Strange behavior - 60Gb Hitachi 2.5" IDE drive.

[G0AOZ]

Two weeks ago user reported bootup on Advent laptop rather slow. Ran the usual virus/adware/malware checks which found very little, MSCONFIG ok, and no bad reports from HijackThis, etc., etc.

Attached disk to XP Pro bench rig, ran full surface scan of its single 60Gb partition which reported around 15 bad blocks. User took away PC to download some wanted files.

Fast-forward to today. Copied off all data in readiness to transfer to new hard disk. Re-ran surface scan out of interest to see if any more bad blocks had materialised. UTTER SURPRISE!! No bad blocks reported in Event Viewer. Actually ran it twice because I didn't believe it...

I'm currently running Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test, but mystified as to what has happened to the bad blocks I clearly logged before. Anyone care to offer an explanation.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[Freestone]

Bad blocks were remapped by the drive controller?

 

[firewolfrl]

as freestone said....get the data while you can

 

[G0AOZ]

Thanks for replies guys...

Yes, fortunately data has already been copied off ok thanks.

So, if "Bad blocks were remapped by the drive controller", other than drive manufacturer's diagnostics, is there any way that Windows XP can re-display these faults? I quite expected Event Viewer to go on showing them, as I have seen with other machines/hard drives.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[firewolfrl]

get a new drive as that one is already damage and will get worse as time goes by


it is just not worth it to keep the drive.

 

[G0AOZ]

Thanks Firewolfrl. Yes, user has every intention of getting a new drive, particularly as this machine is still under warranty. However, supplier initially being rather negative about changing it, despite my having armed user with a technical report on my previous findings.

Having delved a bit deeper into this, it appears that once a Windows surface scan has been performed, those previous bad blocks won't show up again. However, Hitachi's DFT prog which I ran late last night, has provided suitable evidence of errors.

Thanks again...

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[firewolfrl]

get a Seagate the warranty is alot better...and the quality of the drive is better...Newegg has some of the best prices

 

[G0AOZ]

Since the drive should be replaced under warranty by the supplier of the laptop, user is unlikely to get any choice on make of HDD...

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[firewolfrl]

ouch!

 

[wahnula]

I've had no troubles getting both of my 7200 rpm Hitachi Travelstar drives changed out...one I destroyed by plugging an IDE/2.5" adapter cable backwards sending voltage through the drive...they still replaced it, no questions asked. The other one passed diagnostics but quit without warning while laptop was on battery power...I later discovered it was a bad connection within the battery

They are a HUGE company, I am surprised they are giving you friction...

 

[G0AOZ]

No Tony, it's not Hitachi giving friction, but a well known countrywide U.K. retailer who is not renown for technical knowledge!

ROGER - G0AOZ.