Random persistent corruption of files

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Posts: 10
Joined: 13 Sep 2020

e4rthdog

Hi!

For a long time now i keep having a file corruption problem. At random times when i try to sync files between a USB drive and my disk one of the following happens:

- Either there is no warning but the sync results are not correct. Meaning that i am expecting to see some files to be included to be copied and i don't. At that time i realize that i need to do a disk repair from windows tools.

- I am getting a corruption error in some directory. Again i am trying to repair my drive from windows tools.

What i have tried:

- Fail safe on and off.
- Getting another brand new usb disk.

I am still getting random corruptions and then i need to perform a windows reapair.

Anything else i can try?
Posts: 936
Joined: 8 May 2006

therube

USB drive
Type, connection?
i am expecting to see some files to be included to be copied and i don't
And FFS doesn't mention anything, & nothing is noted in the logs?

Do you have an exclude mask set that is excluding these files?

Examples of particular files that are not being copied?
I am getting a corruption error in some directory.
Is a specific error message generated, or are you just viewing the drive & notice "corruption"?

Examples of this corruption?
i am trying to repair my drive from windows tools
Which tools are these?

Have you run CHKDSK on the USB drive(s)?
Does it report any issues?
User avatar
Posts: 3551
Joined: 11 Jun 2019

xCSxXenon

If you mean you have to run chkdsk when you say "repairing from windows tools", then your disk drive is bad. Or, I guess, it could be the SATA cable/usb port/motherboard, but very unlikely. Some new computers also come with Intel Optane modules, which is trash, and I have seen them corrupt data many times in the repair shop I work at. This scenario is even less likely though
Posts: 10
Joined: 13 Sep 2020

e4rthdog

Yeap this is what i mean.....I changed 3 USB disks/cables (different vendors) up to now and it persists..

It does this on both my home machine and laptop so i cant believe that it has to do with the machines.

Also i disabled search indexing on the drive and enabled fail safe copy..

Some times i get a corrupt .DB warning when FFS is running...I delete the .db file and everything seems ok.
Posts: 10
Joined: 13 Sep 2020

e4rthdog

I bought a new disk with new cables and the problem appeared again.

I am pasting the output of the CHKDSK. It refers to unidexed files....After CHKDSK i could see the files in the disk.
Chkdsk was executed in read/write mode. 

Checking file system on E:
Volume dismounted.  All opened handles to this volume are now invalid.
Volume label is PANOPLIAS1.

Stage 1: Examining basic file system structure ...
Attribute record of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3 is cross linked
starting at 0x1cdec for possibly 0x40 clusters.
Some clusters occupied by attribute of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3
in file 0x5bb6f is already in use.
Deleting corrupt attribute record (0xA0, $I30)
from file record segment 0x5BB6F.
Attribute record of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3 is cross linked
starting at 0x1ce2c for possibly 0x3 clusters.
Some clusters occupied by attribute of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3
in file 0x5c6e6 is already in use.
Deleting corrupt attribute record (0xA0, $I30)
from file record segment 0x5C6E6.
Attribute record of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3 is cross linked
starting at 0x1ce2f for possibly 0x8 clusters.
Some clusters occupied by attribute of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3
in file 0x5c73f is already in use.
Deleting corrupt attribute record (0xA0, $I30)
from file record segment 0x5C73F.
Attribute record of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3 is cross linked
starting at 0x1ce37 for possibly 0x2 clusters.
Some clusters occupied by attribute of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3
in file 0x5d9a4 is already in use.
Deleting corrupt attribute record (0xA0, $I30)
from file record segment 0x5D9A4.
Attribute record of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3 is cross linked
starting at 0x1ce39 for possibly 0x3 clusters.
Some clusters occupied by attribute of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3
in file 0x5e1b9 is already in use.
Deleting corrupt attribute record (0xA0, $I30)
from file record segment 0x5E1B9.
Attribute record of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3 is cross linked
starting at 0x1ce3c for possibly 0x3 clusters.
Some clusters occupied by attribute of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3
in file 0x5e1bc is already in use.
Deleting corrupt attribute record (0xA0, $I30)
from file record segment 0x5E1BC.
Attribute record of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3 is cross linked
starting at 0x1ce3f for possibly 0xa clusters.
Some clusters occupied by attribute of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3
in file 0x5e1be is already in use.
Deleting corrupt attribute record (0xA0, $I30)
from file record segment 0x5E1BE.
Attribute record of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3 is cross linked
starting at 0x1ce49 for possibly 0x3 clusters.
Some clusters occupied by attribute of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3
in file 0x5e1ee is already in use.
Deleting corrupt attribute record (0xA0, $I30)
from file record segment 0x5E1EE.
Attribute record of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3 is cross linked
starting at 0x1ce4c for possibly 0xa clusters.
Some clusters occupied by attribute of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3
in file 0x5e6f3 is already in use.
Deleting corrupt attribute record (0xA0, $I30)
from file record segment 0x5E6F3.
Attribute record of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3 is cross linked
starting at 0x1ce56 for possibly 0x2 clusters.
Some clusters occupied by attribute of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3
in file 0x5eaa2 is already in use.
Deleting corrupt attribute record (0xA0, $I30)
from file record segment 0x5EAA2.
Attribute record of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3 is cross linked
starting at 0x1ce58 for possibly 0x2 clusters.
Some clusters occupied by attribute of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3
in file 0x5eaa5 is already in use.
Deleting corrupt attribute record (0xA0, $I30)
from file record segment 0x5EAA5.
Attribute record of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3 is cross linked
starting at 0x1ce5a for possibly 0x2 clusters.
Some clusters occupied by attribute of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3
in file 0x5eae6 is already in use.
Deleting corrupt attribute record (0xA0, $I30)
from file record segment 0x5EAE6.
Attribute record of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3 is cross linked
starting at 0x1ce5c for possibly 0x4 clusters.
Some clusters occupied by attribute of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3
in file 0x5eae9 is already in use.
Deleting corrupt attribute record (0xA0, $I30)
from file record segment 0x5EAE9.
Attribute record of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3 is cross linked
starting at 0x1ce60 for possibly 0x4 clusters.
Some clusters occupied by attribute of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3
in file 0x5eaea is already in use.
Deleting corrupt attribute record (0xA0, $I30)
from file record segment 0x5EAEA.
Attribute record of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3 is cross linked
starting at 0x1ce64 for possibly 0x2 clusters.
Some clusters occupied by attribute of type 0xa0 and instance tag 0x3
in file 0x5eb4a is already in use.
Deleting corrupt attribute record (0xA0, $I30)
from file record segment 0x5EB4A.
  388864 file records processed.                                                         File verification completed.
 Phase duration (File record verification): 4.79 seconds.
  21 large file records processed.                                     Phase duration (Orphan file record recovery): 0.00 milliseconds.
  0 bad file records processed.                                       Phase duration (Bad file record checking): 38.59 milliseconds.

Stage 2: Examining file name linkage ...
The file reference 0x3000000037027 of index entry sync.ffs_db of index $I30
with parent 0x5 is not the same as 0x4000000037027.
Deleting index entry sync.ffs_db in index $I30 of file 5.
The file reference 0x3000000037027 of index entry SYNC~2.FFS of index $I30
with parent 0x5 is not the same as 0x4000000037027.
Deleting index entry SYNC~2.FFS in index $I30 of file 5.
  3 reparse records processed.                                       Index entry [KMIA] Miami int 1.01.rar of index $I30 in file 0x3432b points to unused file 0x3cfc4.
Deleting index entry [KMIA] Miami int 1.01.rar in index $I30 of file 3432B.
Index entry _KMIA_~1.RAR of index $I30 in file 0x3432b points to unused file 0x3cfc4.
Deleting index entry _KMIA_~1.RAR in index $I30 of file 3432B.
The VCN 0x14 of index $I30 in file 0x46380 is already in use.
The VCN 0x15 of index $I30 in file 0x46380 is already in use.
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 46380.
The index bitmap $I30 in file 0x46380 is incorrect.
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 46380.
The down pointer of current index entry with length 0xe0 is invalid.
4b ee 05 00 00 00 03 00 e0 00 c6 00 01 00 00 00  Kî......à.......
80 63 04 00 00 00 01 00 02 64 ef 51 f6 aa d6 01  €c.......dïQöª..
6a a8 7d 63 f4 aa d6 01 90 dc 35 b1 fd aa d6 01  j¨}côª...5.ýª..
7b b5 35 b1 fd aa d6 01 00 e0 07 00 00 00 00 00  {.5.ýª...à......
28 d4 07 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  (....... .......
42 01 4d 00 69 00 63 00 72 00 6f 00 73 00 6f 00  B.M.i.c.r.o.s.o.
66 00 74 00 20 00 46 00 6c 00 69 00 67 00 68 00  f.t. .F.l.i.g.h.
74 00 20 00 53 00 69 00 6d 00 75 00 6c 00 61 00  t. .S.i.m.u.l.a.
74 00 6f 00 72 00 20 00 53 00 63 00 72 00 65 00  t.o.r. .S.c.r.e.
65 00 6e 00 73 00 68 00 6f 00 74 00 20 00 32 00  e.n.s.h.o.t. .2.
30 00 32 00 30 00 2e 00 31 00 30 00 2e 00 32 00  0.2.0...1.0...2.
35 00 20 00 2d 00 20 00 31 00 34 00 2e 00 31 00  5. .-. .1.4...1.
38 00 2e 00 30 00 38 00 2e 00 35 00 35 00 2e 00  8...0.8...5.5...
6a 00 70 00 67 00 31 00 ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff  j.p.g.1.ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
Sorting index $I30 in file 46380.
Index entry MI513E~2.JPG of index $I30 in file 0x46380 points to unused file 0x2efb.
Deleting index entry MI513E~2.JPG in index $I30 of file 46380.
Index entry MI9E57~2.JPG of index $I30 in file 0x46380 points to unused file 0x2efd.
Deleting index entry MI9E57~2.JPG in index $I30 of file 46380.
A downpointer (VCN 0x6) was found in index $I30 in file 0x5bb6f but the index has no index allocation attribute.
Removing corrupt index $I30 in file 5BB6F.
Recreating deleted index $I30 in file 5BB6F.
A downpointer (VCN 0x0) was found in index $I30 in file 0x5c6e6 but the index has no index allocation attribute.
Removing corrupt index $I30 in file 5C6E6.
Recreating deleted index $I30 in file 5C6E6.
A downpointer (VCN 0x6) was found in index $I30 in file 0x5c73f but the index has no index allocation attribute.
Removing corrupt index $I30 in file 5C73F.
Recreating deleted index $I30 in file 5C73F.
A downpointer (VCN 0x0) was found in index $I30 in file 0x5d9a4 but the index has no index allocation attribute.
Removing corrupt index $I30 in file 5D9A4.
Recreating deleted index $I30 in file 5D9A4.
A downpointer (VCN 0x0) was found in index $I30 in file 0x5e1b9 but the index has no index allocation attribute.
Removing corrupt index $I30 in file 5E1B9.
Recreating deleted index $I30 in file 5E1B9.
A downpointer (VCN 0x0) was found in index $I30 in file 0x5e1bc but the index has no index allocation attribute.
Removing corrupt index $I30 in file 5E1BC.
Recreating deleted index $I30 in file 5E1BC.
A downpointer (VCN 0x5) was found in index $I30 in file 0x5e1be but the index has no index allocation attribute.
Removing corrupt index $I30 in file 5E1BE.
Recreating deleted index $I30 in file 5E1BE.
A downpointer (VCN 0x0) was found in index $I30 in file 0x5e1ee but the index has no index allocation attribute.
Removing corrupt index $I30 in file 5E1EE.
Recreating deleted index $I30 in file 5E1EE.
A downpointer (VCN 0x5) was found in index $I30 in file 0x5e6f3 but the index has no index allocation attribute.
Removing corrupt index $I30 in file 5E6F3.
Recreating deleted index $I30 in file 5E6F3.
A downpointer (VCN 0x0) was found in index $I30 in file 0x5eaa2 but the index has no index allocation attribute.
Removing corrupt index $I30 in file 5EAA2.
Recreating deleted index $I30 in file 5EAA2.
A downpointer (VCN 0x0) was found in index $I30 in file 0x5eaa5 but the index has no index allocation attribute.
Removing corrupt index $I30 in file 5EAA5.
Recreating deleted index $I30 in file 5EAA5.
A downpointer (VCN 0x0) was found in index $I30 in file 0x5eae6 but the index has no index allocation attribute.
Removing corrupt index $I30 in file 5EAE6.
Recreating deleted index $I30 in file 5EAE6.
A downpointer (VCN 0x0) was found in index $I30 in file 0x5eae9 but the index has no index allocation attribute.
Removing corrupt index $I30 in file 5EAE9.
Recreating deleted index $I30 in file 5EAE9.
A downpointer (VCN 0x0) was found in index $I30 in file 0x5eaea but the index has no index allocation attribute.
Removing corrupt index $I30 in file 5EAEA.
Recreating deleted index $I30 in file 5EAEA.
A downpointer (VCN 0x0) was found in index $I30 in file 0x5eb4a but the index has no index allocation attribute.
Removing corrupt index $I30 in file 5EB4A.
Recreating deleted index $I30 in file 5EB4A.
Index entry IMAGE$23C76FBDA13120D2.gif of index $I30 in file 0x5eddb points to unused file 0x5ee92.
Deleting index entry IMAGE$23C76FBDA13120D2.gif in index $I30 of file 5EDDB.
Index entry IMAGE$~1.GIF of index $I30 in file 0x5eddb points to unused file 0x5ee92.
Deleting index entry IMAGE$~1.GIF in index $I30 of file 5EDDB.
  493012 index entries processed.                                                        Index verification completed.
 Phase duration (Index verification): 2.22 minutes.
CHKDSK is scanning unindexed files for reconnect to their original directory.
Recovering orphaned file Chkdsk (11) into directory file 26.
Recovering orphaned file SYNC~2.FFS (263) into directory file 5.
Recovering orphaned file AB4EDI~1.TXT (5C3D8) into directory file 5BB6F.
Recovering orphaned file Ab4editAR.txt (5C3D8) into directory file 5BB6F.
Recovering orphaned file AB4EDI~2.TXT (5C3D9) into directory file 5BB6F.
Recovering orphaned file Ab4editBG.txt (5C3D9) into directory file 5BB6F.
Recovering orphaned file AB4EDI~3.TXT (5C3DA) into directory file 5BB6F.
Recovering orphaned file Ab4editCA.txt (5C3DA) into directory file 5BB6F.
Recovering orphaned file AB4EDI~4.TXT (5C3DB) into directory file 5BB6F.
Recovering orphaned file Ab4editEL.txt (5C3DB) into directory file 5BB6F.
Skipping further messages about recovering orphans.

  1375 unindexed files recovered to original directory.
 Phase duration (Orphan reconnection): 0.00 milliseconds.
CHKDSK is recovering remaining unindexed files.

    Lost and found is located at \found.000

 Phase duration (Orphan recovery to lost and found): 0.00 milliseconds.
  3 reparse records processed.                                        Phase duration (Reparse point and Object ID verification): 4.13 milliseconds.

Stage 3: Examining security descriptors ...
Repairing the security file record segment.
Deleting an index entry with Id 106 from index $SII of file 9.
Deleting an index entry with Id 107 from index $SII of file 9.
Deleting an index entry with Id 115 from index $SII of file 9.
Deleting an index entry with Id 106 from index $SDH of file 9.
Deleting an index entry with Id 107 from index $SDH of file 9.
Deleting an index entry with Id 115 from index $SDH of file 9.
Cleaning up 7 unused index entries from index $SII of file 9.
Cleaning up 7 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 9.
Cleaning up 7 unused security descriptors.
Security descriptor verification completed.
 Phase duration (Security descriptor verification): 39.86 milliseconds.
  52074 data files processed.                                             Phase duration (Data attribute verification): 1.70 milliseconds.
Correcting errors in the master file table's (MFT) BITMAP attribute.
Correcting errors in the Volume Bitmap.

Windows has made corrections to the file system.
No further action is required.

 976760407 KB total disk space.
 375180676 KB in 336514 files.
    148428 KB in 52062 indexes.
    484675 KB in use by the system.
     65536 KB occupied by the log file.
 600946628 KB available on disk.

      4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
 244190101 total allocation units on disk.
 150236657 allocation units available on disk.
Total duration: 2.33 minutes (140229 ms).
Posts: 27
Joined: 19 Aug 2019

Sonik_C

How is it connected? Is it an external portable drive or a standard HDD/SSD connected via Dock or Enclosure? If so, it could be an issue with the dock/enclosure. I don't think this is a FFS issue, as it would be reported here a lot more if a widespread issue. If it's happening on multiple drives and you've tried different cables, then It could be a hardware issue.

You've tried different disks so we know that's not the issue. Could be a lot of different things causing it - BIOS, motherboard, bad memory perhaps? Unless there is some other software on your PC that could somehow be causing the corruption?

Also, do you use anything like Intel Rapid Storage Technology drivers? I've had issues with those before.
User avatar
Posts: 3551
Joined: 11 Jun 2019

xCSxXenon

A very important question, what kind of flash/usb drive are you using? I have seen soooo many fakes roll through where it is a 32GB faked to look like a bigger size. When you write more than the real 32GB capacity, you start losing data. It could be a 1GB flashed to look like a 256GB. Where did you buy it, how big is it, and what did it cost?
Posts: 936
Joined: 8 May 2006

therube

I have seen soooo many fakes roll through where it is a 32GB faked to look like a bigger size.
(from some generic USB 2.0 "thumb" flash drive)
A CHKDSK from my "bogus" drive:
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\TMP>CHKDSK /?
Checks a disk and displays a status report.


CHKDSK [volume[[path]filename]]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/I] [/C] [/L[:size]] [/B]


  volume          Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon),
                  mount point, or volume name.
  filename        FAT/FAT32 only: Specifies the files to check for fragmentation.
  /F              Fixes errors on the disk.
  /V              On FAT/FAT32: Displays the full path and name of every file
                  on the disk.
                  On NTFS: Displays cleanup messages if any.
  /R              Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information
                  (implies /F).
  /L:size         NTFS only:  Changes the log file size to the specified number
                  of kilobytes.  If size is not specified, displays current
                  size.
  /X              Forces the volume to dismount first if necessary.
                  All opened handles to the volume would then be invalid
                  (implies /F).
  /I              NTFS only: Performs a less vigorous check of index entries.
  /C              NTFS only: Skips checking of cycles within the folder
                  structure.
  /B              NTFS only: Re-evaluates bad clusters on the volume
                  (implies /R)

The /I or /C switch reduces the amount of time required to run Chkdsk by
skipping certain checks of the volume.


C:\TMP>CHKDSK B: /B
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Volume label is BOGUS_E.

CHKDSK is verifying files (stage 1 of 5)...
  256 file records processed.
File verification completed.
  0 large file records processed.
  0 bad file records processed.
  0 EA records processed.
  0 reparse records processed.
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (stage 2 of 5)...
  280 index entries processed.
Index verification completed.
  0 unindexed files scanned.
  0 unindexed files recovered.
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (stage 3 of 5)...
  256 file SDs/SIDs processed.
Security descriptor verification completed.
  12 data files processed.
CHKDSK is verifying file data (stage 4 of 5)...
  240 files processed.
File data verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying free space (stage 5 of 5)...
  594705 free clusters processed.
Free space verification is complete.
Windows has checked the file system and found no problems.

   7863295 KB total disk space.
   5470056 KB in 51 files.
        84 KB in 14 indexes.
         0 KB in bad sectors.
     14331 KB in use by the system.
     13424 KB occupied by the log file.
   2378824 KB available on disk.

      4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
   1965823 total allocation units on disk.
    594706 allocation units available on disk.

C:\TMP>
If I did it correctly, it is saying, A-OK.
Yet...
 NDIR.EXE, Version 2.49

Directory of B:\                                    Volume label is BOGUS_E
================================================================================
 [DIR] 2020.1023                                                              
 [DIR] System Volume Information                                              
14776K advanced_renamer_portable_x86_3_87 (Aren)   [CORRUPT].zip              
21018K AllDupPortable_4440   [OK].zip                                         
  2874 CHKDSK_BOGUS_E.TXT                                                     
 3930M en_windows_vista_with_service_pack_1_x64_dvd_x14-29595   [CORRUPT].iso 
 1456K Everything-1.5.0.1212a.x64   [OK].zip                                  
 1282K Everything-1.5.0.1212a.x86   [CORRUPT].zip                             
  815M Ghost Rider (gr1)   [CORRUPT].mpg                                      
 2592K iview456  [OK].zip                                                     
17793K iview456_plugins   [CORRUPT].zip                                       
41378K seamonkey-2.53.6b1pre.en-US.win64.installer-1022-2   [CORRUPT].exe     
  1649 WindowsCodecsRaw.txt                                                   
749486 X2  [OK].ARJ                                                           
 93077 X2-EVERYTHING.TXT                                                      

15 files total 4,846,936,904 bytes, using 4,846,960,640 bytes of disk space.
Total disk space = 8,052,011,008 bytes; Free disk space = 2,435,895,296 bytes
(And 3 more corrupt [out of 32] files in the 2020.1023 directory.)
7-Zip 19.00 (x86) : Copyright (c) 1999-2018 Igor Pavlov : 2019-02-21

Scanning the drive for archives:
1 file, 41378982 bytes (40 MiB)

Testing archive: seamonkey-2.53.6b1pre.en-US.win64.installer-1022-2   [CORRUPT].exe
--
Path = seamonkey-2.53.6b1pre.en-US.win64.installer-1022-2   [CORRUPT].exe
Type = 7z
Offset = 93260
Physical Size = 41285722
Headers Size = 2466
Method = LZMA:25 BCJ2
Solid = +
Blocks = 1

ERROR: Data Error : core\omni.ja
ERROR: Data Error : core\pingsender.exe
ERROR: Data Error : core\platform.ini
ERROR: Data Error : core\plugin-container.exe
ERROR: Data Error : core\plugin-hang-ui.exe
ERROR: Data Error : core\precomplete
ERROR: Data Error : core\prldap60.dll
ERROR: Data Error : core\qipcap64.dll
ERROR: Data Error : core\removed-files
ERROR: Data Error : core\seamonkey.exe
ERROR: Data Error : core\softokn3.chk
ERROR: Data Error : core\softokn3.dll
ERROR: Data Error : core\ucrtbase.dll
ERROR: Data Error : core\uninstall\helper.exe
ERROR: Data Error : core\vcruntime140.dll
ERROR: Data Error : core\xul.dll
ERROR: Data Error : setup.exe

Sub items Errors: 17

Archives with Errors: 1

Sub items Errors: 17
The drive is bogus - & why I named it as such.
The drive "reports" that it is OK.
And it was - up to a point.
But I'm now past that point, & anything that ends up there is suspect.
(Actually, everything with that drive has always been suspect.)

(I'm sure I have more "corrupt" files on there, I just haven't checked them all - yet.)
Posts: 10
Joined: 13 Sep 2020

e4rthdog

How is it connected? Is it an external portable drive or a standard HDD/SSD connected via Dock or Enclosure? If so, it could be an issue with the dock/enclosure. I don't think this is a FFS issue, as it would be reported here a lot more if a widespread issue. If it's happening on multiple drives and you've tried different cables, then It could be a hardware issue.

You've tried different disks so we know that's not the issue. Could be a lot of different things causing it - BIOS, motherboard, bad memory perhaps? Unless there is some other software on your PC that could somehow be causing the corruption?

Also, do you use anything like Intel Rapid Storage Technology drivers? I've had issues with those before. Sonik_C, 26 Oct 2020, 12:32
I disabled Intel RST.

Here is the output of smartctl which shows that SMART is disabled. I wonder if i should enable it.

The drive is genuine, though
smartctl 7.1 2019-12-30 r5022 [x86_64-w64-mingw32-w10-b19041] (sf-7.1-1)
Copyright (C) 2002-19, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family:     Toshiba 2.5" HDD MQ04UBF... (USB 3.0)
Device Model:     TOSHIBA MQ04UBF100
Serial Number:    DIRTYSECRET
LU WWN Device Id: 0 000000 000000000
Firmware Version: JU003U
User Capacity:    1.000.204.886.016 bytes [1,00 TB]
Sector Sizes:     512 bytes logical, 4096 bytes physical
Rotation Rate:    5400 rpm
Form Factor:      2.5 inches
Device is:        In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is:   ACS-3 T13/2161-D revision 5
SATA Version is:  SATA 3.3, 3.0 Gb/s (current: 3.0 Gb/s)
Local Time is:    Tue Oct 27 09:04:32 2020 GTBST
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Disabled

SMART Disabled. Use option -s with argument 'on' to enable it.
(override with '-T permissive' option)