Does HDDScan remap bad blocks?

[eli2k]

I'm running a Read scan with HDDScan to pick up bad blocks, since there seems to be a problem with the drive (external USB hard drive). There are some bad blocks reported during the scan, but I was wondering if HDDScan remaps these automatically, or if it just reports it? If so, how can I mark that block as bad, without having to reformat the entire drive?

Thanks,
- Eli

 

[Itchrelief]

Originally posted by: eli2k
I'm running a Read scan with HDDScan to pick up bad blocks, since there seems to be a problem with the drive (external USB hard drive). There are some bad blocks reported during the scan, but I was wondering if HDDScan remaps these automatically, or if it just reports it? If so, how can I mark that block as bad, without having to reformat the entire drive?

Thanks,
- Eli

Doesn't the drive firmware remap it automatically or something?

edit: I would assume that if the software would detect a bad block, the drive firmware would hopefully concur and take care of it automatically as the error was detected. Otherwise, one of the two is more/less sensitive than it should be.

 

[eli2k]

I had some problems, where I tried to copy a file from the drive to another computer, and in the middle of the file it slowed down really bad. And Windows Explorer (the file browser) became very slow and unresponsive when browsing the directory with that file. So I scanned (and am still scanning) the drive, and it picked up at least one bad sector. Hopefully it does it on its own like you said.

 

[RebateMonger]

I don't trust a drive with bad blocks. Often, after you "repair" them, more bad blocks show up. If it was my drive, I'd either get it replaced or trash it, considering how much pain a bad disk can cause.

Consider what can cause bad blocks:

Failing plating on the platter(s).
Damaged head(s).
Damanged platter(s).
Stray particles floating around in the drive.

None of those are good and most of them can easily cause more bad blocks as the drive is used.

 

[eli2k]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
I don't trust a drive with bad blocks. Often, after you "repair" them, more bad blocks show up. If it was my drive, I'd either get it replaced or trash it, considering how much pain a bad disk can cause.

Consider what can cause bad blocks:

Failing plating on the platter(s).
Damaged head(s).
Damanged platter(s).
Stray particles floating around in the drive.

None of those are good and most of them can easily cause more bad blocks as the drive is used.

I've been using the drive for around 3 years so far. It's actually a Seagate IDE I put into an enclosure and have been using it as such for its entire lifetime. I guess it is approaching its "age" where I should replace it before it dies...

 

[Nothinman]

edit: I would assume that if the software would detect a bad block, the drive firmware would hopefully concur and take care of it automatically as the error was detected. Otherwise, one of the two is more/less sensitive than it should be.

If you see a bad block that means the firmware doesn't have any spares left to use, it can't remap them to arbitrary blocks on the drive because it doesn't understand the filesystem on the volume.