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Please do not post questions about data recovery cases here (use this forum instead). This forum is for topics on finding new ways to recover data. Accessing firmware, writing programs, reading bits off the platter, recovering data from dust...Power-on hours (SMART attrib) can be spoofed [ST3200822A]
October 2nd, 2011, 4:35
Power-on hours (SMART attrib) can be spoofed [ST3200822A]
But I don't know how it's being done.
[ST3200822A is a Seagate 200GB 7200.7 IDE]
I've had this drive in service for 6 years 24/7 under heavy usage; never a problem. I thought: "Why not run a SMART report on it" so I installed it in a PC and did. Given its "stressful" life, I was not displeased that it had only 6 Reallocated_sectors, 0 Current_pending, and nothing else amiss. EXCEPT I noticed the Power_on_hours (raw value) was 1236. It should have been 50+K!
Further testing showed that, outside of its normal setting, the POH functioned properly (1:1 w/wall clock), but when "on the job" nada.
Is this a well-known fluke (and I'm the last to get the joke)?
[Note: I'm not trying to be coy by not describing its 24/7 environment--I'll follow-up with that, a little later. But I wanted to get learned response(s) prior to (possibly) prejudicing anyone.]
I've attached a [more] recent SMART report. Note +6 hours ([1242-1236] while it was in the PC) but there were 8 additional hours "on the job".
Puzzled,
UhClem
But I don't know how it's being done.
[ST3200822A is a Seagate 200GB 7200.7 IDE]
I've had this drive in service for 6 years 24/7 under heavy usage; never a problem. I thought: "Why not run a SMART report on it" so I installed it in a PC and did. Given its "stressful" life, I was not displeased that it had only 6 Reallocated_sectors, 0 Current_pending, and nothing else amiss. EXCEPT I noticed the Power_on_hours (raw value) was 1236. It should have been 50+K!
Further testing showed that, outside of its normal setting, the POH functioned properly (1:1 w/wall clock), but when "on the job" nada.
Is this a well-known fluke (and I'm the last to get the joke)?
[Note: I'm not trying to be coy by not describing its 24/7 environment--I'll follow-up with that, a little later. But I wanted to get learned response(s) prior to (possibly) prejudicing anyone.]
I've attached a [more] recent SMART report. Note +6 hours ([1242-1236] while it was in the PC) but there were 8 additional hours "on the job".
Puzzled,
UhClem
- Attachments
-
Sgt200-smart.txt- (4.22 KiB) Downloaded 758 times
Re: Power-on hours (SMART attrib) can be spoofed [ST3200822A
October 2nd, 2011, 10:49
UhClem wrote:Power-on hours (SMART attrib) can be spoofed [ST3200822A]
As always, I think it's worth remembering what status raw SMART attributes have, as far as using / interpreting them directly, although in this case I suspect there is an uncommon cause.
UhClem wrote:[Note: I'm not trying to be coy by not describing its 24/7 environment--I'll follow-up with that, a little later. But I wanted to get learned response(s) prior to (possibly) prejudicing anyone.]
Personally I don't like questions where information is deliberately witheld
(irrespective of the reason - I'm old enough not to need protecting from prejudice with that technique 
). Of course others here might not mind being "kept in the dark" - YMMV.I'll just make a brief comment that with the limited info given and based on my experiences, this sounds similar to something for which I eventually found the reason (several years ago). If that applies here, it would not be unique to your specific drive.
Of course my hypothesis could be wrong - we'll see what suggestions other members give
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