Dying HDD?

[MaDoHo]

Hello

 

I have been getting alot of freezes from games recently, and mostly when handling big games. It is only the application that freezes, and it takes a long time to shut down the process. 

 

I've been fiddling around to find the cause, and I noticed that while the application froze and was trying to shut down, I couldn't acces my HDD, while I could freely fiddle around in my SSD drive. 

 

Am I right in suspecting that I need a new HDD and for that to be the cause of freezes?

 

[TetraSky]

Use whatever specific diagnostic software for your HDD.

If it's Western Digital, use Data Lifeguard.
If it's Seagate, use SeaTools.
Etc...

 

Report back when you've done so.

[cyphon21]

I would do as noted above as well. Any diagnostic tools will help here. Even Defraggler will help tell you some of the status needed to diagnose as well.

 

Report back with a report of errors and we could see if that's the case.

 

Unless the HDD is 8+ years or something, then yeah, safe to say it's pooched.

[MaDoHo]

Use whatever specific diagnostic software for your HDD.

If it's Western Digital, use Data Lifeguard.

If it's Seagate, use SeaTools.

Etc...

 

Report back when you've done so.

 

I would do as noted above as well. Any diagnostic tools will help here. Even Defraggler will help tell you some of the status needed to diagnose as well.

 

Report back with a report of errors and we could see if that's the case.

 

Unless the HDD is 8+ years or something, then yeah, safe to say it's pooched.

 

Done quick and extended test, passed both to my frustration. However, I found out that b.net was installed on my HDD, and that has been freezing up lately too. I've moved it to my SSD and I've had no freezes as of yet. If it isn't the HDD, my only other guess is the RAM.

[cyphon21]

Run Memtest for the RAM and see if you get results there.

 

Did you do a defrag on the drive recently? Waht's the age? Temp? Those can all play a strong factor in the service of the drive.

[TetraSky]

Normally if it was RAM, it'd also affect the SSD, though..
Can you try a different SATA port on the motherboard and/or change the sata cable of the drive? Changing the cable might seems stupid, but it can often work.

What is the temperature of the drive? (can see with HWmonitor, CrystalDiskInfo, etc..) High Temperatures can cause freezing.
How old is the drive?

What is the model of the drive? Can you check if there's any firmware update for it?
Does it happen all the time no matter what is run on the HDD or specific applications? Might want to try repairing bad sectors on it.

[brandishwar]

Normally if it was RAM, it'd also affect the SSD, though..

Can you try a different SATA port on the motherboard and/or change the sata cable of the drive? Changing the cable might seems stupid, but it can often work.

What is the temperature of the drive? (can see with HWmonitor, CrystalDiskInfo, etc..) High Temperatures can cause freezing.

How old is the drive?

What is the model of the drive? Can you check if there's any firmware update for it?

Does it happen all the time no matter what is run on the HDD or specific applications? Might want to try repairing bad sectors on it.

 

The cable was actually my first thought reading this. It's a cheap test and a cheap fix if it works.

[MaDoHo]

Run Memtest for the RAM and see if you get results there.

 

Did you do a defrag on the drive recently? Waht's the age? Temp? Those can all play a strong factor in the service of the drive.

 

Normally if it was RAM, it'd also affect the SSD, though..

Can you try a different SATA port on the motherboard and/or change the sata cable of the drive? Changing the cable might seems stupid, but it can often work.

What is the temperature of the drive? (can see with HWmonitor, CrystalDiskInfo, etc..) High Temperatures can cause freezing.

How old is the drive?

What is the model of the drive? Can you check if there's any firmware update for it?

Does it happen all the time no matter what is run on the HDD or specific applications? Might want to try repairing bad sectors on it.

 

The cable was actually my first thought reading this. It's a cheap test and a cheap fix if it works.

 

I've changed both port and cable and run a defrag.

 

It's a WD Black ~1 year old.

 

I shall test wether or not it works.

[cyphon21]

I've changed both port and cable and run a defrag.

 

It's a WD Black ~1 year old.

 

I shall test wether or not it works.

 

Worst case, RMA. If you get any indication of the drive failing in any matter I would go this route just to be safe. Back up all your data and send away for replacement.

[TetraSky]

It's a WD Black ~1 year old.

 

I shall test wether or not it works.

 

So does it work ok now or still bad?

If it's still bad, contact WD support, explain your case and they may just suggest to RMA it.

[MaDoHo]

So does it work ok now or still bad?

If it's still bad, contact WD support, explain your case and they may just suggest to RMA it.

 

Worst case, RMA. If you get any indication of the drive failing in any matter I would go this route just to be safe. Back up all your data and send away for replacement.

 

Sorry for the wait. It didn't work, but I'm certain that is has seomthing to do with it. Tried moving to SSD and the problem seem to have gone.