Good freeware disk repair utility?

[JeffG]

Could someone suggest a good freeware disk repair utility? I have a 40 gig
hard drive bought on ebay that I scandisked but it seems that this didn't
fix the disk. Scandisk marked the bad sectors, but the disk is still
unusable. Maybe it's just a bad hard drive that's unfixable, but before
relegating it to the Goodwill heap I'd like to try to fix it. I should also
mention that it failed the Powermax 4.06 testing and I couldn't low level
format it. Should I just give up on this HDD? Suggestions appreciated. JG

 

[dszady]

Could someone suggest a good freeware disk repair utility? I have a 40
gig hard drive bought on ebay that I scandisked but it seems that this
didn't fix the disk. Scandisk marked the bad sectors, but the disk is
still unusable. Maybe it's just a bad hard drive that's unfixable, but
before relegating it to the Goodwill heap I'd like to try to fix it. I
should also mention that it failed the Powermax 4.06 testing and I
couldn't low level format it. Should I just give up on this HDD?
Suggestions appreciated. JG

I had a HD which did the same thing. I wrote all zeroes to the disk and it
still wouldn't work. Fought with it for about a month.
Bad clusters at the beginning ruined that deal because that's where the OS
goes. Come to find out I had a scratch in it which I could hear scandisk
grinding at when it reached that point.
Might be time for the crapper. I bought a used one at a local little
computer store for $50. Well worth not fighting with it. You could also
try 24hoursupport.helpdesk if no one else has a better idea.

 

[Bob Adkins]

Could someone suggest a good freeware disk repair utility? I have a 40 gig
hard drive bought on ebay that I scandisked but it seems that this didn't
fix the disk. Scandisk marked the bad sectors, but the disk is still
unusable. Maybe it's just a bad hard drive that's unfixable, but before
relegating it to the Goodwill heap I'd like to try to fix it. I should also
mention that it failed the Powermax 4.06 testing and I couldn't low level
format it. Should I just give up on this HDD? Suggestions appreciated. JG

I use Western Digital drives, which has a nice utility to analyze and repair
disks. I assume every brand have similar utilities.


Bob

 

[JAX]

HD's are cheap, just buy a new one. If the old one failed the manufacture's
test, it's scrap. Don't give it to Goodwill, just throw it away.

FWIW, JAX

 

[Matt]

Could someone suggest a good freeware disk repair utility? I have a 40 gig
hard drive bought on ebay that I scandisked but it seems that this didn't
fix the disk. Scandisk marked the bad sectors, but the disk is still
unusable. Maybe it's just a bad hard drive that's unfixable, but before
relegating it to the Goodwill heap I'd like to try to fix it. I should also
mention that it failed the Powermax 4.06 testing and I couldn't low level
format it. Should I just give up on this HDD? Suggestions appreciated. JG

Is it actually a Maxtor? - their utility should be able to revector a
limited number of bad sectors.

Before dumping it, check the serial number at the maker's site
(for Maxtor - https://www4.maxtor.com/en/support/service/rma/create/ )
Warranties have been getting shorter in recent times though, so you're
less likely to strike lucky with a 3 year warranty (or better) on a
drive you thought was only fit for the bin.