New Build Hard Drive Problem Smart status BAD

Hi I just built my brother a new computer, my second build, I installed a Seagate Barracuda 1tb 7200 rpm 32 mb Sata. Build went well and I thoroughly tested for a week before I took it to him (4 hour drive) last weekend. He now informs me he is getting error message "Pri slave hard disk smart status BAD backup and replace". While I realise this is a message indicating the hard drive is failing I am confused by the "slave" reference. This computer only has one hard drive and my understanding is Serial ata hard drives are all master drives and according to their website there is no need to touch the jumpers so I didnt. I just connected it straight from packet and everything worked fine. Can anyone help please. Its going to be difficult to deal with this as my brother is on a farm in the middle of nowhere and currently does not have internet.

 

Greetings, JeanetteNZ.

That is strange. Is this a Windows error message, or from some 3rd-party program? Does the phantom drive show up in BIOS?

You might consider running a chkdsk just to be safe - you might also take a look at Seagate's SeaTools diagnostics software, again as a precaution.

 

Hi Caliban, I got my brother to perform a chkdsk and it found no issues. I also got him to check cables were not loose and got him to connect the sata cable to a different sata connection on the motherboard. When re starting the message has now changed to "Sec slave hard disk smart status BAD backup and replace". rather than Pri slave hard disk. I could not get him to check the bios unfortunately. I have burnt the SeaTools to disc to send to him but wondered if you could offer any insight into why the error message has changed ?

 

At this point, some more information might be needed. What make and model # is the motherboard? And, is the computer operating normally?

SMART is not always correct - I'd really like to see the results of the SeaTools tests. You might also get your brother to clear the BIOS and redetect the drive.

 

Motherboard is Asus P7H55-M and yes once he pushes F1 to continue after the error message has come up the computer is running perfectly although message does keep appearing periodically. The initial error message is coming from American Mega Trends software that I presume is bundled with the motherboard but now he is getting a Windows error message also re hard drive. When performing the chkdsk he left both boxes unchecked 1. automatically fix file system etc and 2. scan for and attempt recovery etc because when he checked either of these boxes it said "Hard Drive in use schedule at next restart which we attempted but could then not see any report. Should I get him to check both boxes and if so where will he find the report.??This situation is very difficult as my brother is a farmer and I am trying to guide him over the phone and he does not know how to enter BIOS.

 

Given the S.M.A.R.T. warning, it is probable that the HDD is failing and that the SeaTools test will indicate a FAIL. You will need to claim a replacement from Seagate or your supplier: Seagate has a 5 year warranty on it's hard drives. I have no idea on the mysterious pri/sec question.

I suggest running the SeaTools diagnostic utility first, before attempting to use Windows Error Checking (chkdsk). If the SeaTools utility long test shows PASS, then you may wish to run chkdsk /f from Windows (that is Error Checking with a tick in the first box ONLY), necessitating that you restart the computer (and then allow the disk check to complete and restart the system).

I am assuming Windows XP in these instructions ...

A log of the disk check is recorded (only if the scheduled re-start is used).
To open Event Viewer and view the log:

• Go to Start > Run > and type eventvwr and press the <ENTER> key.
• In the left pane, click on Application.
• In the right pane, at the top, click on the column heading Source to sort the list alphabetically.
• Look in the Source column for "Winlogon", with an entry corresponding to the date and time of the disk check.
• Double-click on that entry to view the log.
• Click on the "copy" button to copy the log to the clipboard.
• Paste the log text into your next reply.

FYI: Leaving both boxes unchecked is equivalent to running chkdsk only ... it does not repair anything. Checking box 1 is equivalent to running chkdsk /f. Checking both boxes is equivalent to running chkdsk /r.

Why do I suggest using a combination of :step1: the hdd manufacturer's diagnostic utility, and :step2: chkdsk /f (or from the Recovery Console, chkdsk /p), in preference to simply running chkdsk /r (a simpler one-step procedure)?
See the following quote from DjLizard's data recovery guide for an explanation:

 

A common misconception about SATA is that it has no priorities (i.e. master, slave, etc.). Although the terminology may be slightly different, it behaves much like PATA/IDE in the fact that it DOES have priority settings. The only difference is, the settings aren't based upon the jumpers on the hard drive (or other hardware), but are STRICTLY based upon the SATA connection used on the motherboard.

You might see the labels on the motherboard as SATA1, SATA2, etc. These aren't numbered because Japanese people are bored. No, that's the priority structure of the SATA.

Now... does it REALLY matter what order you connect your drives in? Probably not. I always like my system (Windows) drive in the first SATA connection, though, probably because I've been messing with computers since floppy drives were standard.

 

Good information, guys.

@Jeanette: Asus provides an online manual for that motherboard, with a comprehensive BIOS section (you'll have to plug in the operating system for the correct download - I'm using Win XP as reference): http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=P7H55-M.

To enter BIOS, press <DELETE> during the Power-On Self Test (POST).
The first screen ('Main') should show the SATA drive in question - try to find out what information is shown.

Here's an interesting tidbit: the BIOS 'Boot' screen has an option for disabling the 'Wait for F1 if Error' message. The fact that that option even exists leads me to believe that this may be a spurious issue, especially if the system seems to be functioning normally.

My advice would be to run the hard drive diagnostics (both SeaTools and chkdsk [following AustrAlien's info]) - if problems are found, then RMA the drive.
If, however, no problems are found, the drive is connected correctly and detected normally, and the machine is running smoothly, then you might consider disabling the error message in BIOS.

 

Thanks everyone for your great advice. I am getting my brother to send the computer back to me so I can run the tests and checks you have outlined and it should arrive by early next week.

 

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

 

Have finally received my brothers computer today and have run Seatools and it has come back a FAIL. I will take hard drive in to get replacement tomorrow, is there a free program I can use to transfer data after I have reinstalled Win7?

 

Hello again,

I do not understand what you are asking exactly. Please explain.

Any files that you wish to retrieve from the HDD will have to be saved elsewhere before you return the failed HDD. I assume that you will copy them on to another HDD?

The files would then be transferred on to the new HDD after the installation of the OS, using a USB flashdrive perhaps? I cannot understand why you are asking about a program to do that.

Am I missing something?

 

I was trying to find an easy way of transferring all the data so I did some googling and sourced a program called HDClone 3.9.5 that appears to clone the entire contents of one drive onto another....?. So was thinking I could get a replacement drive and connect it with the faulty one still installed and run HDClone to transfer all the data then disconnect the faulty drive and take back to the store. I know the computer store really well and I am sure they will allow me to do this. I think this program also transfers the operating system and maybe all the installed programs as well which would make the whole process very quick and efficient. Just not sure how reliable this program is although have found several good reviews. What do you think AustrAlien ?

 

Ah Ha .... OK, that allows for other possibilities such as you described. Very good.

You have a Seagate HDD. That means you can use Seagate's DiscWizard, available for download, free, from their website. DiscWizard contains the Acronis imaging/cloning software, that you can use for imaging or cloning one HDD to another. Just what you are considering doing.

I use the DiscWizard/Acronis software, and it has worked just fine for me.

There are certain limitations with this software compared to others, but if you are going to clone one Seagate HDD to another of the same size, it should do what you want. Give it a try.

 

Fantastic thank you, I have just watched the tutorial on Seagate's website and will use that program tomorrow

 

New hard drive cloned and installed and running perfectly....many thanks to everyone. Every time I use this forum I pick up little gems of advice that help build my knowledge, thanks for sharing that advice.

 

Pleased to see it. You've done well.

Take care.