> Random crc READ errors: is KC_2 blind ?

[_Cluster]

Hi all,
Lately i've been experiencing some trouble with my kc_2, bought a month ago. I use frequently external hd storage, usb external drives mainly, i have 7 different brand & capacity drives on my desk right now !
I came to know about the crc errors because i use winrar to pack my data (iso images, big files etc..), and i have my default compressing profile to add always a recovery record AND crc verify the final archive(s). I usually pack the data on a LOCAL drive D, and then move it to an external storage drive (now using WD scorpio 120 gb external 2.5 drive). I never checked the packed files once moved through kc_2 to that E drive, cause i was confident, plus winrar already checked them (but on internal drive D), until i did that lately, to see that the compressed files already verified for crc integrity on drive D were returning crc errors once moved to E through KC_2. So i have done some tests :

System: XP SP3 patched and smoothly running!
1x KC_2 (2008 rev).
1x WD scorpio 120 gb external 2.5 drive (ide)

Crc tests: FlashSFV v2.6 wich uses CRC32 to check files integrity.
HashTab v2.3.0 wich uses MD5, SHA-1, crc32, tiger etc..
and of course Winrar wich is a robust and reliable application.

So the tests are simple:
1- Start with moving or copying different size one-piece files from local drive D to external drive E through KC_2.
2- Repeat the process with rar packed files, of different sizes.

I have been running the tests for the last 3 days!
Here are some samples:

1- Testing with an iso image of 1.25 gb --> CRC errors all the time, no exeption! see here for sfv



and here for md5




Now i pack the image locally and verify the archives before moving them to E, and then i move them through kc_2 and perform multiple MD5 and CRC32 checks, here is what i get:



i test again:



and again



now i check also the MD5 :



and i test again:



weird!! now the files show ok! so itest once again:



hmm..
As you see, some files once reported with crc errors appear OK in the next test! Both with md5 and crc32, winrar integrity check also reports the same.
So from now i started thinking that KC_2 is writing the data CORRECTLY but not being able to READ it correctly, so i conducted another series of tests, with rar archives, the goal was to get them copied back CORRECTLY to the internal drive D after having them moved through KC_2 to E, and here is what i get:

(see next)

[_Cluster]

Here i rar-pack an iso image of ~ 2gb, locally (drive D), test it for integrity and then move it through KC_2 to an external drive (E). After that i test the archives with winrar (crc32), here is what i get:

19:06 29-Mar-09
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part03.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The file is corrupt

19:31 29-Mar-09
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part02.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part03.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part08.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part14.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The file is corrupt

19:59 29-Mar-09
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part05.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part07.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part08.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part11.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part13.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part16.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The file is corrupt

00:40 30-Mar-09
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part01.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part09.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The file is corrupt

16:16 31-Mar-09
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part02.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part10.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part13.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The file is corrupt

18:41 31-Mar-09
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part09.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part12.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part14.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part16.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part17.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The file is corrupt

18:48 31-Mar-09
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part03.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part16.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part17.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The file is corrupt

19:24 31-Mar-09
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part13.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The file is corrupt

20:08 31-Mar-09
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part03.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part13.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The file is corrupt


20:10 31-Mar-09
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part04.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part07.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part11.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part13.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part16.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The file is corrupt

20:23 31-Mar-09
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part02.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part03.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part05.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part16.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The file is corrupt

00:24 01-Apr-09
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part07.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part15.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The file is corrupt

01:27 01-Apr-09
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part02.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part09.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part16.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! E:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The file is corrupt


As you see, i got the confirmation here about the random read errors using the KC_2. Files are sometimes correctly read and sometimes not!


OK, now copying Rars back from external disk E to local disk C, through KC_2, (as my concern is also : could i get back my data despite all this?)
results -->

00:31 01-Apr-09
! C:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part05.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! C:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part06.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! C:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part07.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! C:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part09.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! C:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part14.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! C:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part16.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! C:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The file is corrupt

Copying (only crc failed rars) again to local disk C:, through KC_2,
results -->
00:35 01-Apr-09
! C:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part06.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! C:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRM_E0.iso. The file is corrupt

Now copying only crc failed rars again, from E to local disk C, through KC_2,
results -->
00:35 01-Apr-09
! C:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part06.rar: Packed data CRC failed in NRMLFPP_EN0.iso. The volume is corrupt
! C:\MSBS.03.SE\NRM_E0.part18.rar: CRC failed in NRMLFPP_EN0.iso. The file is corrupt

we are getting better!

Now copying only crc failed rars 06 & 18 again to local disk C, through KC_2,
results -->
00:38 01-Apr-09
No errors found during test operation.

So it is now obvious that KC_2 (at least the one i own) is able to WRITE data correctly. but is not able to READ it correctly, resulting in random crc read errors. In this test he failed to read part18 (5mb) multiple times, but when i paused the overwrite process (after moving part06 (100mb), KC_2 was finally able to read it correctly. I was able then to extract all the packed data correctly, on drive C. So now to store my data to an external disk, i need it packed in rar format so to be able to test it multiple times for crc errors, until i get KC_2 to read it correctly at least once..

No need to mention that i have done these tests with a lot more data and other 3.5 IDE drives (sygate), the results are the same. KC_2 writes the data correctly but fails to do so when reading it!

I did not experience this with other brands such as some disk docking stations, and still hope scythe get this issue really fixed once forever..we really like the product for its portability, functionality and design..but we need it to be reliable.

[hiroshige]

Hello _Cluster,

first of all I would like to thank you very much for your detailed error description.
Actually, Kama Connect 2 is a real sensitive device and I for myself had some of them in RMA which you can see here: (link)

My experience with Kama Connect 2 is, that out of 10 items which come in for RMA, 1 or 2 are really showing these CRC errors - so the rest is user-related.

What you are showing up looks like a real broken KC2 for me - so could you please send it back for RMA to your reseller?

Cheers,
Stefan - Scythe EU Hamburg

[_Cluster]

Stefan thank you for your answer, i left you a PM.

[_Cluster]

Well, i recieved the new KC_2, tested it and it is the same problem!
I'm getting the same CRC errors, an this is really disappointing!
Nevertheless, though i'm well equipped here for my tests, i'm gonna take it to a serious lab for another bunch of tests, this idea helps me retain my !
I will let you know.

[hiroshige]

Hello _Cluster,

actually I tested the KC2 i shipped to you using the procedure which I described in the forum and there have been no errors - could you please give me a not when you tested the devie in the lab?

Kind regards,
Stefan - Scythe EU Hamburg

[sin]

Hi!
I have the same issue . The problem is with reading data through KC2. When I test files through IDE interface, everything is ok.

[hiroshige]

Hello sin,

could you please send the defective KC2 back to your reseller for RMA?

Kind regards,
Stefan - Scythe EU Hamburg

[sin]

I have two computers. On laptop, I have random errors as _Cluster, but on desktop everything is ok. On both computers is Win XP Pro. Then I installed Vista and Windows 7 on my desktop, and random crc now on desktop computer. Btw, with SATA everything is fine.

Results:
Laptop - Win XP - crc errors
Laptop - Win XP (safe mode) - NO crc errors
Desktop - Win XP - NO crc errors
Desktop - Vista and 7 - crc errors

Used hard drive: WD800BB 80 GB (3.5").

What now?