2 HardDDs
1 x Seagate 6gb that works to an extend (then will fail every now and then) I ran the seagate tools (was told to replace it) and would like to repair it using other software, I am quite sure there is software available to do this, any suggestions to fix my Seagate HDD?

Secondly and older 1.5Gb HDD WesternDigital works very slowly, writes like a turtle!!! ;) its damaged i guess, is there any way i can get it to repair itself and make it run normally, instead of 1 mile and hour??


Thanks for your help,

Olie :cool:

I don't have any answers for your question, but I wanted to say that I really hope you aren't keeping any crucial data on either of those drives.:eek: :eek:

Budfred

If you mean phisically repairing HDD isn't worth the trouble 98 out of a 100 times it will not work.

there are some programs like Disk First Aid,Norton Utilities,Tech Tool Pro,Alsoft DiskWarrior.But still better just to get a new one.All it takes is a spec of dust and you've ruined the drive.

You can also initialize your internal hard disk using a program called Drive Setup,should come from the mfg. of the hdd

Thanks, I will try these programs. Any ideas of where the best place on the net to get good value Hard Drives??

Thanks Olie

Where is the best place to get cheap prices on Hard Drives?
(and possibly components?)

Thanks

Olie

I just bought a new one from Essential Computer Inc (http://www.essencompu.com/) and it was for as good a price as I could find.
If you want used or smaller drives, you might be able to do better at Computer surplus (http://www.computersurplusoutlet.com/index.asp) or Computer show (http://www.computer-show.com/Modern/index.asp?CartId=5110791EYVRQ98) and you could do a search on Google (http://www.google.ca/) for more if you like looking around.

I have bought from each of these vendors and haven't been stiffed yet. They are prompt, courteous and professional. You can chect their ratings (or any other's) at Ressellerratings (http://www.resellerratings.com/) if you like.

I have purchased a couple of 80gig Harddrives lately. A Samsung from NewEgg for $94 and a Western Digital from CompUSA for about $90 after tax and rebate. Since both come to a little over a dollar a gig, I figure that is pretty good. I also got a 40gig for about $50 after tax and rebate. For smaller HDs, I would also check eBay, although quality is always risky there.

Budfred

Have you used any diagnostic software to test the performance of the drives?
Did the "Seagate tools" test for performance levels?

Diagnostics would use DOS drivers and cut out the Windows drivers and configuration settings [is PIO or DMA being used for transfers for example].

If these were to blame you may find the drives working just fine.

Actually most of the drive manufacturer diagnostics really don't care about DMA, yes they may have tools for enabling it, and checking what level the drive is set to. But for testing purposes it doesn't really matter, they will read the drive at the slowest speed possible with or without DMA. Most often they will even disable any disk caching routines you may have loaded (Smartdrv)...they do this in order to get the most accurate read of the drive, and eliminate the possiblity of false positives through a configuration error (although most of them usually have some way of checking that too.....). That is why it takes so darn long to run them.....

Looks like I failed to to explain clearly what I meant.

I was trying to say that using a diagnostic programme on a floppy disk would eliminate any problems which were due to the operation of Windows.

PIO versus DMA were just quoted as examples of configuration arrangements within Windows which could affect the performance of the drives within Windows.

All such problems would disappear when using the diagnostic disk.
It would be operating outwith the Windows environment.

Ahh.........I see we are both saying the same thing and in not quite the same way.....;)

Must be because we both speak English.......:D

Ochhh!!

Why Laddie ahm nae Sassenach d'ye ken, ahm true Lallan Scots thru an' thru. An' if it isnae a scunner enough that I hae tae spak the tongue o' thae opressors the Ingle-ish, noo th' invaders o' Amerigo's land are chyngin' the speelin' o' a' thir wirds!

Now, I know that you may think you know that I know what I think I said;
but in fact, you may know better than me what I think I said.

May good bliss us, every one.