Hard Drive failure

[whiskeybravo 0]

Hello Firstly apologies if this subject has been flogged to death elsewhere.Basically whilst defragging with O & O (by the way make sure you have the lastest updated version before you use as I found a bug similar to Ver 10, as in the defrag takes weeks!),Windows reported a SMART error with the Hard drive.DMA Mode 5 status BAD.It suggested a back up as the drive is failing. When I ran checkdisk no fault was found. But now every time boot up the SMART error appears during POST with the option to contiue by pressing F1.Could I be getting a false report here or should I take notice?The Drive is a Samsung F1 spinpoint 750 GB and it's not really had much use but on checking the web forums it appears that there may have been some issues with the F1.I think I missed the boat when I was building the system and didn't fit a WD Velociraptor which I gather is the 'dogs danglies' for FSX.This brings up the question of putting the OS and FSX with it's addons on one drive which is what I have.Is it a big no no? If I had a 300 GB Velociraptor would that be enough space when considering a 40- 50% overhang on unused space? I've already used 150GB and would add to that as more scenery and stuff was released.If I put Vista on another drive do I need to get into RAID configurations and buying controller cards or can they just run as separate drives?Any help on this would be most appreciated.Thankswhiskeybravo

[orchestra_nl 927]

If SMART reports a problem it is best to RMA the drive if it is still under warranty.You can try the diagnostic tool from Samsung from http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd...port_HUTIL.html to confirm the Smart error. Sometimes the Samsung tool can "repair" some errors. If however the Smart error doesn't go away I would still try to have the drive replaced.If you consider buying another drive, I think the Samsung 640GB series are quite good (F1 or F2 series) but obviously a WD Velociraptor is much faster. It takes a fast PC to make use of it though.I wish you good luck and advise you to make a backup in any case.Allard.

[Mace 1,906]

Agreed...if your 750 gig Samsung is still under warranty I would absolutely pursue that right away. No point in chugging along with a drive that is of questionable reliability.I doubt that your having the OS and FS on the same physical drive caused it to wear out faster. In my experience hard drives are by FAR the weakest link in a box as far as reliability is concerned.The way I built my last FS box was, OS on a 7,200 rpm drive...and FS on a 10,000 rpm drive, but I've run them on the same drive before, too. There are of course many options and opins there. I also prefer to use Seagate and Western Digital. But that's all pref and opin. You should try to get a replacement drive under warranty, if you still can.

[whiskeybravo 0]

Cheers for the replies. I've spoken to the supplier and as the drive is still under warranty so no problems with an RMA.(It's only been in since last November and not really had much use).Incidently I downloaded the Samsung HUTIL hard drive diagnostic tool but have not been able to get it to run. You need to boot into dos preferably via a bootable floppy.I haven't got one on my system so have used a cd and tried to boot from a CD Drive but I keep getting a repeated message 'insert correct media and press any key' at the dos prompt.Just wanted to see what that program would pick up any bad sectors.I'd like to go down the route of a WD Veloci and a another drive for OS but it's pricey isn't it.

[Mace 1,906]

Incidently I downloaded the Samsung HUTIL hard drive diagnostic tool but have not been able to get it to run. You need to boot into dos preferably via a bootable floppy.I haven't got one on my system

Since you don't have a floppy, try this:Download your diagnostic util. Save it to a directory, such as c:\test(Assumes WinXP)Boot the machine into "Safe Mode With Command Prompt" (hold down the F8 key during Win startup...after BIOS but BEFORE the win loading graphic)...a boot menu appears....select safe mode with command prompt, then let the machine boot.Now, this may not work (but it's worth a try since you went to the trouble of downloading the diagnostic util) since most disk diagnostic utils like unfettered access to the hard drive (which the Windows OS would not normally allow).Then navigate to the C:\test dir...type the following (sorry if you have DOS skills, I am not trying to patronize):c:cd testdirThen type the name of the diagnostic util you have. See if it will run.Worth a try anyway.Your other option would be to buy or borrow a 3.5" floppy drive but really it's probably easiest to just RMA the drive, and be done with it.

I'd like to go down the route of a WD Veloci and a another drive for OS but it's pricey isn't it.

Well depends how much you want to spend on it. I can tell you what I saw testing a regular 10,000 rpm Raptor against a Seagate 7,200 rpm drive. I saw FSX load time go from 65 sec to 51 seconds with 7,200 rpm vs. 10,000 with an AMD San Diego machine. (roughly in between the top end P4's and E6600 in speed).

[whiskeybravo 0]

MaceThanks I'll try that. Don't worry you're not being patronising.Although I'm happy building and tinkering with my own systems I certainly wouldn't say was as happy when it comes to understanding the software side of things.I think I've already got half way with your suggestion,so I may give it another go, although yes I'll definately will be RMA'ing the drive.