Bad sectors...need help!!

Demrok · Post by **Demrok** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 2:34 pm

I have a 30 gig Maxtor that won't allow me to install windows on because it says it has bad sectors....
also tells me to check and make sure my hard drive is set up properly in the bios and somethign about LBA mode, but it's set up properly I know that...

what can I do to fix these sectors? I ran Scandisk and it started fixing the sectors, but then it told me that scandisk can't fix the sectors and some garbage about impending hardware failure....

the drive IS 3 years old... but what I need to know is what programs I can use to try and fix the bad sectors with... anybody have a good prog for me ???

let me know ASAP!! thanks!!

DoPeY5007 · Post by **DoPeY5007** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 2:54 pm

download the drive utility from the manufacture, have it run the test. you may need to RMA it ( if you can )

Demrok · Post by **Demrok** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 3:00 pm

ok so that didn't work....
downloaded powerblast... makes a dos diskette (caldera dos) and loads the program there only it DIDN'T load the prog. It just started to
it asked me to hit F8 to continue and I did, then it asked me to hit F8 again to continue (same exact screen as the first one I hit F8 at) then for a brief half a second I saw the program begin to start up only to have it shut down and return me to the A:\ prompt....

and as far as I could find there is NO windows version of the software...
anyone have a good windows based hard drive tool to fix sectors ???

thanks!

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 3:44 pm

Download it again. Something went wrong.

All the disk diagnostic apps from the manufacturer are DOS based (except Seagate which has both a DOS and a Java version).

On a modern drive if you get bad sectors you either RMA it or toss it. The drive is essentially useless. In the old days (lower density platters) you could have a few bad sectors and live with it, but on a modern drive you should NEVER have a bad sector. One bad sector spawns 2 and those each spawn 2 more, and so on...

It's possible the bad sector is fals though - which can happen if you have a bad ribbon cable. You can try replacing the cable and doing a low level format (you need the disk utility from the manufacturer). But that's a long shot.

NascarFool · Post by **NascarFool** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 6:02 pm

Originally posted by Demrok
ok so that didn't work....
downloaded powerblast... makes a dos diskette (caldera dos) and loads the program there only it DIDN'T load the prog. It just started to
it asked me to hit F8 to continue and I did, then it asked me to hit F8 again to continue (same exact screen as the first one I hit F8 at) then for a brief half a second I saw the program begin to start up only to have it shut down and return me to the A:\ prompt....

and as far as I could find there is NO windows version of the software...
anyone have a good windows based hard drive tool to fix sectors ???

thanks!

I downloaded that three times ands it did the same thing every time. A low level format might fix it. If you have a WD drive, you can Master/Slave them and use the WD program. That's what I did with a Fireball drive. The WD program will only work if you have a WD drive also.

blade · Post by **blade** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 6:21 pm

As said, get that powermax again. You may have got a corrupted download.

Have only the bad sector drive connected and boot up with that powermax disk. Run all the tests and as Nascar said, then do the low level. That way has fixed some I've had that had bad sectors.

It will tell you if it is not repairable. Good luck.

Demrok · Post by **Demrok** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 9:03 pm

the drive is a Maxtor hard drive and like NascarFool said, I have downloaded it multiple times and it's always the same thing....
and I have downloaded it in the past with it doing the same thing...
I did get it to run once on an old P200mmx comp... but that's it...
never has it worked on my computers (my old Tbird 1.3 or my new 2600+)
no matter how many times I download it and where I download it too on my PC

are there any other programs out there to use to do a lowlevel format?
LMK what you guys know!

thanks!

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 10:00 pm

Some of the older comps (I know my P200MMX had it) have the option to do a low level format in the bios.. You may try that? GL eGo

blade · Post by **blade** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 10:44 pm

It may be bad floppys? I've has some batches that only 1 in 5 were good. That has to be it.

You do open it and extract to a floppy, right?

Otherwise this one says it does, but I've yet to try it. <a href="http://www.madboot.com/modules.php?op=m ... MadBoot</a>

Demrok · Post by **Demrok** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 11:07 pm

I am pretty sure the floppy is good. Never had any problems with it before,I've used it a few times for a boot disk but other then that 's brand new less then a month ago

and yes, my old P200mmx has the LLF ability but it's 60 miles away back home and I'm not going there for a week (this hard drive actually blongs to my bud's parents PC)
so i need to have it fixed...yesturday 0_o

I'll try your prog Blade and let you know...

thanks!

Demrok · Post by **Demrok** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 12:07 am

wow, madboot is wicked....
I think I found my new cure all!
I am currently running a LLF on the drive, it's at a whopping 2%

this'll take all night so I will let you know how it goes tomorrow

tanks for the sweet prog Blade!! wish I woulda knew about this thing sooner!!

Demrok · Post by **Demrok** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 2:06 pm

if I ever mention LLF again somebody slap me!
started at 11 PM last night, it is now 1pm and it's at 85%
GOOD LORD!!
I knew it'd take a long time, just not this long....

ahhh well, I'll get my comp back in another 3 hours or so....

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 2:18 pm

That's a long time I say! But, if it wipes out the bad sectors it will all be worth it.. heh.. The LLF in the bios of some of the older computers is much faster.. I think I did a 15GB drive in like 3 hours (still a long time). But, hopefully that works for you!!

eGo

Demrok · Post by **Demrok** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 7:08 pm

and it did!
I was amazed!
started yesturdy at 10:30pm finished today at 3:30pm... 17 hours

but whatever, it worked! I ran scandisk as soon as it was done, fixed some sort of error.. then fdisked, formated and scandisked again with no errors
then used Madboot to install WinXP

flawless
something I have not seen in a long time !

thanks for all the help ! and thanks blade for Madboot! !!

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 9:43 pm

I would NOT rely on that drive. That LLF took too long.

You likely still have bad sectors.

I would HIGHLY recommend you run scandisk and let it scan for bad sectors. Should take a few hours.

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Bad sectors...need help!!

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