HDD low Level format errors

[Keessie_Knoei]

Hi,

I am using HDD Low level format to try to get my "broken" HDD back to life.

It's a WDC-800ADFS-755LR2.
It has the following problems
Windows couldn't install on the drive (exit the install with a "unknown error"
S.M.A.R.T. status bad in the bios.
Tried to format it in Windows 8.1 didn't work (program froze up)
Tried to format it with Hard Disk Wipe Tool didn't work (HDD was not found in the list)
I am running the low Level now but it gives me these errors "Format error occurred at offset ****** 1117 device i/o error.

Will the format continue to work or can i stop it?
If this doesn't work what else can i try to get it back to work?

Thanks in advance for your help

[HaQue]

The drive needs to be looked at by a Pro it seems. To fix anything at all, you first need to know the problem. Hard disks are no exception, and in fact if you start applying random "fixes" to a Hard Disk that has certain issues, you can make it worse or a lost cause.

For example, if there is head damage or heads are broken touching the platters, everything you do is causing more damage.

You post gives a hint that there is either head or firmware issues, though Im not a pro.

You say SMART is bad, but no details makes it hard to know what that means, as many people interpret SMART incorrectly.

Any time errors happen, the problem needs to be identified, and you should not continue trying operations on the disk.

You may be able to see something using a terminal connection (search the forum for how to use a TTL adapter) but again, you may be damaging it more.

Magic software that fixes hardware issues does not exist.

have a look at the newbies FAQ and try and find a document explaining what is going on in the disk, the tolerances and you will understand why I made these comments.

Cheers

[digitalferret]

Hi Keessie_Knoei

if there is no data to rescue on the drive it may be advisable to cut your losses just get another drive as
Error 1117 can be indicative of bad sectors.

You could try running a disk utility like MHDD to scan the drive and get a better idea of how "bad" the drive is.

see: viewtopic.php?t=5&start=

Bad sectors aren't "repaired" as such but re allocated in a similar manner to snail-mail being redirected from an address no longer suitable for human habitation to an address that is. The amount of re-allocates is finite too.

If MHDD or similar find huge areas of errors, it may indicate a bad Head.

Either way, unless you enjoy interfering with hard drives and the risk of losing data further down the line, just buy another drive.

sorry dude :/

K

[Keessie_Knoei]

I stopped the low level format it ran for 5 hours and was still 0% done and had the same error every ~15min only different sectors.
I already written of this drive as dead but wanted to see if it was possible to get it back to work.
There was only a broken install of Windows on that drive so i don't mind losing that.
I will look into MHDD and see if i can find what's wrong with the drive.

[Keessie_Knoei]

Tried MHDD but it doesn't see the drive there.
I looked at the drive with HD Sentinel and it shows 0% health.
It tells me that i have 5645 bad sectors on the disk and it indicates that there is a problem with the disk surface.
I think i am out of luck trying to get the disk back to work

[digitalferret]

Keessie

drive sounding like an ideal candidate for one of those "how to destroy a hard drive" experiments that have complete disregard for health and safety but get thousands of hits on Youtube

nice try dude anyways.

K

[Keessie_Knoei]

Too bad that i couldn't get the drive back as it was a WD Raptor but it was a nice leaning experience though.
Thanks for the help guys
I think i will open up the disk and see how it looks like on the inside.
I did that with a other drive and the disks were blue from overheating.
I don't know what happened with this one as i got it from my work to see if i could get it back.

[HaQue]

....but it was a nice leaning experience though..

I know what you mean, I regularly miss meals or forget to eat because I am immersed in research !!!

[Keessie_Knoei]

New project
My system drive of my test pc is just about to die too now.
Last week i had some problems and formatted the disk with Hard Disk Wipe Tool.
There is nothing important of than disk only a clean install of Windows 8 and some programs.
The disk worked fine for almost a week and now it shows 9% health yesterday it was still on 98%.
I think that disk can be "revived"