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error checking a new HD

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kenshin-dono:
ya probably, i just wanted to make sure that if there was an error it would have actually given me a message or something. Is anyone familiar with xp? I want to make sure it didn't just put a band aid on the problem itself without telling me. I would think it would give an error report if it did but i dont know

ReyBrujo:
I would be satisfied with the full format. I believe you are a bit too paranoic ;-) Band aid on the problem? Which problem? Windows didn't report anything, did it? I bought two 1TB hard drives, formatted and started filling them. At the very worst, I will lose a few chapters, not the whole disk of data (in fact, if I lose the whole disk it would be because of a much more important problem). Just in case, I create DVD backups too, but that is because I am playing safe.

kostya:
I don't know if it is still the case, but last I checked, when you did a format, it would automatically identify bad sectors and skip them. Yes, you do have bad sectors. Every drive ever made has bad sectors. It is cheaper to increase the capacity of the drive then it is to make sure that every sector is manufactured perfectly. There is no problem if you have bad sectors on a new drive. The problem is if the number of bad sectors increases or the good sectors are giving you data errors.

Lupin:

--- Quote from: kenshin-dono on November 29, 2009, 05:19:20 PM ---1) doesnt a full reformat (right clicking selecting format, not quick format) already do a thorough error checking? or no? I realized that after i clicked it lol, i think i may have wasted my time with the error checking

--- End quote ---
It doesn't. It simply verifies that the drive is ok. In fact, full formatting erases all records of bad sectors (file system-wise) in the drive.


--- Quote from: kenshin-dono on November 29, 2009, 05:19:20 PM ---2) with the error checking i had 'scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors' tab checked because i thought that was the more thorough. But then i got to thinking, does this just auto fix errors? i wanted to know if there were any. If it completed this and just gave the message 'scan complete' does that mean the HD is ok?

--- End quote ---
Yes, it does. When you click on this option, it scans the entire disk as well automatically fix all sorts of errors. The "scan complete" means just what it said. It doesn't mean that the drive is ok, just the process is complete.


--- Quote from: kenshin-dono on November 29, 2009, 05:19:20 PM ---3)follow up to the previous question, should i be satisfied with just this, or is there a better utitlity out there to make sure a HD is good?

--- End quote ---
IBM/Hitachi has a good utility that thoroughly checks the integrity of a drive. It's free, and works on all kinds of drives. It doesn't fix errors unfortunately.

Contrary to what is posted here, Windows XP creates a log file with the results of the scan. It's hidden from normal view and get deleted automatically by the system.

EDIT: I'm not sure if the IBM/Hitachi tool works with external drives.

Xiong Chiamiov:

--- Quote from: kenshin-dono on November 29, 2009, 05:19:20 PM ---Anyway i did a full reformat on it over to NTSF, it was fat 32 for some reason

--- End quote ---
FAT is, unfortunately, the only filesystem that can be trusted for use on all the major operating systems.  Most manufacturers deliver drives formatted in FAT so that users of both PCs and Macs can use them with minimal technical knowledge.  Just fyi.

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