How to Fix Reallocated Sector Count Warning

User Query: Reallocate sector count [Crystal Disk Info]!

What is Reallocated Sector Count Warning?

A reallocated sector count warning is a critical SMART alert indicating physical degradation of your hard drive or SSD. It occurs when the drive's monitoring system detects unstable, damaged, or unreadable sectors—the basic storage units on the disk.

To prevent immediate data loss, the drive firmware automaticallymoves data from these failing sectors to a reserved pool of healthy spare sectors, a function often described as the drive's internal "first aid." While this process helps maintain short-term operation, the warning itself signals that the drive is consuming its limited spare resources. As spare sectors deplete, the risk of permanent failure and irreversible data loss increases significantly.

Simple Terms: It's a Symptom, Not the Disease

Causes of the Reallocated Sector Count Warning Windows

This warning indicates physical degradation of a storage device. Primary causes include:

1. Normal Wear & Aging

Extended operation gradually weakens magnetic surfaces on HDD platters, destabilizing sectors over time.

2. Physical Shock

Impacts or vibrations while the drive is operating can cause head-to-platter contact, physically damaging sectors.

3. Manufacturing Defects

Minor material flaws or imperfections may develop into unstable sectors during the drive's lifespan.

4. Overheating

Sustained high temperatures accelerate component wear, increasing read/write errors on both HDDs and SSDs.

5. Power Issues

Voltage fluctuations or sudden power loss can corrupt sectors during write operations, forcing reallocation.

6. Write Cycle Exhaustion (SSDs)

SSD memory cells have limited write endurance. Heavy use wears out cells, triggering reallocation to reserved blocks.

7. Flash Memory Bad Blocks (SSDs)

NAND flash can develop defective blocks due to production flaws or wear, requiring data remapping.

How to Fix Hard Drive Reallocated Sector Count Warning?

For a hard drive's "Reallocated Sectors Count" warning, our core objective should not be repair, but data rescue and risk management, as bad sectors represent irreversible physical damage.The following are some practical measures for your reference when encountering the S.M.A.R.T reallocated sector count warning on HDD or SSD drive.

Step 1: Data Backup (Critical)

This is the first and most urgent action you must take. Immediately copy all important data from the failing drive to another healthy storage device or cloud service. For personal files or full disk backup, you can directly use Windows File History or Backup and Restore Windows 7 tool.

Step 2: Assess Drive Health with SMART Tools

Then, we recommend using professional diagnostic software to monitor the trend, not just a single number. For Windows users, CrystalDiskInfo (Windows) is an excellent option for its clear interface.

Pay attention to the following key parameters:

• Reallocated Sectors Count (ID 05): Confirms the warning. A consistently increasing number is a sure sign of active degradation.
• Current Pending Sector Count (ID C5): Sectors that are unstable but not yet reallocated. A high or rising value here indicates imminent problems.
• Uncorrectable Sector Count (ID C6): Sectors that have permanently failed. Any value above zero is a serious red flag.

Step 3: Attempt Remediation with CHKDSK (Use with Extreme Caution)

You can attempt to force the drive to formally recognize and map out bad sectors. This does not fix the physical damage but consumes the drive's spare sectors.

1: Open Command Prompt as Administratorby pressing "Win+X" and selecting "Command Prompt (admin)."

2: Run: chkdsk X: /f /r (Replace X with your actual drive letter).

This process performs intensive read/write operations. Only run this after completing your backup. On a severely degraded drive, this stress can potentially trigger complete failureand cause data loss.

👉Further reference: can CHKDSK recover deleted files

Step 4: Evaluation and Replacement Plan

Based on the SMART data, now make a final decision.

A. Continuous Monitor for Temporary Use

If the count is low and has remained stable for months.The drive might be usable for non-criticaltasks only. For example, storeeasily re-downloadable media (movies, music), temporary download/cache locations, or runnon-essential software.

Do not store your only copies of personal documents, photos, or work projects on it, oruse it as your primary/boot drive.

B. Replace Immediately

If he reallocated sector count is rapidly increasing, or if values for C5/C6 are high.This means the drive is actively failing. You had better safely replace it:

• Purchase a New Drive: Open your computer case or check specifications to confirm if your current drive uses SATA or M.2 (NVMe) interface, and if it's 2.5-inch (common in laptops) or 3.5-inch (common in desktops).
• Clone Your Drive: This transfers your entire operating system, programs, and files to the new drive, so you can boot from it immediately without reinstalling everything.
• Physical Swap & Verification: After cloning, power down your computer, disconnect the old drive, and install the new drive in its place.
• Boot & Verify: Start your computer. It should boot normally from the new drive. Use CrystalDiskInfo again to confirm the new drive's health is perfect.

Bonus Tip: Recover Data Missing During the Repair or Replacement

Sometimes, the reallocated sector count warning appears after data has become inaccessible. If you failed to backup in time and are facing data loss, professional data recovery software can be a last resort to scan the drive and recover files.

For a reliable and user-friendly option, you could try MyRecover. It supports recovery from various data loss scenarios on HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, and SD cards.

Step 1. Download the software installer from the official website and run the setup file to finish the installation.

Step 2. Launch the software and select the drive/partition from which you lost data. Click "Scan".

Step 3. After the scan, browse the results. Use the preview function (for photos, documents) to check file integrity.

Step 4. Select the files you need and click "Recover." You will be prompted to choose a destination folder to save the recovered items.

FAQs

Q1: Can I Continue Using a Hard Drive with AHigh Reallocated Sector Count?

It is strongly discouraged. The drive has started consuming its finite backup resources. While you might use it temporarily for non-critical files, you must immediately back up all important data. Continuing regular use, especially as the primary or boot drive, significantly increases the risk of sudden, complete failure and permanent data loss.

Q2: What Are the Typical Signs of Hard Drive Failure?

Besides the S.M.A.R.T. warning, watch for:

• Unusual noises from the drive (like clicking or grinding, typical of HDDs).
• Very slow performance and frequent system freezes.
• Files and folders becoming corrupted or disappearing.
• The operating system failing to boot or frequent "disk read/write" error messages.

Q3: Can Running a Disk Defragmentation Tool Fix This Warning?

No, absolutely not. For traditional HDDs, defragmentation only reorganizes data to improve read speed; it cannot repair physical bad sectors. For SSDs, defragmentation is unnecessary and wears out the drive. In both cases, the process involves intensive read/write operations that can stress a failing drive and potentially accelerate its failure.

Q4: Is It Possible to Repair Bad Sectors on a Hard Drive?

You cannot repair the physical damage. Software utilities (like chkdsk /r in Windows) can force the drive to recognize and formally reallocate bad sectors. However, this merely consumes more of your limited spare sectors and is a temporary measure, not a fix. The only reliable long-term solution is to replace the drive.

Q5: How Can I Prevent the Reallocation of Sectors on My Hard Drive?

While all drives eventually wear out, you can maximize their lifespan by:

• Regularly backing up your data (the most important practice).
• Ensuring proper cooling to prevent overheating.
• Using a surge protector or uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
• Handling computers and external drives gently, especially when powered on.

Summary

The reallocated sector count warning on a hard drive can be a cause for concern, indicating potential data loss if left unaddressed. By following the solutions provided in this essay, you can mitigate the risk of further problems and take proactive measures to protect your data. Remember to regularly backup your important files and consider seeking professional assistance for lost data recovery if needed. With proper maintenance and monitoring, you can help extend the lifespan of your hard drive and ensure the safety of your valuable data.