.

[Ryker Robb]

1 minute ago, Mumintroll said:

It's hard to describe, but the discs has a hole in the middle, and through it is a pillar that spins which makes the discs spin. Spindle pillar? Spinning motor?

 

Here's a video of it.

 

 

You mean the spindle? Ok, that makes more sense. There will be a bumper of some kind that will physically prevent the heads from hitting it though.

[leclod]

8 hours ago, Ryker Robb said:

You mean the spindle? Ok, that makes more sense. There will be a bumper of some kind that will physically prevent the heads from hitting it though.

Thought so too, can't have those precious R/W heads hitting anything.

[OddOod]

15 hours ago, Ryker Robb said:

Most newer 2.5 inch external drives are actually using usb now, so this isn't always the case anymore.

I don't understand. Like, they designed and fabbed special boards that have all the USB logic and stuff built into the HDD itself? Instead of just using a standard SATA to USB board that slots into a standard commodity harddrive? 
I'd love to read up on this more, can you point me towards resources?

[testcy]

3 hours ago, OddOod said:

I don't understand. Like, they designed and fabbed special boards that have all the USB logic and stuff built into the HDD itself? Instead of just using a standard SATA to USB board that slots into a standard commodity harddrive? 
I'd love to read up on this more, can you point me towards resources?

Yes, you can see this in YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UTowCeFLyw). So, unless anyone knows for a fact, that it is not the case for the model I have, I don't think it's a good idea to attempt opening (and breaking) it.

[OddOod]

1 hour ago, testcy said:

Yes, you can see this in YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UTowCeFLyw). So, unless anyone knows for a fact, that it is not the case for the model I have, I don't think it's a good idea to attempt opening (and breaking) it.

That is *fascinating*
Thank you
I'd love to get my hands on one and actually take it apart. Like, that controller board looks odd and I'm wondering if there is any way to convert them. 

[Ryker Robb]

8 hours ago, OddOod said:

I don't understand. Like, they designed and fabbed special boards that have all the USB logic and stuff built into the HDD itself? Instead of just using a standard SATA to USB board that slots into a standard commodity harddrive? 
I'd love to read up on this more, can you point me towards resources?

Exactly, although I can't find any good resources talking about this, other than this:

https://rml527.blogspot.com/2010/10/hdd-platter-database-western-digital-25_2393.html?m=1

https://rml527.blogspot.com/2010/09/hdd-platter-database-toshiba-25.html?m=1

Which will show model numbers that use the usb interface instead of sata.

I would also like to add that the Toshiba HDTC610EK3B1 does seem to use a standard sata drive, judging by the amazon reviews for a very similar model, where they show pictures of it disassembled:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B005J7YBPO&ved=2ahUKEwi9zPmR65qHAxUPDkQIHShlDnIQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2euushnOp47g2emnEIAfZ4

[Ryker Robb]

5 hours ago, OddOod said:

That is *fascinating*
Thank you
I'd love to get my hands on one and actually take it apart. Like, that controller board looks odd and I'm wondering if there is any way to convert them. 

https://blog.acelab.eu.com/pc-3000-hdd-how-to-solder-a-sata-adapter-to-the-usb-western-digital-drive.html