Same format problem on 3 different HDs

[z57nick]

Also tried to format these 3 HDs (a Maxtor, and a WD, not sure on 3rd, it is not available as I write this) on 2 different PCs. Got:

"trying to recover allocation unit" every time. The drives come up with this at different times. The Maxtor at 33%, the WD at 16%.

What is the chances that all 3 drives are bad? Are there any ideas I can try? I will be downloading the mfr HD utilities later, but different drive mfrs seemed strange. These drives all worked before I tried to format them.


Also, the Maxtor model number (83249D3) does not match any numbers at their home site. What is that all about? Thanks for any input.

 

[gargouille]

javascriptpenindex(450,350,'

http://www.tipmaster.com/includes/refinfo.cfm?w=450&h=350')

is a link to another previous discussion on this website dealing with this issue...(July '02)
My question, as is yours, is why is this happening with EVERY hard drive you try?
Fear not, tho, THESE GUYS ARE GOOD...and they'll help you sort it out.
Just make sure you're jumpering the drives correctly...and check cabling...all the basics.

Tell us some more about your systems.

I'd have a professional inspect the power supply (the incoming AC) to make sure it's okay. (I say that mostly 'cause I don't possess the expertise to do it)
Power fluctuation or improper ground might be coming into the formula...especially at such times as formatting.

 

[gargouille]

Soon as I posted (and got nother cup of java) I wanted to ask are you using the same bootdisk on each...how are you doing the format?

 

[edfair]

The chances are very good. You are finding clusters that have been marked bad in a previous life. Let the format continue. It should eventually continue and re-mark them as bad.
If it will not continue, then you have a problem.

Drive manufacturers used to allow 10% errors out of the factory. But drives have improved since then. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[z57nick]

Thanks for the replies, especially on the weekend...

I downloaded the Data Lifegueard Disk Maker from the Western Digital website and formated with it. The WD HD formatted fine and I loaded the WIN98 on it okay. I will try to find a similar aid at the Maxtor site, but it brings me to the second question:

Why does the Maxtor HD model number (83249D3) not match any on that website? Maxtor has not yet replied to this query.

For gargouille, I used different bootup disks, and I used FORMAT command at the dos prompt, but I guess this version is not sufficient (?)

 

[Snickle]

"Why does the Maxtor HD model number (83249D3) not match any on that website? Maxtor has not yet replied to this query."

I've noticed that Maxtor, since buying the Quantum hard drive line, has been removing out-of-warranty drives from their warranty-check page/s.

Could the model number be 84320D4?


Model Numbers

The following contains BIOS and model number information for the DiamondMax 2160 Ultra ATA. Information on your ATA drive may contain additional information.

Model Number Actual Cyls Hds Sect Size Speed
88455D8 16,383 16 63 8.4 GB 5200 RPM
88400D8 16,276 16 63 8.4 GB 5200 RPM
86480D6 13,395 15 63 6.4 GB 5200 RPM
84320D4 8,930 15 63 4.3 GB 5200 RPM
83240D3 6,697 15 63 3.2 GB 5200 RPM
83228D3 6,256 16 63 3.2 GB 5200 RPM
82160D2 4,465 15 63 2.1 GB 5200 RPM

http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/products/ata/desktop/diamondmax_2160_ultra_ata/index.htm

 

[Snickle]

I made a typo:

Could the model number be 83240D3?

 

[z57nick]

The model number was evidently printed incorrectly on the drive. That's all I can guess. It is a 3.2gig HD, so it is probably 40D3 not 49D3.

At any rate, Maxtor finally helped out, and I downloaded the software needed to format the drive. All is well now. Thank you all for the input. I guess I am a little behind the times. Thought FORMAT from DOS would do it. Guess not.