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Thread ID: 137181 2014-06-03 00:45:00 Seagate Tools - HDD - Failing Short Generic Test - Normal? CCF (6760) Press F1
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1376343 2014-06-03 00:45:00 Hi all

First of all, this question is going to sound stupid, but I like to get a confirmation from those techs out there on the front line. Is it normal and completely fine for Seagate hard drives, new and old to fail the Short-Generic-Test within SeaTools?

Why am I asking this? Well I've purchased a new Seagate Expansion HDD from NLG (around a month ago), upon testing it with Seatools right after purchase, the hdd failed the Short-Generic-Test. Went back to store, had a replaced, no fuss, and what do you know, same issue with the replacement, failed Short-Generic-Test. Ended up getting a store-credit.

Today, testing a hdd at work, same issue (failed Short-Generic-Test) (however reason for testing was that a proprietary app randomly freezing, so just going through the usual TS).

So yeah, is it normal???
CCF (6760)
1376344 2014-06-03 00:59:00 USB Hard Drive ??

It may be that the generic Seagate HD tests cant cope with USB Hard Drive & USB Ports
or the USB port is : too slow (USB1), or USB port is faulty, or going to sleep part way through the test
1101 (13337)
1376345 2014-06-03 02:28:00 Try testing with this - gsmartcontrol.sourceforge.net and see if you get the same result. decibel (11645)
1376346 2014-06-03 02:35:00 The two HDD from NLG were USBs, but the one for work is via internal SATA.

Though I thought the Seatools (at least in the last few years), that they supported USB based HDD, after-all they are selling it as external HDD.

Maybe it just a coincidences?
CCF (6760)
1376347 2014-06-03 03:55:00 I wouldn't call it normal no. I'd be suspicious of a software issue or some other common piece of hardware if it happens all the time. I've had a drive fail the short test before when it had a known faulty sector that I'd "fixed" with a zero fill. It passed the extended test though which always seemed odd to me. Other than that I've never had a supported drive fail the short test. dugimodo (138)
1376348 2014-06-03 05:01:00 Just ran it on the 3 Seagate sata HDDs I have handy (2 x1TB, 1x 2TB), and all passed. inphinity (7274)
1376349 2014-06-03 05:45:00 If it's connected through USB it may not be relaying the SMART information, and the absence of such information may be interpreted as an error. Agent_24 (57)
1376350 2014-06-03 09:22:00 Yeah, the interface the drives are on can give these sorts of results.

For instance, ensure the work SATA drive is connected to a primary SATA interface on the MB, not on an interface on an IDE card.

I once had about 4 new drives (1 new, 3 'reconditioned' warranty ones to replace the original) all fail their initial scans. Turns out there was too much vibration from a nearby fan, and the drives may have been fine all along.

Can't recall if Seatools is the one with a Boot and a Windows version available. If so, try with the opposite tool from the one you've been using.
Paul.Cov (425)
1376351 2014-06-03 09:47:00 I have 3 Seagates, I've used Seatools in the past and they all passed. When they haven't they were taken back for warranty. The new Seagate was scanned and all passed. Same with my WD drive with the WD software. Nomad (952)
1376352 2014-06-04 02:41:00 Thanks guys. Good to know that I can still relay on the Seatools.

Paul.Cov - Cheers for the heads up. Good reminder that vibration from near by devices can cause issues as well.
CCF (6760)
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