How to fix a Samsung HM321HI

[djinn]

I need help to fix a Samsung HM321HI hard disk, specifically to remap some bad sectors. As you know, Samsung drives cannot be remapped with normal tools like MHDD and Victoria. Also this model is not supported by any of the VTool versions (I've tried several ones with no success), because I have the HD connected with a SATA cable to the mainboard (I don't have a SATA-PATA adapter). So my only option is WCUBE 2.02 recognises the hard disk connected to the SATA Port, but I cannot do that (remember WCUBE has the VTool 6.0 utility incorporated).

I have the following configuration:

MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum motherboard (with nVIDIA nForce 3 chipset). This board has 4 IDE ports: Ports 0 and 1 are driven with a PATA controller and 2 and 3 with 2 SATA controllers.
The hard disk is connected to IDE 2 as primary master through the 2nd SATA controller.

What should I do? I've read the CUBE manual but I cannot find a solution. Other workarounds are welcome.

Thank you very much in advance.

[Vulcan]

Other workarounds are welcome.

Several approaches are possible, including:
- Backup the drive & test that the backup is complete and readable.
- Collect full SMART data.
- Zero-fill the drive (thereby ensuring that any sectors pending reallocation are written to).
- Collect full SMART data again.
- Restore from the backup.
- Collect full SMART data again.
- Review the sets of SMART data, compare & interpret for any other useful info shown.

[djinn]

Well, I've tried all things you said with no success, hence my interest in trying Vtool 6 (incorporated in WCUBE, as I said before).

Data is not relevant, in fact, the disk became unformatted when I low level formatted it. The case is, about 90% of the surface is healthy, but not in a contiguous way, so making a partition starting at a specific sector is not practical for me. I want to hide these bad sectors, and I know this is possible with Samsung special tools. They are able to modify the S and A Lists in order to do that. Anyway, here the SMART data is:

Code:

Report By: HDDScan for Windows version 3.3
Report Date: 28/09/2011 14:41:31


      Num Attribute Name Value Worst Raw(hex) Threshold

      001  Raw Read Error Rate 001001000000001C-33A4051

      002  Throughput performance 2522520000000000-0000000

      003  Spin Up Time 0920920000000000-09D7025

      004  Start/Stop Count 1001000000000000-00CB000

      005  Reallocation Sector Count 2522520000000000-0000010

      007  Seek Error Rate 2522520000000000-0000051

      008  Seek time Perfomance 2522520000000000-0000015

      009  Power-On Hours Count 1001000000000000-0458000

      010  Spin Retry Count 2522520000000000-0000051

      011  Recalibration Retries 2522520000000000-0000000

      012  Device Power Cycle Count 1001000000000000-00F8000

      191  G-sense Rate/Servo tracking 1001000000000000-00B0000

      192  Emergency Retract Count 2522520000000000-0000000

      194  HDA Temperature 06406336 C 000

      194  HDA Temperature Maximum06406350 C000

      194  HDA Temperature Minimum06406323 C000

      195  Hardware ECC Recovered 1001000000000000-0000000

      196  Reallocation Event Count 2522520000000000-0000000

      197  Current Pending Errors Count 0890860000000000-01E8000

      198  Uncorrectable Errors Count 1000800000000000-0014000

      199  UltraDMA CRC Errors 1001000000000000-01CC000

      200  Write Error Rate 1001000000000000-0294000

      223  Load Retry Count 2522520000000000-0000000

      225  Load Cycle Count 1001000000000000-08D5000


As you can see, the status of the drive is very bad. Of course, I don't expect to use this drive as a main drive, but as a 2nd backup drive of irrelevant things.

Do you have any experience with WCUBE or VTool? In WCUBE, the IDE Devices > Configure menu is empty (no device detected).

Also it's worth noting that there are no abnormal mechanical sounds (clicking noises), so I think this drive may be usable up to a certain extent.
Thank you very much again for your help, I appreciate it indeed.

[BlackST]

The case is, about 90% of the surface is healthy, but not in a contiguous

The problem is bigger than you think then. It is also not possible to store more than a certain quantity of defects AND there are also other specific issues on Samsung drives in general and on this HM in particular. I cannot tell you more than this . Good luck

[djinn]

there are also other specific issues on Samsung drives in general and on this HM in particular

Which specific issues? Can you elaborate?

Thanks

[djinn]

It is also not possible to store more than a certain quantity of defects

I already know, there is a limited number of spare sectors. But I want to hide these bad sectors even if I loose some drive capacity (without remapping).

Is there a specific tool able to hide these sectors without remapping? I'm looking for that (I guess the tool should be able to add these sectors to the P-list, but I'm not sure).

Thank you again

[BlackST]

Is there a specific tool able to hide these sectors without remapping? I'm looking for that (I guess the tool should be able to add these sectors to the P-list, but I'm not sure).

A lot, but they cost a fortune or are not at reach and your drive MUST want to be fixed !

[djinn]

Ok, I see I have very few options... So I need to make Vtool/WCUBE work. Does anybody have used some of these tools?

[rr4567]

Ditch the drive. I had a Samsung HM500JI. One day, I couldn't gain access to a few folders. This is what I later found out had happened:

[udit.jain]

I purchased a dell inspiron laptop in july 2010. It came installed with Samsung HM321HI HDD.. Now on running dell supportcenter pc checkup my SMART short self test(WHD16-KVW) and targeted read test(WHD20-OLY) is failing.... Plus the error shows that i need to replace my hdd immediately. Does this hdd hav a life of only one yr and 3mnths???
i have lots of important data on d drive........ plzz help....

[labtech]

I would say, try to run another SMART tool to confirm the same findings.

But no, there isn't a specific time that a drive will fail. It fails when it fails based on numerous factors, of course except of physical shocks and so on.