bad clusters

[Sniper82]

Hey my friend just gave me a used HD and it has bad clusters on it and am wondering if their fixable and if so how? It keeps telling me theres bad clusters or something when I go to install windows. Will they hurt anything if I install windows anyway? Could someone please explain?

Thanks

 

[AndyHui]

Sometimes bad sectors can be gotten rid of by doing a full format. Use the command format C: /u /c.

If you cannot completely get rid of most of the bad sectors, then it is usually a sign of impending drive failure.

 

[bendixG15]

Standard procedure for old hard disks is to format the disk which will map out any bad sectors. That means the disk will not try to write to those sectors and everything is proceding according to plan. In the future, when you do a scandisk and get NEW bad sectors, then you most probably have a disk that is going bad and cannot be relied on. If you don't get any NEW bad sectors, then all is well. If you don't want to format, then try the detailed (long version) of scandisk.

 

[jamarno]

Use the drive maker's own diagnostic, such as Drive Fitness Test for IBM, MaxDiag for Maxtor, or Data LifeGuard for Western Digital. It can test each sector almost as well as the factory equipment can and substitute hidden spares for any defective sectors and update the defect map. The drive should then appear defect free, otherwise it shouldn't be trusted.

 

[bacillus]

never used it myself but see if the drive's manufacturer offers a low level format utility. sometimes clears up previously reported "bad" sectors!
you must bear in mind that the drive could well be on the way out!

 

[Sniper82]

well I just did a complete format on it and tried windows again and scandisk didnt report any bad errors or sectors. I guess thats good?

 

[chuckieland]

the maxdiag completely formate your HD while checking
one of my friends got caught on that lol