External HD has issues

snowmagician · 12-13-2020, 11:26 AM

slow, and making noise, but functional

How can I give it a "clean-up" and "auto-repair" session?

Thanks!!

business_kid · 12-13-2020, 11:40 AM

These aren't the days of big clunky hard disks any more. Back it up, while it's still talking to you. If you can't back up, make sure to copy off what you need.

Then go looking for trouble with smartctl. Only then resort to a surface check.

kilgoretrout · 12-13-2020, 11:40 AM

Quote:

slow, and making noise, but functional

That's a very bad combination and most likely portends a failure in the not too distant future. I wouldn't trust that drive at all.

quickbreakfast · 12-13-2020, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowmagician

slow, and making noise, but functional

Those noises is the external drive trying to tell you it's in it's death throes.

Quote:

How can I give it a "clean-up" and "auto-repair" session?

To continue your auto theme, if the drive train of your car started making noises would you clean and repair the drive train, or replace it?

Me, I'd go out and get a replacement external drive TODAY and copy your data onto the new external drive, tonight.

Not replacing your external drive is gambling being stranded on the side of the road on your way to something important.

sgosnell · 12-13-2020, 02:52 PM

As others said, there is no way you can "clean up" or "auto-repair" the HD. Unplug it until you get a replacement drive, and then immediately copy what you need from the dying drive to the new one. If you already have the storage space to accept the files, do it now.