Dying Hdd??? ITS ALIVE!! ITS ALIVE!!

[Abhi]

I got this old HDD (4.3 GB) which basically started giving a lot of errors.

So i copied all the data from it (thank god) ... deleted the partition and formatted it.

While formatting thru DOS, it gave an error at 63 % .... twice ... and the format stopped.

XP, however formatted it fine to FAT32. I ran scandisk in thorough mode.... no errors.

When i tried to install the OS on the hdd, the setup is HORRIBLY slow...11 hrs and first screen of the XP setup didnt even fully load!

So i guess the Hdd is dying... right?

My question, is there any way i can make the HDD usable? Using some kind of software? I wont mind even getting 2 gbs of space from the HDD if it works!

I know all you guys will just say 4 gbs is too less and to scrap it... but this comp is for a non critical 333 mhz celeron, so i really dont wanna spend on a new hdd.

Update:

I used this software "Hdd Regenerator" and it actually repaired the bad sectors! The HDD is good as new! It passed all tests, including Seagate Seatools. XP install was a breeze

 

[ArcticChill]

umm... 4.3 GB is nothing, buy a new HDD, also try error checking it

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: ArcticChill
umm... 4.3 GB is nothing, buy a new HDD, also try error checking it

For a comp to run Win98+MS Office I think 4.3 gb is enough.

Error checking.... how?
I already did a through scan(with surface scan) in scandisk. No errors.

 

[kursplat]

try the drive manufacturers utility on it. would of linked it but i didn't see a brand.
good luck

 

[Jeff7]

AIDA32
Download, install, then run the program.
Go to its Storage section, and click on SMART.
Click on the drive that's having problems.
Look for anything there that's failing...or just right-click the drive, click copy, and paste the results back here.
I'll bet you it's getting read or write errors there.

 

[kursplat]

Go to its Storage section, and click on SMART

got this old HDD (4.3 GB)

wonder if a drive that old (i know he didn't realy say) will supprot S.M.A.R.T.
anyone know when it first came to wide spred use ?

 

[Abhi]

Well... its a Seagate ST34323A, 4.3 GB, Ultra ATA

It doesnt say if it will supprot S.M.A.R.T. ...

 

[Abhi]

Downloading SEATOOLS ...

Also downloading AIDA32.

Will post back the results.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Abhi
Well... its a Seagate ST34323A, 4.3 GB, Ultra ATA

It doesnt say if it will supprot S.M.A.R.T. ...

Some do; I've used a 3.2GB Seagate drive already that supported SMART, but a 1GB Maxtor didn't have it. You BIOS must also support it; for whatever stupid reason, it's usually disabled. There's an option in the BIOS Setup menu (or at least there should be) to enable it.

 

[Abhi]

Ran Seagate Seatools... The result...

-----------------------------------------------------------------
DIAGATA.EXE Version 3.07.30214ML
Copyright (c) 2002 by Seagate Technology, LLC. All rights reserved.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Timer Resolution: 0.000122
Short Test Begin: 20-Jan-2004 19:44:16
Cable Test - 0 Errors
Buffer Test - 0 Errors
Identify Data
Model Number: ST34323A
Serial Number: 6AF00MAR
Firmware Revision: 3.02
Default CHS: 8912-15-63
Current CHS: 8912-15-63
Current Capacity: 8421840 Sectors
Total Capacity: 8421840 Sectors
ID Method: Unknown
SMART Check: Passed
Outer Diameter Scan (0 to 69870) - Passed
Elapsed Time: 30.01s
Estimated Internal Transfer Rates
Min: 21.56Mb/s Max: 152.81Mb/s Avg: 70.85Mb/s
Inner Diameter Scan (8386905 to 8421840) - Passed
Elapsed Time: 15.04s
Estimated Internal Transfer Rates
Min: 44.11Mb/s Max: 150.13Mb/s Avg: 72.52Mb/s
Random Seek (137 Cycles) - Passed
Estimated Access Times
Min: 3.662ms Max: 18.919ms Avg: 10.630ms
Random Read (137 Cycles) - Passed
Estimated Access Times
Min: 4.516ms Max: 28.805ms Avg: 17.747ms
PIO/DMA Data Compare
Total Bytes = 518144
Estimated PIO Transfer Rates
Min: 1.71MB/s Max: 1.92MB/s Avg: 1.78MB/s
Estimated DMA Transfer Rates
Min: 7.69MB/s Max: 15.38MB/s Avg: 10.51MB/s
SMART Check: Passed
Short Test Passed: 20-Jan-2004 19:45:43
Scanning for bad sectors...
Performing Complete Surface Scan on drive: ST34323A
BAD Sector LBA: 5333952
Used in the file: Undetermined file or directory path
If this is a directory, any contained files or subdirectories may be inaccessible.
Scan Completed... PROBLEMS FOUND

There is NO data on the hdd btw....

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
AIDA32 Download, install, then run the program. .

Tried AIDA32...

The disk showed no errors...

[ ST34323A (6AF00MAR) ]

01 Raw Read Error Rate 0 76 76 35869013 OK: Always passing
03 Spin Up Time 0 72 70 0 OK: Always passing
04 Start/Stop Count 20 98 98 2218 OK: Value is normal
05 Reallocated Sector Count 36 99 99 134 OK: Value is normal
07 Seek Error Rate 30 60 50 42857426 OK: Value is normal
0A Spin Retry Count 97 100 100 0 OK: Value is normal
0C Power Cycle Count 20 96 96 4204 OK: Value is normal
C7 Ultra ATA CRC Error Rate 0 200 200 0 OK: Always passing

 

[Abhi]

Now what??

 

[lucky9]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Abhi Well... its a Seagate ST34323A, 4.3 GB, Ultra ATA It doesnt say if it will supprot S.M.A.R.T. ...

Some do; I've used a 3.2GB Seagate drive already that supported SMART, but a 1GB Maxtor didn't have it. You BIOS must also support it; for whatever stupid reason, it's usually disabled. There's an option in the BIOS Setup menu (or at least there should be) to enable it.

Actually I don't think that the BIOS has to support it. At least it doesn't with at least one hard disk utility I've used.

The fact that it's UATA means it's supported, At least I think so. (I forget things more nowadays)

 

[lucky9]

Gibson's SpinRight, or is it SpinRite? Whatever, it's called is supposed to resurrect about anything that can be resurrected.

 

[Abhi]

Its spinrite...

and its 40$ !!

 

[lucky9]

If cost is a factor (it is with me also) and you don't have Norton or something similar, you could try freeware files.com

It's layout makes things fairly easy to find stuff, although sometimes things aren't where you'd think they should be.

 

[Abhi]

Which norton utillity should i use?

Isnt Norton Disk Doctor just like scandisk?

 

[Abhi]

Has anybody used "Hdd Regenerator"?

 

[Abhi]

Update:

I used this software "Hdd Regenerator" and it actually repaired the bad sectors! The HDD is good as new! It passed all tests, including Seagate Seatools. XP install was a breeze