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Author Topic: Testing hard drive  (Read 7326 times)

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jferraro

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    Testing hard drive
    « on: June 30, 2009, 09:50:26 AM »
    Is there anyway to test a hard to see if it has any bad sectors?

    Here is the situation:

    I had a hard drive reporting bad sectors after running chkdsk. I then formatted the hard drive. Now it reports zero bad sectors.

    Is there anyway to find out if there are really zero bad sectors or if the bad sectors are just being ignored?

    Also, just because chkdsk reports bad sectors, does it really mean one has physically bad sectors or could it just be a software problem?

    Thanks,

    Jerry
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    BC_Programmer


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    Re: Testing hard drive
    « Reply #1 on: June 30, 2009, 09:59:32 AM »
    chkdsk /r at the command prompt, and then reboot.

    it will scan for, (and attempt recovery of) bad sectors.


    I have seen bad sectors caused by software. I can't remember the specific instances or how they occured but I do remember being able to format (as you have) and not ahving any bad sector problems after that (and chkdsk /r didn't find any either).
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    jferraro

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      Re: Testing hard drive
      « Reply #2 on: June 30, 2009, 10:52:11 AM »
      So if one formats a hard drive with bad sectors and then chkdsk reports zero bad sectors, does this really mean the bad sectors are gone or just being ignored??
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      BC_Programmer


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      Re: Testing hard drive
      « Reply #3 on: June 30, 2009, 11:16:30 AM »
      well, it's possible, they were "real" bad sectors in the physical sense.

      Did you perform a quick format or full format when you reinstalled? If it was a quick format, I'd go with the chkdsk /r; the bad sectors might still be present.

      Although I can't say why they would be ignored when you format (???)
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      jferraro

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        Re: Testing hard drive
        « Reply #4 on: June 30, 2009, 12:16:31 PM »
        I performed a full format.
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        squall_01



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          Re: Testing hard drive
          « Reply #5 on: June 30, 2009, 05:51:02 PM »
          that wouldnt do any thing I know of.  I recall know least I found this post again HD Tune.  At any rate a sign that it could fail, I had took one that had bad sectors an though I could fix it an it quite on me.
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          Re: Testing hard drive
          « Reply #6 on: June 30, 2009, 07:18:26 PM »
          Quote
          I performed a full format.

          Windows probably forgot the bad sectors.  Run chkdsk /r like BC said.
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          Broni


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          Re: Testing hard drive
          « Reply #7 on: June 30, 2009, 08:04:13 PM »
          If any doubt, hard drive manufacturer diagnostic program is always the best...

          http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287
          Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
          Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
          If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD, and make the CD bootable.

          NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, unfortunately, you're out of luck, because Toshiba doesn't provide any diagnostic tool.
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          squall_01



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            Re: Testing hard drive
            « Reply #8 on: July 01, 2009, 05:02:28 AM »
            I thought that had?
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            Re: Testing hard drive
            « Reply #9 on: July 01, 2009, 08:10:34 AM »
            Quote from: squall_01 on July 01, 2009, 05:02:28 AM
            I thought that had?

            You thought you had what?
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            squall_01



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              Re: Testing hard drive
              « Reply #10 on: July 01, 2009, 09:34:45 AM »
              had a test tool for toshiba drives.  Could be think of something else.
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              Re: Testing hard drive
              « Reply #11 on: July 01, 2009, 09:45:07 AM »
              Toshiba doesn't make their own HDD's.  In the Device Manager or the BIOS it should correctly identify it.
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              Re: Testing hard drive
              « Reply #12 on: July 01, 2009, 09:46:20 AM »
              There is not diagnostic tool for Toshiba hard drives.
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              squall_01



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                Re: Testing hard drive
                « Reply #13 on: July 01, 2009, 09:48:13 AM »
                Probably thinking of other test software I have a toshiba laptop probably why I'm thinking there is.
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                Re: Testing hard drive
                « Reply #14 on: July 01, 2009, 09:49:14 AM »
                Quote from: Quantos on July 01, 2009, 09:45:07 AM
                Toshiba doesn't make their own HDD's.  In the Device Manager or the BIOS it should correctly identify it.
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