Is my external HD fried?

elSicomoro · 11-07-2008, 10:18 AM

I just bought a one TB external HD and I've been transferring everything from my 250GB HD over to it...it's all mp3's. I got pretty much everything I want over on the new HD, but the old one is starting to concern me.

When I tried to move this one particular folder over to the new HD, I got a cyclic redundancy check error. In another folder, when I tried to delete a particular mp3, nothing happened...the HD just froze. And with the latter, it's causing my whole system to slow down.

I've error-checked this HD, ran chkdsk/ f on it and even downloaded the Eraser program...none of them got rid of that pesky CRC file. I can't run defrag on it because it finds that CRC file. And now the HD is getting finicky when I just plug it in via USB. Sometimes, I have to disconnect the power, then plug that back in for it to show up.

So...how can I tell if it's just these rogue files or the actual HD that's crap?

dar512 · 11-07-2008, 11:48 AM

also run a memory check. That can look like hd problems.

dar512 · 11-07-2008, 11:53 AM

Here are a couple of programs to test memory.

http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

http://www.totms.co.uk/archives/2007/11/entry_57.html

Shawnee123 · 11-07-2008, 12:07 PM

LMAO

I clicked on this as a "new post" link and wasn't thinking about the thread title. I started to click on memtest thinking it was to test MY memory.

FAIL!

elSicomoro · 11-07-2008, 02:31 PM

I couldn't figure out how to use memtest, but I'm pretty certain it's the HD now. I just hooked it up to my desktop computer and am having the same problems. And I'm pretty confident that I don't have 2 computers with RAM issues.

dar512 · 11-07-2008, 04:33 PM

Makes sense.

tw · 11-07-2008, 08:15 PM

Go back. Start over. First look at your symptoms which say nothing about a memory problem.

A disk drive consists of two parts: a computer and a disk platter. CRC error occurs when the disk drive computer reads data off the platter erroneously.

Do not try to fix anything - ie run a defrag. Diagnostics mean breaking a problem down into parts. Long before that other part - fixing something - first identify the problem.

Now, how does this external drive get connected - USB? Some USB ports do not provide sufficient power or a marginal voltage when a largest load is applied. USB ports are limited to ten watts. Disk drives consume something less than ten watts. Was the drive designed with a ten percent margin or error? Well, first confirm the problem stays with the drive on numerous USB ports of other systems.

A responsible disk drive manufacturer will provide comprehensive hardware diagnostics. That is a tool to discover if the drive is reliable on one USB port and not on another.

Typically a CRC error is either a defective disk platter or a problem with the read write heads and electronics. However, a low USB voltage can make numerous and contradictory errors. Worse, trying to fix this during low voltage could eventually trash the entire drive.

Diagnostics are step one: how to first identify the problem long before fixing anything. Trying to fix something without doing step one can even make the problem exponentially more complex.

11-07-2008, 10:18 AM	#1
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Is my external HD fried? I just bought a one TB external HD and I've been transferring everything from my 250GB HD over to it...it's all mp3's. I got pretty much everything I want over on the new HD, but the old one is starting to concern me. When I tried to move this one particular folder over to the new HD, I got a cyclic redundancy check error. In another folder, when I tried to delete a particular mp3, nothing happened...the HD just froze. And with the latter, it's causing my whole system to slow down. I've error-checked this HD, ran chkdsk/ f on it and even downloaded the Eraser program...none of them got rid of that pesky CRC file. I can't run defrag on it because it finds that CRC file. And now the HD is getting finicky when I just plug it in via USB. Sometimes, I have to disconnect the power, then plug that back in for it to show up. So...how can I tell if it's just these rogue files or the actual HD that's crap?

11-07-2008, 11:48 AM	#2
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	also run a memory check. That can look like hd problems. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

11-07-2008, 11:53 AM	#3
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Here are a couple of programs to test memory. http://www.memtest.org/#downiso http://www.totms.co.uk/archives/2007/11/entry_57.html __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

11-07-2008, 12:07 PM	#4
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	LMAO I clicked on this as a "new post" link and wasn't thinking about the thread title. I started to click on memtest thinking it was to test MY memory. FAIL! __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

11-07-2008, 04:33 PM	#6
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Makes sense. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

11-07-2008, 02:31 PM	#5
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	I couldn't figure out how to use memtest, but I'm pretty certain it's the HD now. I just hooked it up to my desktop computer and am having the same problems. And I'm pretty confident that I don't have 2 computers with RAM issues.

11-07-2008, 08:15 PM	#7
tw Read? I only know how to write. Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 11,933	Go back. Start over. First look at your symptoms which say nothing about a memory problem. A disk drive consists of two parts: a computer and a disk platter. CRC error occurs when the disk drive computer reads data off the platter erroneously. Do not try to fix anything - ie run a defrag. Diagnostics mean breaking a problem down into parts. Long before that other part - fixing something - first identify the problem. Now, how does this external drive get connected - USB? Some USB ports do not provide sufficient power or a marginal voltage when a largest load is applied. USB ports are limited to ten watts. Disk drives consume something less than ten watts. Was the drive designed with a ten percent margin or error? Well, first confirm the problem stays with the drive on numerous USB ports of other systems. A responsible disk drive manufacturer will provide comprehensive hardware diagnostics. That is a tool to discover if the drive is reliable on one USB port and not on another. Typically a CRC error is either a defective disk platter or a problem with the read write heads and electronics. However, a low USB voltage can make numerous and contradictory errors. Worse, trying to fix this during low voltage could eventually trash the entire drive. Diagnostics are step one: how to first identify the problem long before fixing anything. Trying to fix something without doing step one can even make the problem exponentially more complex.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)