Resolving 'Current Pending Sector' Issue in Microsoft Dynamic Drive Without Resynching Another Disk or Risking Data Loss

Resolving Current Pending Sector Issue in Microsoft Dynamic Drive Without Resynching Another Disk, Risking Data Loss

Current pending sectors are areas on a hard drive that have been marked for reallocation due to errors or damage. If the count of current pending sectors on your Microsoft Dynamic Drive is equal to 15, it might indicate a problem with the SATA cable or the drive itself. In this article, we will discuss how to resolve this issue without resynching another disk, risking data loss.

Understanding Current Pending Sectors

Current pending sectors are a type of bad sector on a hard drive. They are marked for reallocation by the drive's firmware, which means that the data in these sectors will be moved to a spare area of the drive. If the count of current pending sectors is high, it could indicate a problem with the drive or the SATA cable.

Identifying the Problem

To identify the problem, you can use the Windows Disk Error Checking tool. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
2. Type chkdsk /f /r and press Enter.
3. Press Y when prompted to schedule the disk check for the next system restart.
4. Restart your computer and allow the disk check to complete.

If the disk check finds any current pending sectors, it will attempt to move the data to a spare area of the drive. If the count of current pending sectors is still high after the disk check, it could indicate a problem with the SATA cable or the drive itself.

Resolving the Issue

Before replacing the drive or the SATA cable, you can try the following steps to resolve the issue:

1. Disconnect the SATA cable from the drive and the motherboard, and then reconnect it firmly.
2. Try using a different SATA port on the motherboard.
3. Try using a different SATA cable.
4. If none of the above steps work, try updating the firmware of the drive.

Preventing Future Issues

To prevent future issues with current pending sectors, it is recommended to do the following:

1. Regularly check the health of your hard drive using a tool such as CrystalDiskInfo.
2. Keep your operating system and drivers up to date.
3. Avoid exposing the drive to physical shocks or vibrations.
4. Use a reliable and high-quality SATA cable.

Current pending sectors are areas on a hard drive that have been marked for reallocation due to errors or damage. If the count of current pending sectors on your Microsoft Dynamic Drive is equal to 15, it might indicate a problem with the SATA cable or the drive itself. To resolve this issue, you can try disconnecting and reconnecting the SATA cable, trying a different SATA port or cable, or updating the firmware of the drive. To prevent future issues, it is recommended to regularly check the health of your hard drive, keep your operating system and drivers up to date, avoid exposing the drive to physical shocks or vibrations, and use a reliable and high-quality SATA cable.

References

• Change Drive Letter and Paths
• CrystalDiskInfo
• Guide to Using Check Disk in Windows Vista