HDD issues

So, I've got this Western Digital 1 TB HDD hybrid drive with an 8GB SSD tucked inside, and it’s been acting like a total flake lately. Every once in a while, it just loses its boot sequence out of nowhere, leaving me staring at a dead screen in the morning. My workaround is basically playing IT support for myself—I pop in a Windows installation disc, jump into the recovery console, run some fixboot and fixmbr commands, and suddenly everything is back online. Once Windows actually loads, the thing runs like a dream, which is what makes it so weird. There’s no rhyme or reason to it either; it might behave perfectly for twenty days straight, or it could completely brick itself again by tomorrow morning. I ran a surface test through HD Tune Pro and even checked it with CrystalDiskInfo, but they didn't find a single thing wrong. The only red flag I caught was in the S.M.A.R.T. data via HDD Scan, which is flagging a bit error rate of 184. Does anyone have any bright ideas on how to tackle this?
Thanks

You’ll find plenty of similar stories online. Apparently, this happens because of a bad parity check, usually caused by the drive's own internal cache memory. No need to lose your mind, but if you're sitting on anything important, back it up right now. I’m assuming your drive is still under warranty, so if it is, your best bet is to contact Western Digital directly. Send them a description of what happened along with a screenshot and your serial number. They should be able to walk you through the next steps. If you just drop it off at a local repair shop, they’ll probably just run the same CrystalDiskInfo test you already did and then try to charge you a fortune just to tell you the hardware is shot...

Thanks for the input. My warranty is already up the drain—which feels a bit sketchy since I figured a drive should come with a two-year deal, but apparently my whole laptop was only covered for one year before it expired. To make matters worse, I found out Seagate won't even touch a warranty claim unless their own SeaTools software flags a specific error. It’s honestly such a headache because I really don't want to drop cash on a new hard drive, but this constant anxiety of not knowing if my computer will actually boot up every morning is driving me nuts. Luckily, I've got my backups ready to go.

Essentially, you have two years of coverage. Even if the manufacturer only offers a one-year warranty (take Apple or HP, for example), we in the US operate under retailer liability laws for material defects that span two years. In short:

In short, everyone gets a two-year window on an iPhone (and other devices) per consumer protection standards, and you can exercise that right right where you bought the phone.

The confusion usually stems from that 12-month expiration mark, which is standard practice in Germany and many other places, not just here.
Retailers highlight the 12-month limit because that is the manufacturer's specific warranty, which might be subject to their own terms listed in the warranty document.

The manufacturer provides the 12-month warranty, and during that first year, the responsibility lies with them.
A customer can either file a claim through the retail store or go directly to the manufacturer during those first 12 months, using the warranty card that specifies the one-year term.

Anything after that initial period falls under the retailer's responsibility, as they are legally obligated to provide coverage for products sold for at least 24 months.
Technically, after those first 12 months, it’s no longer called a "warranty" but rather "liability for material defects," though for the consumer, it’s effectively the same thing.

All a buyer needs to know is that they have 24 months of coverage; they don't necessarily need a physical warranty card stating this—the receipt is sufficient.

Apple essentially limits its direct involvement after those first 12 months, leaving any additional costs to the retailer who is bound by law to cover them.
Of course, a retailer might try to play dumb or turn a customer away, but that is when you take legal action against them.

If you notice a defect or flaw in a product, you must notify the retailer within two months of discovering the issue to exercise your right to claim liability for material defects.

Within two years of the purchase date, a consumer can claim liability for material defects provided they notified the retailer of the defect within that two-month window.

https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection

For example, an official government opinion:

View on imgur
View on imgur

A real-life example:

I'm having trouble with my iPhone 4s—the Wi-Fi is greyed out. My Verizon warranty expired since the phone is 19 months old. This happened after upgrading to iOS 7.I contacted Apple technical support, and they told me I am entitled to two years of coverage in the US and should visit an authorized service center.

If the store refuses, send them a formal complaint via certified mail with a return receipt, which they are required to respond to within 15 days.

http://consumer.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/complaint_form.pdf

Suddenly, you'll find you actually have those 2 years.😬

Now, that is a different matter: whether they will actually acknowledge or admit there is a defect, as Jonathan Wood5 mentioned.