Problem with WD external HD

Hi,

I have searched throught the forums but have been unable to find a solution for my problem.

I have a Western Digital "Elements" 320GB external hard drive. It is just over 1 year old. the model number is WDCWD3200BEVT-22ZCT0.

Most of the posts here that refer to an external HD problem mostly relate to the computer not recognising/finding it, etc. The difference with my problem is that I can see the drive in my computer and I can even open all of the files (including .doc, .avi, .jpg, .mp4), although the video files can stall.

But whenever I try to move files from it to another hard drive, or even to another folder on the same drive, I get an "I/O device error" message.

I have tried:
*moving files/folders in bulk and one at a time. Moving them one at a time works for a little while. It seems to depend on the size of the file. If I am trying to move an .avi i might get the error after 5% has moved, but I might move 2 or 3 documents before getting the error;

*using it on computers running both Vista and XP with no difference (except on vista i get a number to go with the error - I am on the XP at the moment, so can't post that... will add later);

*Running the Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostics - DLGDIAG for Windows. The SMART status returned a FAIL result, and the extended test gave a PASS result. The 'help' button info doesn't shine any light...

* Check disk
- run with only 'Automatically fix file system errors' found some errors and repaired them
- run with "scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" ... completes Phase 1, but with Phase 2 the green bar only goes along max of 5% before it stops working. I don't know if this means anything, but the last couple of times I can't shut the diaglog box unless I close windows explorer through Task Manager.

* have tried Check Disk in safe mode - no difference

* I have run malwarebytes, AVG, Superantispyware, all without finding anything.

* I have tried using Back Up to save the files I REALLY need (they are my work) via the properties menu in XP but just when I got excited, it failed after about an hour.

* changed to to a difference casing. The casing is new and was being used without any probs to recycle a 40gb ex-PS3 sata drive

I can't in all honesty say whether it has had any physical damage or not as it is used by members of the household to watch movies and if anyone dropped it, they aren't saying.

I don't know what else to do, or what more I can tell you for now. Please Help!

Regards,

Jenni

 

Thanks for your reply.

Yes it FAT32... I should have added that., and also the fact that this problem has only been happening for the last week or so. Prior to that I have had no problems moving things back and forth. Teh problem has gradually gotten worse.

The biggest files I have are .avi files that average around 700MB.

Even the little document files won't move. I have tired dragging and dropping to the cd drive, desktop, anywhere! and I get the message "Problem copying. Windows encountered a problem when trying to copy this file. What do you want Windows to do?" and the options are retry and cancel.

The most I have managed to do in the last day or so is move a couple of pdfs.

I have tried burning a DATA a CD/DVD with Roxio, but the program crashed.

The best I can do for now is open each document/spreadsheet/powerpoint and then 'save as' somewhere else. I am starting with the ones I need the most because I guess I am pretty convinced that this drive is about to go to heaven.

Thanks again,

Jenni

 

Failing HD often work best when they are cooler. So be sure to unplug when you are not trying to recover your data to let it cool down.

It couldn't hurt to run the Western Digital extended test a second time to see if it finds any new errors. I have had a lot of luck with that utility but it may have done what it can do in your case.

 

That would explain why I can move a small file or two when I first plug it in.
And I will try the scan again... I'll try anything at this point!

Jenni

 

If you are willing to try anything. I might suggest using a Linux Live CD to boot the computer. I'm not sure it would help but other than the time for a 700mb download, I don't see a downside. It would be able to see the USB drive and may access the drive slightly differently and therefore not error in the same way when copying.

Linux Mint is very user friendly and you don't have to know any commands to load it up. Just download the ISO file and write it as an image file to CD using imgburn or similar burning software. Then boot your computer from the CD. It will give you a Windows style desktop and you can try copying the files.

[From past experience I know that sometimes when Windows has trouble copying a file; I have been able to succeed using DOS commands. The problem is that I know of no small DOS bootable disk that will see the USB drive. The Linux CD would achieve the same end of trying a different OS to copy the files.]

 

I get the same errors when i try to copy too much off an HD to another location, make sure when you are trying to copy and or move things the files aren't really huge, 700mb or even a GB might be safe. If you try to move entire folders with loads of movie files with in it you'll probably run into problems cause the folder is just too big.

sach2 is right, the cooler an HD is especially a dieing HD, the better it works. If you have tried EVERYTHING said here then chances are; Yeah the HD's getting ready to go to HD heaven lol.

Although, once you get all the data off the HD, I wouldn't throw it in the trash just yet, Try formatting it and save some junk files on it and see if you still have any of the same problems.

 

Hi again Guys... firstly, thanks so much for all of your help!

I have popped in again to report somewhat of a miracle! (bear with me... I tend to babble!)

I brought another new external USB case last night for another drive I scavanged from an old Vaio laptop, only to find that being a newb to the innards of computers, its not a SATA drive and therefore the case is the wrong type. I thought I'll put the dying WD HD in, just to try again. (the case is exactly the same as the one I used for the ex-PS3 HD that I mentioned before so I wans't really hopeful) ANYWAY... plugged it in to my laptop at home, and no difference!

So I decided that I would bring it to work today, and just open and save the files 1 by 1. Heres the miracle - I kept in mind the coolness thing (thanks sach2!) and held the drive in its side, for maximum air circulation lol... moved a couple of ppt files, no prob :confused ... so I tried a few more... and VERY slowly moved the drive so it is propped next to the computer... and more moved... now it's like there was never anything wrong! I have spent the last 45 mins moving all the ppt, docs, images that I use in my work, threw some music into itunes and even moved some mp4s :-D

To say I am ecstatic would be an understatement :hyper:

Here is my plan now, tho not sure of what order I'll do it as yet...
- delete all the files that I have already copied or that I don't want
- try to run check disk while the drive appears to be working
- attempt to move a couple of .avi files and see how that goes (200 or so GB of .avi files are still on there)
- Run the Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostics, as per sach2
- Move all the avi files that I really want
- reformat, as per biogenesis suggestion.

I will let you know how it all goes!

Jenni

(PS sorry for the info overload, but I thought you guys that know a whole lot more than me might notice something in the details that might be useful:wave)

 

Sounds like a plan. I would skip the chkdisk and get the files while you can.
When you've got everything important, reformat and run the diagnostic extended test.

Because SMART failed and you still had problems with it after letting the WD diagnostic attempt to fix errors don't trust the drive with anything irreplaceable. Temporary storage for large files is probably fine but not anything you really value.

Good Luck!

 

I agree, I wouldn't trust an external HD with things of high importance.

 

Here's the latest...

I moved most files to another HDD before I had to leave work last night. Work Computer is running windows XP. There was about 25GB remaining, as I deleted the .avis as as they were copied. I thought that since it was working, I would try to do the remainder at home. Plugged it into the lappy with vista, no luck.

Anyway, back to work today, and all files moved. I have run the Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostics which returned: SMART status - not available; Quick scan - PASS; extended scan - PASS.

Anyway, I am going to format it now. After that, is there any worth in running the tests again, or do I just see how it goes?

Again, many thanks, Jenni

 

Probably no use in running the tests again after format. It may be good for some time afterwards since it is passing the diagnostics. Definitely choose to do a full format rather than quick.