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Thread ID: 134610 2013-07-18 23:54:00 reallllllly slow hdd diagnostics NZHawk (4093) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1349315 2013-07-18 23:54:00 Hitachi 160Gb HDD
running SeaTools for DOS
has been running for 40 minutes + and has only complete 2%

is this indicative of a failing hdd?
NZHawk (4093)
1349316 2013-07-18 23:58:00 See if its running in PIO mode under the IDE entry in device manager. See what its on. If it's running in PIO mode, that maybe the reason why its slow.

What version of windows is installed? Or check the BIOS see if its got a DMA / PIO option. See what thats on
Speedy Gonzales (78)
1349317 2013-07-19 00:24:00 Sometimes DOS is quite slow as it can't take advantage of windows driver related features, hard to say if going slow indicates a problem or not. Also is Seatools compatible with non seagate hard drives? I'm not sure I'd trust it completely, do Hitachi not have diagnostic software? (or are the two brands related in some way?)

You could try booting of a windows DVD and running chkdsk, not as good but still should give you an Idea.
dugimodo (138)
1349318 2013-07-19 00:34:00 See if its running in PIO mode under the IDE entry in device manager.
See what its on. If it's running in PIO mode, that maybe the reason why its slow. unable to determine or find where listed
Hitachi IDE

What version of windows is installed? Windows Vista Home Basic
Check the BIOS see if its got a DMA / PIO option: PhoenixBios - no option
NZHawk (4093)
1349319 2013-07-19 00:46:00 Hmm have you tried connecting it to a desktop to scan it?? Speedy Gonzales (78)
1349320 2013-07-19 02:07:00 running SeaTools for DOS


Dos
so ignore the comments re PIO mode obviously :-)

HD tests in DOS do take longer, especially a full surface scan.
But that does seem too slow , will be 30 hours to complete by the sounds of it :rolleyes:
I wouldnt trust that HD, personally. Some drives can pass every test you throw at it , yet still actually be faulty .

I assuming you booted off a seatools CD/floppy & arnt running it withing Windows
1101 (13337)
1349321 2013-07-19 04:39:00 Drives generally die in one of two ways:

Controller - in which case the BIOS won't even see it
Disk itself - in which case you get errors, clicks, corrupt files, slowness in loading stuff etc....
Event Viewer - System will often show DISK errors.

If it does, evict it.
pctek (84)
1349322 2013-07-19 04:42:00 Thank you.
I'll recheck the Event Viewer
NZHawk (4093)
1349323 2013-07-19 04:51:00 "sometimes" the drives own SMART will actually detect a failure - quick and easy way, try using CrystalDiskInfo (crystalmark.info) it wll give you a look at what the SMART is actually saying. ( get the zipped version, the exe appears to have open Candy bundled, the Zip is clean) Doesn't always mean the drive is failing, as one of mine has been showing "Caution" for over 8 months now, yet still plodding along with no problems or disk errors. wainuitech (129)
1349324 2013-07-19 05:57:00 Thank you.
will give CrystalDiskInfo a try

event viewer was clean - no hdd errors
NZHawk (4093)
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