Hi,

I have had to in the past week, reload system files twice because of errors. Yesturday my OS(ME) would not load at all after replacing system files(not in safe mode either).

So I removed the partitions and started from scatch as I have done on numerous occassions, for lack of understanding of the problem(nothing but the OS on that drive anyway).

After repartitioning with "Large Disc Support" I tried to format the drive with cd support, which has never been a problem before, and when I do it starts and then stops at 7%. When I do a FORMAT at a prompt it stops again at 7% and states "That it is trying to recover allocation units" and then says it cannot complete the format.

I am using a Seagate Baracuda ATA 30gig. Its a year old but I was hoping it would last a bit longer. Is it dead?

Thanks

Hi ZURKE
It doesn't sound good does it. I would Download the Diagnostic Utilities from Seagate.

Maybe try the bootable floppy version in the link below and see what it comes up with.
Sure hope it's not dead after a Year...I own a Seagate too-(Among others). :rolleyes:

May very well be under Warranty though if it's only a year old. Good luck.

http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/

Thanks jabarnutcase

I am using the diag. as I write. There appears to be quite a few bad sectors it is finding but it also says it is succeding in writing to the bad sectors, so I guess thats good. This could take all night! But if it solves this issue, excellent.

I had a thought as I was brewing through this dilema. Is it possible for a virus to write sectors as bad? And maybe caused my OS to crap out and then cause the other issues? Or am I just stretching the imagination in hopes of my drive being completely OK?

Thanks

The fact that it's finding "quite a few" bad sectors is bad. (No joke intended) :p

Can I assume that you've always run an AV on the drive and kept it up to date? Viruses can do a lot of crazy things with your System as you know, and certainly could have been causing some of the original problems with your corrupted system files etc.

However, if the Diagnostic Software is finding a lot of bad sectors, then that's what you have.

Their utilities are very good so I would wait and see what it has to say when the scan is done...am I just stretching the imagination in hopes of my drive being completely OK? I'm afraid that's very possible.....Seems to me at least, that the drive is indeed on the way out if it has many bad sectors. That's an indication of actual physical damage to the drive.

And chances are it will continue to grow worse. Their Web Site has some good info though, and I would still check into the Warranty if it comes to that.

jabarnutcase

Yes, I do like and use a VP software. But I was reading that there are certain viruses that make copies of files to show the scanner that everything is hokey dokey. If that is what a virus scanner is up against at some point well so much for protection.


I ran the full scan it repaired what needed repairing and then ran it again and it came back fine.
The sectors that were repaired seemed to have aloud me to Format the drive. I will reply back when i finish the install.

Thanks again.

Bad sectors are bad sectors. Run, don't walk to Seagate's tech support and find out what the warranty is on the drive. This is a sure sign the drive is not doing well. And one more thing, if there is anything of value to you on the drive,

BACKUP

Yes Classic...Since he just did a Format I don't think ZURKE has too much important data to back up......(yet)!

I agree though, the Drive will most likely become worse over time until it fails. The "Repair" it performed is really more of a temporary "fix".
It will probably develop more bad sectors eventually, leaving you where you started.

Looking into the Warranty is a must. I think I would do that before I
even reinstalled an OS on it.

While the drive Warranties aren't what they use to be, there is a very good chance that because it was bought a year ago, before some of the Warranty changes, that it's covered.

It would sure be great to have a brand spankin' new Drive to install that OS on ZURKE! ;)

Thanks Fellow Geeks

I made a copy of the diag. report. I intend to call support and inquire on the warranty. Thanks for the assistance in narrowing down the issue. I am self studying C++ and this down time is really cutting in on my applications.:(

Thanks Again, Zurke