Problem with Steam - Disk write error *Now solved*

[Hedge]

My steam used to run on startup and it's stopped doing that now too. Gonna investigate soon.

 

[Hedge]

Hard Disk Sentinel is pretty good program for an initial test https://www.harddisksentinel.com/hdsentinel_setup.zip

Just ran this and sure enough there are problems on the drive. 62 bad sectors on drive surface .

 

[Glanza]

Have you added your external HDD back into your Steam install locations?

 

[mushtafa]

Hard Disk Sentinel is pretty good program for an initial test https://www.harddisksentinel.com/hdsentinel_setup.zip

HD Sentinel currently running surface test. ETA to completion....12hrs! It's only 500gb

 

[mushtafa]

Just to add, I've also completely deleted the Steam Library folder from E: and recreated it via Steam. It downloads for around 10 seconds and stops. Same error.

 

[Puppetmaster]

HD Sentinel currently running surface test. ETA to completion....12hrs! It's only 500gb

I have never used the surface test just the initial health value.

 

[mushtafa]

Right, so I think it's now fixed. I've now installed 2x games.

I had left HDS running for around 2 hours, but the completion ETA went up to around 16 hours. Thinking there might be a problem elsewhere, I stopped it.

I done all the quick tests in HDS and all passed without fault.

I went back to the overview tab of HDS and it said:

Problems occurred between the communication of the disk and the host 6156 times.
In case of sudden system crash, reboot, blue-screen-of-death, inaccessible file(s)/folder(s), it is recommended to verify data and power cables, connections - and if possible try different cables to prevent further problems.
More information: http://www.hdsentinel.com/hard_disk_case_communication_error.php

No actions needed.

This was written on a green background, and said no action needed. The web said it these could have been old errors, and the counter doesn't reset itself, even if the fault has been rectified.
Clutching at straws really, I opened the case and check all connections, but nothing obviously wrong. I unplugged and reconnected the cables on the drive.

I reset the fault counter in HDS, and ran another surface scan. The scan completed in 2 hours without fault. I fired up Steam, and downloaded and installed 2x games.

I'll keep an eye on the counter, but looks like it could have been a bad connector on the SATA cable. Why everything else worked OK, but Steam, I have no idea. I had no warnings from any other programs using data on that drive.

Thanks for all suggestions.