Bad HDD

[bhath19]

S.M.A.R.T. on my computer gave me the "S.M.A.R.T. status bad...replace or backup". Is there anyway I can repair this drive, or try to ?

[Droppyale]

sometimes if you attach another hard drive on the same IDE cable, it will give you that error...

it happened to me once, I took the other hard drive out, and the error went away...

do you have another hard drive attached to the same IDE cable?

[bhath19]

I don't have another HDD. So I'm sure it's the actual HDD. I was just wondering if I could fix it w/ any programs. B/c I used the HDD manufacturers program and it couldn't find any errors. But when I use ActiveSmart it says I've failed a couple of the tests.

[Jack Hannibal]

It has always been my experience that the SMART errors are a definitive indicator the drive is going to fail. Be sure to back-up your data if you have not already done so.

[Bovon]

I have had drives with the smart technology lie!!..but thats not the norm from what I have read. All hard drive manufacturers have a DOS based utility that will run from a boot disk that really wrings the drive out good...and will tell you what the deal really is. I would try that.

[jmichna]

Originally posted by Bovon
I have had drives with the smart technology lie!!..but thats not the norm from what I have read. All hard drive manufacturers have a DOS based utility that will run from a boot disk that really wrings the drive out good...and will tell you what the deal really is. I would try that.

JUst be CAREFUL if you use the manufacturer's utilities, since most of the thorough test/repair utilities may also wipe the drive free of data (IBM's Drive Fitness Test program being one example).

Even if your drive tests out repairable, be aware that usually drive errors or even failure is likely... sometimes within a few weeks or months. I've had the misfortune to try to save a few IBM 75GXP "Death Star" drives which were experienceing the "clicks of death." Yeah, they were repairable, but each one failed (after repair) after anywhere from 3 weeks to 4 months.

HDs are cheap today. If it were me, I'd replace the drive with a new one (many HDs come with installation utilities that let you ghost the original drive to the new drive.. you can then make the new drive your bootable C: drive, wipe your old drive and make it the "slave," repair it if you want, and use it to store non-critical data.