Is my HDD dying? Time issue! UPDATE! Ffffff

Magus`

[strike]So I ran Sea Tools on my HDD and it says both the Long and Short Driver Self Test have failed.

Google says that either it means it's about to fail hardcore while other places seem to imply it's just Windows going crazy and a reformat will fix it.

How can be I be SURE?

I don't really have the money to buy a new HDD if I can avoid it.[/strike]

Update: So I found out a few fans had stopped working in my case. I fixed them and re-ran a few tests for shits and giggles. Now my HDD tests are doing fine.

Problem is, I already ordered a HDD from NewEgg and it's past the canceling phase. How hard is it to RMA devices back to them? Seems simple.. The 15% restocking fee (even unopened?) seems kind of harsh, though.

Thanks!

ronya

If you have any important data, go look for one of those free file storage things on the Internets and start uploading stuff now.

As for being sure, I don't know, so I'll let someone else in H/A answer that...

Kate of Lokys

You can never be SURE with hard drives, because like all godless technological creations, they can turn on you at any time, for any reason - or for no reason at all.

So, cover your bases: back your shit up on DVDs, reformat, reinstall Windows, and hope for the best. If your hard drive keeps working, fantastic; if it fails, at least you have fresh backups, and spending money on a new hard drive will sting less if your only alternative is not using your computer.

Magus`

Reformatted and still getting long and short DST failures.

Guess that's that, then. New HDD go?

ronya

To be SURE? New HDD go, indeed.

Magus`

Updated OP. Fffff

ronya

You could always suck it up and install both. :P tons o space!

Rear Admiral Choco

Yeah, just keep it around for backups, or for extra space

An extra HDD is always nice

ceres

Or for when your current HDD really does break, because if it's old enough it's a matter of time.

AtomBomb

Unless you have an excellent backup solution in place, you really don't want to trust a hdd that's given you any reason to doubt it. The advantage you have now is that you have a working old drive to get your files off of. If you wait for it to break that's no longer an option (and the options you're left with are lost data or costs much greater than just a new drive).

Tofystedeth

Indeed. If your HDD has been running at high temp for a while it might be more prone to failure in the future. I would definitely hang on to that new one.

Magus`

So I'd like to transfer stuff the current HDD to the new one, but I don't have screws to fasten both at the same time.

These are the screws I'm using: http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Product.aspx?C=1155&ID=1702 (They came with the case, by the same people)

Does this matter? Will things explode if I just leave one kind of sitting there on the bottom of the case?

Also, I'm getting random pauses every once in awhile. Mainly (only?) in the Firefox 4 RC beta and I'm curious if that's a known FF4 issue or a side effect of my maybe wonky HDD?

Tofystedeth

For short term use I've left HDDs sitting in the case. It's not a good idea, but it'll work.

Random pauses (particularly if they happen in multiple programs) can be indicative of hard drive issues if the UI is blocked waiting for IO to finish.

For transferring the files over, I'd recommend downloading and burning something like the Ultimate Boot CD, and using the disc cloning tools in there to clone the old drive to the new one. If the new one is older, you may need to use other tools to grow the partition if you're using older versions of Windows. That can be a little complicated and dangerous though.

ronya

For Firefox: try this, may help. If it's just Firefox, your profile stuff may just be fragmented.

You can let it sit there for a while, but try to install it before you forget.

Magus`

It seems to only happen in FF4 RC, so I'm thinking that's the issue for that.

Anyhow, I'd like to use both HDDs (storage/main) but I don't wanna leave one unsecured. Question is, do I need those specific thumbscrews I linked earlier or will any same-sized screw work?

Kate of Lokys

You can use any old screw as long as it's the right size. I don't actually think any of the various screws holding things in my case even match, but they work.

DekuStick

All of my HDD's are just crammed inside the case unsecured. one of them spilled out on the floor. Its been like this for 2 years. You can safely just set it down until the transfer is over or like others say find any old screw that fits.

Magus`

Alright, thanks all. I'll go visit my neighbor tomorrow and see if he has similarly sized screws!

Tofystedeth

Depending on the rails in your case you may need a specific type of screw for the length or head or whatever, but all hard drives should use screws with the same type of threading.
On that note, in the future, when you're next buying a case, get one with screwless drive rails. They make things so much easier.