How do you remove bad sectors from a hard drive?

[smaxted]

I have never had problems with bad sectors but lately I have and they have been causing me problems...I just wondered how to fix and get rid of them.
Thanks Scotty Mac a.k.a smaxted

"Another day, another problem"

 

[Snickle]

Usually scandisk can mark them as bad during a Thorough Scan and prevent problems. Otherwise a low-level format is necessary using a diagnostic from the drive maker's website. If the bad sectors keep increasing in number, it's probably time to replace the drive. But do run the full diagnostic to check it.

 

[roamer1]

It is as Berton says. I would just like to add this:

If your data is not backed up (OFF that hard drive), NOW would be a good time to do it.

 

[smaxted]

Thanks for the help, just one more thing, I can't find a low level format program for my fujitsu and Nec hard drive though I have found the one from WD. Can i use WD's program for other hard drive brands??? Scotty Mac a.k.a smaxted

"Another day, another problem"

 

[roamer1]

http://www.fcpa.com/download/hard-drives/

Use this to diagnose the drive:
You MAY lose all data

Diagnostic Tool Ver. 6
(For EIDE Hard Disk Drives)
fjdt_6.exe (143 KB)

Then This if 0-write (Low Level Format) is indicated:
*NOTE* ALL data WILL be lost

Fujitsu Erase Utility
clean.zip (31 KB)

If the drive is fugitsu, and is from MPG or MPF-AH series, Buy a different drive.

http://www.fcpa.com/products/hard-drives/hd-public-statment.html

 

[smaxted]

Does anyone know where I could get a low-level utility to fix my NEC hard drive? Scotty Mac a.k.a smaxted

"Another day, another problem"

 

[roamer1]

IBM's wipe.exe utility is said to work- although Manufacturer specific would be much better. I use Ontrack or CheckitPro.

Also, note that LLF or zero-write may not solve your problem- After the LLF, re-partition and format to FAT32. then run DOS Scandisk with a thorough surface test. If it is finding bad blocks again replace the drive. If not, FDISK and set it up however you wish.

 

[roamer1]

PS Sorry I didn't catch that there were TWO drives- It is odd that two drives would develop bad sectors at the same time. If one is giving you trouble, just fix that one- it is not needed to fix BOTH unless both are ill.

 

[smaxted]

Its just that I have a whole bunch of hard drives sitting around so since today was a snow day I thought I would check and chuck'em... Scotty Mac a.k.a smaxted

"Another day, another problem"

 

[smaxted]

Where can I find this IBM Wipe program? Scotty Mac a.k.a smaxted

"Another day, another problem"

 

[wolluf]

there's a copy here

http://www.bris.ac.uk/is/services/computers/general/disposal/wipe.exe

 

[roamer1]

Sorry I missed ya smaxted, Musta been after I scooted.
PS= I have heard that wipe.exe has an 8gig limit- wolluf, can you confirm?

Anyway, you might check out your BIOS in your desktop- often AWARD bios has 0write capability. Wouldn't normally recommend it on a drive that has probs- tends to screw up if the drive ain't reading right...

 

[wolluf]

Roamer - yes, as far as I know that's correct - wipe's limit is 8GB. Also, don't know if its just me, but couldn't find it on the IBM site any more (which is reason for link above).

 

[hotfusion]

If you have several HDDs to be tested, and you want to spend a little money, you could do worse than buy 'Spinrite 5' from

http://www.grc.com.

This program is quite agressive in the way it tests a drive and will show up weaknesses which Scandisk would miss. Any subsequent bad sectors are tagged as such and removed from use. It can also recover data from damaged sectors with varying degrees of success - pop along to the site and dig about for the free downloadable .pdf files which tell you about it in great detail.
I can recommend it as I've used it on old drives, found bad sectors and recovered data stored on those bad sectors, so it works for me - just be aware it takes approximately 2 hours per gigabyte of drive to run, so be prepared to leave it running overnight! My suggestions are what I would try myself. If incorrect, I welcome corrections to my rather limited knowledge. Andy.