Have I got a failing HD drive

[Ray]

Drive in question 500GB Sata 2 Seagate Barracuda installed on my main PC approximately 2 months ago, I've had the following symptoms occurring randomly over the last week or so: -

Application crashes, slow downs, computer freezing and not responding and random reboots, this usually ends with a blue screen stop error referring to random drivers or registry errors. Also on several occasions PC has rebooted and then claimed Windows is not activated.

I have run all the Seagate Sea tools tests on the drive and they have found nothing, Virus and Antispyware scan nothing found. 

I've run tests on the memory modules for nearly 3 hours using Micro2000 Memscope memory test programme with no errors found so I don't think the memory modules are at fault. 

The strange thing is I've got a cloned copy of this disk on a another spare disk and if I boot from  this spare one everything runs as normal. This is what makes me almost certain that the original drive is faulty but I can't prove it at the moment so it's a bit difficult to be able to return it to the manufacturers for replacement/repair.

As there is still plenty of Warranty time left I have installed the disk in an external USB enclosure at the moment to use for non important items to see if it gets any worse and shows up with a definite fault - all very frustrating.

[Rik]

It sounds faulty, Ray, but as you say, it's going to be hard for you to prove. The only thing I can think to try is repeated CHDSK runs.

[Lance]

Maybe subject it to a bit of stress testing over a week or so, which will hopefully break it if it is going toe fail anyway!

[Ray]

Well I'm not sure now, I downloaded and ran Windows Memory Diagnostic tool last night and running that picked up 11 memory errors, looks like more investigation is required and testing  of memory modules to see which one is giving the errors. 

[Rik]

Have you tried Memtest, Ray?

[Glenn]

Ray, if you use Memtest, boot from the cd and let it run for at least 24hrs

[Ray]

Have you tried Memtest, Ray?

Thanks, Rik, I've now started running that on the machine and will leave it running for several hours. 

[Rik]

As Glenn says, Ray, ideally (but boringly) you want to run it for 24 hours.

[Gary]

As Glenn says, Ray, ideally (but boringly) you want to run it for 24 hours.

I had failing ram with very similar problems to you ray, it was my memory, after 7 hours Memtest turned up 132 errors and 5 million non ECC errors, so at that point I just asked for some replacement corsair DDR3, since then no issues, its amazing how failing ram can make it seem you have hard drive issues, I could not run FF3 with my dying ram but FF2 was ok, go figure

[Inactive]

I have failing memory, mine isn't in my computer.. 

[Rik]

I know just what you mean, In.

[ST Driver]

Ah good I'm not alone with failing ....whatever it was

[Inactive]

 

[Glenn]

Just give Cruical a call I'm sure they can help 

[Gary]

Just give Cruical a call I'm sure they can help 

They may go ballistix though.....

[Inactive]

 

[Rik]

You just can't get the puns these days.

[Ray]

They may go ballistix though.....

They already are Ballistix, Gary. 

[Ray]

As Glenn says, Ray, ideally (but boringly) you want to run it for 24 hours.

Yes, that's what I'm going to do, Rik, so far it's done 1 complete pass with no errors. 

[Rik]

Don't you just hate the paint drying jobs. 

[Ray]

Don't you just hate the paint drying jobs. 

Most definitely, Rik. 

[Sebby]

They may go ballistix though.....

[Gary]

[vitriol]

 


Crucial are great though, lifetime warranty cannot be sniffed at.

[Sebby]

I usually order from Crucial; I find their service excellent.

[Ray]

Well it looks as though I could have 2 memory modules with faults this is what Memtest has come up with after 2 full passes and still running: -


[attachment deleted by admin]

[Inactive]

Crucially that looks like bad news Ray, still easier to cure than a Hard Drive.

[Sebby]

[Glenn]

Certainly looks like 2 bad modules

[Inactive]

Don't go ballistix at them when you send it back.

[Ray]

Certainly looks like 2 bad modules

Certainly looks like it, Glenn, I've removed the 2 modules with the errors and started a retest it has done 3 complete passes and is half way through the 4th with no errors found.
The other 2 will be on their way back to Crucial as soon as I get an RMA number as all the memory modules are barely 4 months old.

[esh]

That's pretty lousy luck - 2 dead modules

I've never actually had memory go bad, but I've had a memory *controller* go bad.

I usually characterise hard drive failures with very slow response times, Windows CRC errors, and occasionally the dreaded 'Operating System not found'. RAM errors are always more random, as seen here I think. Good luck getting it sorted.

[Ray]

That's pretty lousy luck - 2 dead modules

I've never actually had memory go bad, but I've had a memory *controller* go bad.

I usually characterise hard drive failures with very slow response times, Windows CRC errors, and occasionally the dreaded 'Operating System not found'. RAM errors are always more random, as seen here I think. Good luck getting it sorted.

Thanks, Esh, It's the first time I've ever had memory failures but it looks like they were the source of my problems. After removing them and doing a 3 hour Memtest run on the 2 remaining modules with no errors being found the PC has been running for nearly 4 hours now with nothing untoward happening. 

[Simon]

It's the first time I've ever had memory failures but it looks like they were the source of my problems...

I know the feeling well, Ray.  Now, where the hell are those keys?!! 

Glad it seems to be sorted though, and it could have been worse! 

[Ray]

I know the feeling well, Ray.  Now, where the hell are those keys?!! 

Glad it seems to be sorted though, and it could have been worse! 

Keys what keys? 

Thanks, Simon, I was starting to get somewhat concerned though, fortunately everything except the case is only about 4 to 5 months old and still under warranty, but it can be tricky working out exactly which components are at fault though. 

[Simon]

Indeed.  Well done! 

[Inactive]

Glad you got to the root of the problem and are able to sort it Ray....

[Rik]

Another truly memorable thread. Well done, Ray. 

[Ray]

Another truly memorable thread. Well done, Ray. 

Thank you, Rik, it's still working OK I'm just waiting for an RMA number from Crucial now so I can return the faulty ones for replacement. 

[Rik]

Let's hope they don't keep you hanging on. 

[Ray]

Let's hope they don't keep you hanging on. 

Hopefully not, Rik, though the weekend may delay things a bit, I'm not desperate for them as the mc is running well on 2Gb. 

[Rik]

I take it the drive is now behaving, Ray?

[Ray]

I take it the drive is now behaving, Ray?

Seems to be, Rik, though I'm still using it as an external, haven't risked putting it back as the boot drive yet. 

[Rik]

I know how you feel, once uncertainties creep in, it's hard to rely on something.

[Ray]

I know how you feel, once uncertainties creep in, it's hard to rely on something.

Very true, Rik, you've always got that nagging doubt at the back of your mind. I might risk sticking it in the server as it wouldn't be a problem if it fails there as it keeps multiple copies of files spread over all the disks and if I add that one it will have 4 HDs in it. 

[Rik]

Sounds like a good idea, Ray.

Just thinking aloud, it's a sign of how computing has changed, that we've gone having a computer, to having multiple computers, to having a peer-to-peer network, to having a client/server network in just a few years.

[Ray]

Sounds like a good idea, Ray.

Just thinking aloud, it's a sign of how computing has changed, that we've gone having a computer, to having multiple computers, to having a peer-to-peer network, to having a client/server network in just a few years.

It certainly has, Rik, I can remember my first PC that I bought in 1991 an Amstrad with msdos and a 40mb hd. 

Well the hd is now installed in the server with no problems so far. 

[Rik]

Chances are it's going to be fine, Ray.

I wonder how many planning applications for computer rooms will be made in years to come?

[Ray]

Just got my rma number from Crucial and it looks from their reply that as the memory modules were supplied as matched pairs I've got to return all of them, there is a faulty one from each pair.

Looks like the laptop will be getting a fair bit of use for a few days.

[Rik]

Typical - otoh, if you'd mixed the pairs, could that have caused the problem, Ray?

[Ray]

Typical - otoh, if you'd mixed the pairs, could that have caused the problem, Ray?

Shouldn't be, Rik, they were installed a month apart and the 2 I've removed I marked on the a/s bags which dimm slot they came from. At least I look like |I will end up for 4 new modules. 

[Inactive]

Don't forget to say " Thanks for the memory " when it arrives Ray.. 

[Rik]

[Ray]

and another. 

[Sebby]

Typical - otoh, if you'd mixed the pairs, could that have caused the problem, Ray?

It really shouldn't have. There's nothing to say that matched pairs are necessary; they just apparently work best together.

[Ray]

The memory modules are now on the way back to Crucial so I will have to put up with using my laptop until the replacements arrive. 

[Rik]

Hopefully it won't take too long, Ray. 

[Ray]

Good news had 2 emails from Crucial last night to say my 4 replacement memory modules had been shipped.  I must say I am impressed with their service and turn round time as the items were only posted back to them last Monday, and as  the replacements have been sent by Royal Mail first class all being well I should receive them today.   

[Gary]

Good news had 2 emails from Crucial last night to say my 4 replacement memory modules had been shipped.  I must say I am impressed with their service and turn round time as the items were only posted back to them last Monday, and as  the replacements have been sent by Royal Mail first class all being well I should receive them today.   

Glad to hear that Ray, you will be back to speed and reliability in no time

[Ray]

Glad to hear that Ray, you will be back to speed and reliability in no time

Thanks, Gary, it's a pity some other companies can't provide a similar good service. 

[Rik]

Toes crossed, Ray. 

[Ray]

Toes crossed, Ray. 

Everything, Rik. 

[Ray]

Update new memory has arrived, now installed and all working as it should so far. 

[Rik]

That's great, Ray. Sometimes, things are bound to go wrong. Providing a supplier puts them right in a timely way, you can't really fault them.

[Ray]

That's great, Ray. Sometimes, things are bound to go wrong. Providing a supplier puts them right in a timely way, you can't really fault them.

Very true, Rik, I'm very impressed with Crucial's response, no arguments and they'd despatched the 4 replacements within 24 hours of receiving them. 

Must say it's nice to get back on the desktop with it's 22in screen, makes a 14.5in laptop look a tad crowded. 

[Rik]

I know how you feel, Ray, I like plenty of monitor space to use.

[Inactive]

Great news, great service Ray..

[Ray]

Great news, great service Ray..

Thanks, In. 

[Glenn]

I have found that Tekheads have always given 1st class service too