Bad sectors found by CHKDSK

[ernie]

Dear group,
If CHKDSK found some groups of bad sectors should I replace the drive or how
long would a reinstalled system last on this drive?

Also, how long should I leave chkdsk /f to try to fix the drive when it
seems to have stalled at stage 2, 30 percent complete and how do I get out
of it?

Thanks,
ern

 

[Dave Patrick]

Always have backups on hand for anything you can't afford to lose. Download
and run a disk diagnostic tool from the drive manufacturer's web site to
test the disk integrity.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Dear group,
| If CHKDSK found some groups of bad sectors should I replace the drive or
how
| long would a reinstalled system last on this drive?
|
| Also, how long should I leave chkdsk /f to try to fix the drive when it
| seems to have stalled at stage 2, 30 percent complete and how do I get out
| of it?
|
| Thanks,
| ern
|
|
|

 

[Jim]

Dear group,
If CHKDSK found some groups of bad sectors should I replace the drive or
how
long would a reinstalled system last on this drive?

The disk is not long for this world. However, it is hard to say when it
will die.
I would be out getting another drive.
Jim

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Dear group,
If CHKDSK found some groups of bad sectors should I replace the
drive or how long would a reinstalled system last on this drive?

Also, how long should I leave chkdsk /f to try to fix the drive
when it seems to have stalled at stage 2, 30 percent complete and
how do I get out of it?

Suggestion..

Backup EVERYTHING.

Download and use the hard drive manufacturer's drive diagnostics utility
AFTER you have downloaded and used their low-level format (0's writing
utility) to completely wipe the drive. The only reason I suggest this
destructive method is that you already have mentioned a clean install
(reinstall.) If it passes the test and completes the zero-write
successfully - you may have just had a corrupt file system and everything
will be fine.. Although - even if you believe that - consistent and frequent
backups are always important.

 

[ernie]

Suggestion..

Backup EVERYTHING.

Download and use the hard drive manufacturer's drive diagnostics utility
AFTER you have downloaded and used their low-level format (0's writing
utility) to completely wipe the drive. The only reason I suggest this
destructive method is that you already have mentioned a clean install
(reinstall.) If it passes the test and completes the zero-write
successfully - you may have just had a corrupt file system and everything
will be fine.. Although - even if you believe that - consistent and frequent
backups are always important.

Shenan,
I have "PowerMax" on a floppy and tried it but, I'm guessing, the chipset
drivers need to be installed before it can see the drives on this system
because no drives turned up in the detection phase. I may get the
motherboard CD tomorrow and will have another go.
CHKDSK says "File segment ### is unreadable" in blocks of four consecutive
segment numbers over about the first 4000 segments then more damage is
detected at 60000.
I am running CHKDSK from a new install on another hard drive as the drive
in question won't boot and some data was to be recovered from it, which I
have done.
Question is, would a new install on the damaged drive be reliable?
Thank you,
ern.

 

[ernie]

Dave,
I have Powermax on a Windows 98 startup floppy but it does not see the
drive(s). I am thinking this is because the chipset drivers are not on the
floppy. Could that be right?
Regards,
ern.

 

[Dave Patrick]

Read the notes here about ATA or serial ATA.

http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/M...oftware Downloads/All Downloads&downloadID=22

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Dave,
| I have Powermax on a Windows 98 startup floppy but it does not see the
| drive(s). I am thinking this is because the chipset drivers are not on the
| floppy. Could that be right?
| Regards,
| ern.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

ernie wrote:

Question is, would a new install on the damaged drive be reliable?

It all depends on what the diagnostics and low-level format/zero-write
results are - but in general - once you detect bad sectors, things will only
get worse. Reliability goes completely out the window.

 

[Guest]

These mvp need to get a major grip on windows xp,they havent a clue.....
Simply install xp cd,exit the info page,restart computer,boot to xp cd,at
boot
menu screen,press r For recovery,select 1 for C: Press enter key for pass-
word,type:CHKDSK C: /R Repair takes 15-20 min.,and attempts to fix bad
sectors.The hd might be considered for replacement,but this will help,once
thru type:EXIT

 

[Shenan Stanley]

These mvp need to get a major grip on windows xp,they havent a
clue..... Simply install xp cd,exit the info page,restart
computer,boot to xp cd,at boot
menu screen,press r For recovery,select 1 for C: Press enter key
for pass- word,type:CHKDSK C: /R Repair takes 15-20 min.,and
attempts to fix bad sectors.The hd might be considered for
replacement,but this will help,once thru type:EXIT

At least you are consistently wrong.
It's good to have one good quaility - yours is consistency. =)

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Your suggestion will not check the integrity of the hard drive, at least not
near as well as the diagnostic utilities suggested by the others.
You also ignore the fact the drive may fail soon and backing up now is
imperative is data is of any importance.
Your post is somewhat reflective of yourself.

 

[ernie]

Thanks Andrew, but repair was taking several hours so, to me, the drive is
toast.
Regards,
ern.

 

[ernie]

Thank you for that link Dave. The motherboard is a Gigabyte with Via chipset
and seemingly, not supported and none of my other machines will see 40GB. I
have bought a new drive.
Thanks again,
ern.

 

[ernie]

ernie wrote:



It all depends on what the diagnostics and low-level format/zero-write
results are - but in general - once you detect bad sectors, things will only
get worse. Reliability goes completely out the window.

Thank you, my sister is technophobic enough without a buggy computer so I
have put in a new drive. I will get back to testing the drive eventually.
Regards,
ern.

 

[Dave Patrick]

You're welcome.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thank you for that link Dave. The motherboard is a Gigabyte with Via
chipset
| and seemingly, not supported and none of my other machines will see 40GB.
I
| have bought a new drive.
| Thanks again,
| ern.