Do I have to reformat ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sam
  • Start date Start date
: > I just ran Hardware Tune on the C Partition and I am getting 2.5
MB/sec
: > while on my other Maxtor Partition I am getting around 56 MB/sec.
:
: So your C: partiton on the Maxtor is slow but your D: on the Maxtor is
fine.
: Yeah, that makes sense.
:
: > My DMA is enabled to 5 on my Primary IDE channel. Something is
definitely
: > not right.

My mistake...I thought the HD Utility was looking at the other
partition, but in fact it was looking at the other drive. So, NO. My
Maxtor is 2.5 MB/s while my WD is 56 MB/s.

Does this make sense now?
 
: "Sam" <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de : Ziv8h.343523$5R2.314957@pd7urf3no
:
: > Just wondering if I have to kill my partition and reload Windows?
:
: Have you first tried "chkdsk c: /r"? It will detect and fence off bad
: sectors if there are any.
:
: --
: ~~~~ clmasse on free F-country
: Free technical support at : http://www.protonic.com/
:
:

I ran everything including Maxtor's Utility PowerMax in both both quick
and extended test mode. My Maxtor passed everthing.
 
Boy...that was fast. Here is the log:
Click to expand...

The drive is fine, the cable should be replaced. More comments interleaved below.
--------[ EVEREST Home Edition (c) 2003-2005 Lavalys,
Inc. ]------------------------------------------------------------

Version EVEREST v2.20.405
Homepage
http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Report Wizard
Computer ECS
Generator Sam Operating
System Microsoft Windows XP
Professional 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2006-11-22
Time 20:20


--------[
SMART
]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Maxtor 6L250R0 (L598P9BG) ]

03 Spin Up Time 63 178 178 23707
OK: Value is normal
04 Start/Stop Count 0 253 253 477
OK: Always passing
05 Reallocated Sector Count 63 253 253 0
OK: Value is normal
06 Read Channel Margin 100 253 253 0
OK: Value is normal
07 Seek Error Rate 0 253 252 0
OK: Always passing
08 Seek Time Performance 187 248 238 36076
OK: Value is normal
09 Power-On Time Count 0 248 248 42758
OK: Always passing
0A Spin Retry Count 157 253 252 0
OK: Value is normal
0B Calibration Retry Count 223 253 252 0
OK: Value is normal
0C Power Cycle Count 0 252 252 473
OK: Always passing
C0 Power-Off Retract Count 0 253 253 0
OK: Always passing
C1 Load/Unload Cycle Count 0 253 253 0
OK: Always passing
C2 Temperature 0 32 253 33
OK: Always passing
C3 Hardware ECC Recovered 0 253 252 1760
OK: Always passing
C4 Reallocation Event Count 0 253 253 0
OK: Always passing
C5 Current Pending Sector Count 0 253 253 0
OK: Always passing
C6 Off-Line Uncorrectable Sector Count 0 253 253 0
OK: Always passing
C7 Ultra ATA CRC Error Rate 0 1 1 48594
OK: Always passing
Click to expand...

Thats a high level of errors on the cable to the drive.

Try replacing the cable and dont use round cables,
use proper flat 80 wire ribbon cables.

Check that the OS is using the DMA for the drive, it may well have
turned that off with that high an error rate. Check in the Device Manager.
C8 Write Error Rate 0 253 252 0
OK: Always passing
C9 <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0
OK: Always passing
CA <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0
OK: Always passing
CB <vendor-specific> 180 253 252 0
OK: Value is normal
CC <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0
OK: Always passing
CD <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0
OK: Always passing
CF <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0
OK: Always passing
D0 <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0
OK: Always passing
D1 <vendor-specific> 0 235 235 224
OK: Always passing
D2 <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0
OK: Always passing
D3 <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0
OK: Always passing
D4 <vendor-specific> 0 253 249 0
OK: Always passing

[ WDC WD2000JB-00GVA0 (WD-WCAL81550730) ]

01 Raw Read Error Rate 51 200 200 0
OK: Value is normal
03 Spin Up Time 21 123 112 6350
OK: Value is normal
04 Start/Stop Count 40 99 99 1283
OK: Value is normal
05 Reallocated Sector Count 140 200 200 0
OK: Value is normal
07 Seek Error Rate 51 200 200 0
OK: Value is normal
09 Power-On Time Count 0 95 95 4168
OK: Always passing
0A Spin Retry Count 51 100 100 0
OK: Value is normal
0B Calibration Retry Count 51 100 100 0
OK: Value is normal
0C Power Cycle Count 0 99 99 1234
OK: Always passing
C2 Temperature 0 117 99 33
OK: Always passing
C4 Reallocation Event Count 0 200 200 0
OK: Always passing
C5 Current Pending Sector Count 0 200 200 0
OK: Always passing
C6 Off-Line Uncorrectable Sector Count 0 200 200 0
OK: Always passing
C7 Ultra ATA CRC Error Rate 0 200 253 2
OK: Always passing
C8 Write Error Rate 51 200 200 0
OK: Value is normal
Click to expand...
 
Sam said:
I just ran Hardware Tune on the C Partition and I am getting 2.5 MB/sec
while on my other Maxtor Partition I am getting around 56 MB/sec.
Click to expand...

Looks like the OS has turned the DMA off on
the drive with the high CRC error rate on the cable.
My DMA is enabled to 5 on my Primary IDE channel.
Click to expand...

Where are you getting that from exactly ?

Check that DMA is being used in the Device Manager.
Something is definitely not right.
Click to expand...

Yeah, looks like you have a bad cable and DMA has been turned off.
 
:
: Yeah, looks like you have a bad cable and DMA has been turned off.

Bingo! I thought this was the case, but when I ran other hard drive
utilities it said UDMA 5. Then, when I ran Drive Fitness Test (DFT) it
showed DMA 0. I compared that with my WD which was 5. I checked my IDE
channel settings through MY COMPUTER more carefully this time and only
PIO was enabled.

I then did a search on Maxtor's site about DMA and not being able to
turn it on. Apparently, if there are more than 6 CRC errors then the
DMA is lowered:

"Windows XP downgrades the Ultra DMA transfer mode after receiving more
than six CRC errors. Whenever possible, the operating system will step
down one UDMA mode at a time (from UDMA mode 4 to UDMA mode 3, and so
on....

http://maxtor.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/maxtor.cfg/php/enduser/olh_adp.php?p_faqid=1326

Should I be concerned about the errors that I have had? Should I do a
reformat?
 
:
:
: Thats a high level of errors on the cable to the drive.

Where are you seeing the Errors on the cable?

: Try replacing the cable and dont use round cables,
: use proper flat 80 wire ribbon cables.

I am not sure I can tell the difference. At the moment, I am using
rectangular cables that are flat. The cable is a little kinked because
of the location of the IDE channel and because I am using the same cable
for the second WD drive. The CD ROM is on it's own IDE channel.

: Check that the OS is using the DMA for the drive, it may well have
: turned that off with that high an error rate. Check in the Device
Manager.

Yes, it was. See my last post.
 
Rod,
I think I know where you see the CRC error rate: C7?

Both my WD and my Maxtor are connected. But, my WD is fine but Maxtor is high:



SMART

--------------------------------------------------------------------------


[ Maxtor 6L250R0 (L598P9BG) ]

ID Attribute Description Threshold Value Worst Data Status
03 Spin Up Time 63 178 178 24913 OK: Value is normal
04 Start/Stop Count 0 253 253 481 OK: Always passing
05 Reallocated Sector Count 63 253 253 0 OK: Value is normal
06 Read Channel Margin 100 253 253 0 OK: Value is normal
07 Seek Error Rate 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
08 Seek Time Performance 187 247 238 57736 OK: Value is normal
09 Power-On Time Count 0 248 248 43539 OK: Always passing
0A Spin Retry Count 157 253 252 0 OK: Value is normal
0B Calibration Retry Count 223 253 252 0 OK: Value is normal
0C Power Cycle Count 0 252 252 476 OK: Always passing
C0 Power-Off Retract Count 0 253 253 0 OK: Always passing
C1 Load/Unload Cycle Count 0 253 253 0 OK: Always passing
C2 Temperature 0 32 253 31 OK: Always passing
C3 Hardware ECC Recovered 0 253 252 2674 OK: Always passing
C4 Reallocation Event Count 0 253 253 0 OK: Always passing
C5 Current Pending Sector Count 0 253 253 0 OK: Always passing
C6 Off-Line Uncorrectable Sector Count 0 253 253 0 OK: Always passing
C7 Ultra ATA CRC Error Rate 0 1 1 49992 OK: Always passing
C8 Write Error Rate 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
C9 <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
CA <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
CB <vendor-specific> 180 253 252 0 OK: Value is normal
CC <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
CD <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
CF <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
D0 <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
D1 <vendor-specific> 0 235 235 224 OK: Always passing
D2 <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
D3 <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
D4 <vendor-specific> 0 253 249 0 OK: Always passing

[ WDC WD2000JB-00GVA0 (WD-WCAL81550730) ]

ID Attribute Description Threshold Value Worst Data Status
01 Raw Read Error Rate 51 200 200 0 OK: Value is normal
03 Spin Up Time 21 126 112 6225 OK: Value is normal
04 Start/Stop Count 40 99 99 1287 OK: Value is normal
05 Reallocated Sector Count 140 200 200 0 OK: Value is normal
07 Seek Error Rate 51 200 200 0 OK: Value is normal
09 Power-On Time Count 0 95 95 4184 OK: Always passing
0A Spin Retry Count 51 100 100 0 OK: Value is normal
0B Calibration Retry Count 51 100 100 0 OK: Value is normal
0C Power Cycle Count 0 99 99 1237 OK: Always passing
C2 Temperature 0 119 99 31 OK: Always passing
C4 Reallocation Event Count 0 200 200 0 OK: Always passing
C5 Current Pending Sector Count 0 200 200 0 OK: Always passing
C6 Off-Line Uncorrectable Sector Count 0 200 200 0 OK: Always passing
C7 Ultra ATA CRC Error Rate 0 200 253 2 OK: Always passing
C8 Write Error Rate 51 200 200 0 OK: Value is normal
 
Correct
Rod,
I think I know where you see the CRC error rate: C7?

Both my WD and my Maxtor are connected. But, my WD is fine but Maxtor is high:



SMART

------------------------------------------------------------------------


[ Maxtor 6L250R0 (L598P9BG) ]

ID Attribute Description Threshold Value Worst Data Status
03 Spin Up Time 63 178 178 24913 OK: Value is normal
04 Start/Stop Count 0 253 253 481 OK: Always passing
05 Reallocated Sector Count 63 253 253 0 OK: Value is normal
06 Read Channel Margin 100 253 253 0 OK: Value is normal
07 Seek Error Rate 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
08 Seek Time Performance 187 247 238 57736 OK: Value is normal
09 Power-On Time Count 0 248 248 43539 OK: Always passing
0A Spin Retry Count 157 253 252 0 OK: Value is normal
0B Calibration Retry Count 223 253 252 0 OK: Value is normal
0C Power Cycle Count 0 252 252 476 OK: Always passing
C0 Power-Off Retract Count 0 253 253 0 OK: Always passing
C1 Load/Unload Cycle Count 0 253 253 0 OK: Always passing
C2 Temperature 0 32 253 31 OK: Always passing
C3 Hardware ECC Recovered 0 253 252 2674 OK: Always passing
C4 Reallocation Event Count 0 253 253 0 OK: Always passing
C5 Current Pending Sector Count 0 253 253 0 OK: Always passing
C6 Off-Line Uncorrectable Sector Count 0 253 253 0 OK: Always passing
C7 Ultra ATA CRC Error Rate 0 1 1 49992 OK: Always passing
C8 Write Error Rate 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
C9 <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
CA <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
CB <vendor-specific> 180 253 252 0 OK: Value is normal
CC <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
CD <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
CF <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
D0 <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
D1 <vendor-specific> 0 235 235 224 OK: Always passing
D2 <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
D3 <vendor-specific> 0 253 252 0 OK: Always passing
D4 <vendor-specific> 0 253 249 0 OK: Always passing

[ WDC WD2000JB-00GVA0 (WD-WCAL81550730) ]

ID Attribute Description Threshold Value Worst Data Status
01 Raw Read Error Rate 51 200 200 0 OK: Value is normal
03 Spin Up Time 21 126 112 6225 OK: Value is normal
04 Start/Stop Count 40 99 99 1287 OK: Value is normal
05 Reallocated Sector Count 140 200 200 0 OK: Value is normal
07 Seek Error Rate 51 200 200 0 OK: Value is normal
09 Power-On Time Count 0 95 95 4184 OK: Always passing
0A Spin Retry Count 51 100 100 0 OK: Value is normal
0B Calibration Retry Count 51 100 100 0 OK: Value is normal
0C Power Cycle Count 0 99 99 1237 OK: Always passing
C2 Temperature 0 119 99 31 OK: Always passing
C4 Reallocation Event Count 0 200 200 0 OK: Always passing
C5 Current Pending Sector Count 0 200 200 0 OK: Always passing
C6 Off-Line Uncorrectable Sector Count 0 200 200 0 OK: Always passing
C7 Ultra ATA CRC Error Rate 0 200 253 2 OK: Always passing
C8 Write Error Rate 51 200 200 0 OK: Value is normal
 
Where are you seeing the Errors on the cable?
Click to expand...

That entry I put that comment directly under, for that reason.
I am not sure I can tell the difference.
Click to expand...

The round cables are round. Novel concept what |-)
At the moment, I am using rectangular cables that are flat.
Click to expand...

OK, you arent using a round cable.
The cable is a little kinked because of the location of the IDE channel
and because I am using the same cable for the second WD drive.
Click to expand...

Its unlikely to be that. They usually get damaged by reefing
the off the drive connector by yanking on the ribbon itself.
 
Bingo! I thought this was the case, but when I ran other hard drive
utilities it said UDMA 5. Then, when I ran Drive Fitness Test (DFT)
it showed DMA 0. I compared that with my WD which was 5.
I checked my IDE channel settings through MY COMPUTER
more carefully this time and only PIO was enabled.
Click to expand...

Yeah, thats the reason for your chkdsk errors too.
I then did a search on Maxtor's site about DMA and
not being able to turn it on. Apparently, if there are
more than 6 CRC errors then the DMA is lowered:
Click to expand...
"Windows XP downgrades the Ultra DMA transfer mode after receiving more
than six CRC errors. Whenever possible, the operating system will step down
one UDMA mode at a time (from UDMA mode 4 to UDMA mode 3, and so on....
Click to expand...
http://maxtor.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/maxtor.cfg/php/enduser/olh_adp.php?p_faqid=1326
Click to expand...

Correct. And dont forget to do the fix at the bottom of that, it wont
turn DMA back on auto once you have replaced the bad cable.
Should I be concerned about the errors that I have had?
Click to expand...

Should be fine once you can run chkdsk without any
more errors being reported once you have replaced
the bad cable and things appear to be working fine.
Should I do a reformat?
Click to expand...

I wouldnt unless it doesnt appear to be behaving properly with the new cable.
 
:: Should I be concerned about the errors that I have had?
:
: Should be fine once you can run chkdsk without any
: more errors being reported once you have replaced
: the bad cable and things appear to be working fine.
:
: > Should I do a reformat?
:
: I wouldnt unless it doesnt appear to be behaving properly with the new
cable.

Curious though. How is it that the bad cable is only affecting my
Maxtor and not my WD even though it's the same piece of cable?
 
Rod Speed said:
That entry I put that comment directly under, for that reason.



The round cables are round. Novel concept what |-)
Click to expand...

What made you think he understands concept?
OK, you arent using a round cable.


Its unlikely to be that. They usually get damaged by reefing
the off the drive connector by yanking on the ribbon itself.
Click to expand...

You forgot to ask: Yes, it was 'what'?
 
Curious though. How is it that the bad cable is only affecting my
Maxtor and not my WD even though it's the same piece of cable?
Click to expand...

Presumably the fault is in that particular connector, to that drive,
and the connection between that connector and the ribbon.

The connectors have little prong like things that bite the ribbon
to cut thru the insulation and grip the wires. If one of the two
that grip each individual wire gets bent over at assembly time, it
wont make very good contact because the wire isnt being gripped
between two prongs. That will only affect that particular drive, the
drive on that connector. The contact will be fine at the other connectors.
 
: > Curious though. How is it that the bad cable is only affecting my
: > Maxtor and not my WD even though it's the same piece of cable?
:
: Presumably the fault is in that particular connector, to that drive,
: and the connection between that connector and the ribbon.

I didnt have a chance to buy a new 80 pin cable. What I did however,
was try the different ends on my Maxtor. I tried the same cable and end
that was foremerly connected to my WD (reporting 200 CRC's). I got the
same 50,000. I then took my IDE2 cable from my CD Rom and used that.
Same thing, same 50,000 CRC's.

:
: The connectors have little prong like things that bite the ribbon
: to cut thru the insulation and grip the wires. If one of the two
: that grip each individual wire gets bent over at assembly time, it
: wont make very good contact because the wire isnt being gripped
: between two prongs. That will only affect that particular drive, the
: drive on that connector. The contact will be fine at the other
connectors.

Is my drive bad? Would a reformat fix things?
 
I didnt have a chance to buy a new 80 pin cable. What I did however,
was try the different ends on my Maxtor. I tried the same cable and
end that was foremerly connected to my WD (reporting 200 CRC's).
I got the same 50,000.
Click to expand...

If that is from the Everest SMART report, thats a cumulative
total, so that does indicate that its the connector since you
got 200 CRCs with the WD which didnt previousy have any.
I then took my IDE2 cable from my CD Rom and
used that. Same thing, same 50,000 CRC's.
Click to expand...

Again, because its a cumulative total. That cable looks like its fine.

If you plan to keep using that one, make sure its got 80 wires,
not all of the ones used for cdrom drives have, plenty only have
40. The difference is obvious just by looking at them side by side.
Is my drive bad?
Click to expand...

Nope, it looks like the cable is indeed bad at that connector and that a
new cable will fix the problem and that you are just misinterpreting the
Everest SMART report, not realising that the number of CRCs is cumulative.
Would a reformat fix things?
Click to expand...

Nope.
 
Curious though. How is it that the bad cable is only affecting my
Maxtor and not my WD even though it's the same piece of cable?
Click to expand...

I also have a similar issue with a Maxtor drive. When it get back to PIO, I
uninstall its driver in the device manager, and I reboot. It then works
fine. Make sure that the drive is well cooled down too.
 
Sam said:
I didnt have a chance to buy a new 80 pin cable. What I did however,
was try the different ends on my Maxtor. I tried the same cable and end
that was foremerly connected to my WD (reporting 200 CRC's). I got the
same 50,000. I then took my IDE2 cable from my CD Rom and used that.
Same thing, same 50,000 CRC's.
Click to expand...

Wow, the cable didn't make them go away huh? Weird man!
 
Sam said:
Bingo! I thought this was the case, but when I ran other hard drive
utilities it said UDMA 5. Then, when I ran Drive Fitness Test (DFT) it
showed DMA 0. I compared that with my WD which was 5. I checked my IDE
channel settings through MY COMPUTER more carefully this time and only
PIO was enabled.

I then did a search on Maxtor's site about DMA and not being able to turn it on.
Apparently, if there are more than 6 CRC errors then the DMA is lowered:
Click to expand...
"Windows XP downgrades the Ultra DMA transfer mode after receiving more
than six CRC errors. Whenever possible, the operating system will step down
one UDMA mode at a time (from UDMA mode 4 to UDMA mode 3, and so on....
Click to expand...

So at worst it will stop using UDMA after 6 times 7 is 42 CRC errors.
Since it will only use CRC error detection in UDMA mode that's all the CRC
errors that you should have.

Have fun explaining the other 50_odd_1000 minus 42.
 
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