reformatting my hard drive that has one bad sector..

[raystorm]

I tried using the search option to see if anyone else had my problem but couldn't find it.. so maybe you folks can help out. I need to reformat my hard drive and re-install Windows, but my hard drive has one bad sector. When I got the bad sector I started having a few problems in Windows which I solved. Someone told me it probably isnt a bad data sector but something called a buffer underrun or something like that.

Whatever the cause of the bad sector I still need to do the reformat... but how do I do that if I have a bad sector?? How can I re-install Windows without some Win data being placed on the bad sector?? Is there a way to reformat and fill the sector up so that nothing can be placed on it?? If so, how do I do it... I've never formatted before so I'm very much a newbie about this. I do have all my drivers with me along with the Windows disc.

Thank you to all that helps out.

 

[desy]

Thats what reformating does. It finds the bad sectors writes them to a table and then the operating sytem uses that table to avoid the bad sector.
Fini

 

[Goldfish]

I've heard a low level format will get rid of the bad sector, I don't know for sure though.

 

[bozo1]

Do the surface scan in Scandisk. That will map out the bad sector. This is the easiest route!

Format the drive (NOT a quick format) will map out the bad sector but you lose your data and have to reinstalled. Scandisk is a better choice.

Low-level format does nothing. (not wanting to get into this low-level format rant, this has been discussed ad-nauseum in other threads) You cannot do a true low-level format anyway, but using the utility from the drive manufacturer that claims to do one basically just wipes the drive, does a surface scan, and maps out any bad sectors. Again, Scandisk will do this for you.

 

[cockeyed]

If you have not already done a format, there is another option; use a "thorough" Scandisk. The thorough scandisk will lock out the bad sector so it won't be used any longer. The data in that sector might just be corrupted from a bad shutdown during a system crash. Unless you feel like installing everything again, try this first. If you do re-install everything from scratch, do yourself a favor and get a copy of Norton Ghost. Make a Ghost image when everything is fresh, then if you ever have a problem, just ghost the image back to the HDD and in a few minutes you will be back in action.

 

[GregMal]

First goto your HD manufacturer's web site and download their HD utilities. Use the Utilities to detect the the bad sector and flag it. Then reformat and reinstall the OS. You shouldn't have any problems...
Greg

 

[yeuemmaimai]

the difference between scandisk and a HDD utility is that the HDD utility will update the BST on the HDD itself and remap the sector to a spare one if available, and therefore that bad sector will not be seen by format or other highlevel disk utilities such as scandisk..

 

[bozo1]

<< the difference between scandisk and a HDD utility is that the HDD utility will update the BST on the HDD itself and remap the sector to a spare one if available, and therefore that bad sector will not be seen by format or other highlevel disk utilities such as scandisk >>


Exactly, but if just 1 is bad, big deal. Just let Scandisk take care of it and save yourself the hassle. If the number of bad boys keep growing, then use the HDD utility, IMO.

 

[Jeff7]

First, ZAP the drive - that deletes all partition and file allocation data. (erases everything)
Then Fdisk the hard drive, then format it using this command line:
format c: /u /c
That will unconditionally format, and also retest any bad sectors to see if they are in fact good. After that, run a thorough scandisk check.
Oh, just a note - all of this stuff must be done from a boot disk.

 

[raystorm]

Jeff... that sound like a good plan. You say that it must be done with the boot disk (the one you make in the Add/Remove part of the control panel right?). How do I do that exactly? I'm sorry if I sound like a total newbie, but I want to make it as easy as possible and hopefully done sometime today or tomorrow.

How do you run a thorough scandisk from the bootdisk? Also, is FDisk in windows?? Or do I have to download that?

Boy... I have a lot to learn. Thanks for all the help folks! Its much appreciated!