A1200 60Mb Disk with errors - how to fix?

[rammydcfc]

Hi,
After it being in a cupboard for 10 years, I've just picked up my old A1200 from my mum's house with the intention to wipe the harddisk and re-install workbench 3.0.

When I attempt to format the two partitions (using Workbench 3.0 Format tool), the process stops with a 'Couldn't format cylinder xxx' message.

Can anyone give me pointers as to how I get around this?
I can vaguely remember the disk having bad sectors when I originally bought it. I must have got around the problem them but haven't a clue now.

Grateful for any help.

Cheers,
Rich

[amigakit]

You cant repair bad sectors - you can use QBTools to fence them off so they arent used.

A 2.5" hard disk with bad sectors isn't going to be very reliable in future and you certainly don't want to keep any data not backed up on it.

May be worthwhile investing in a replacement drive?

[Amiga4k]

Just use HDToolbox to verify the drive, then map out the bad blocks. All drives have bad blocks, but a drive that has to be-remapped in a rare situation. If it persists, the drive is going to fail.

[amigagr]

soon you will have to through it out with a loss of valuable data so better buy a new one.

[Matt_H]

If you're going to wipe the disk anyway, I'd suggest just getting a new one. I don't really think a 60MB drive is worth salvaging. Larger drives can be had for pennies on ebay.

[Piru]

Just use HDToolbox to verify the drive, then map out the bad blocks. All drives have bad blocks, but a drive that has to be-remapped in a rare situation.

I have to disagree here. Any drive that is in bad enough state to show the errors to outside world is failing badly. Better bin the drive and save lot of grief later.

[Amiga4k]

Piru,
My 20 years with CBM gear had some bearing on the answer. Although technically correct that the factory prep would have mapped out(surface)defects,and written the bad block list, there are factors that create bad data blocks, and factors that will create NEW surface blemishes that can be mapped out.
The solution, as suggested by AmigaKit, was to run QuarterBackTools (I prefer AmigaBackTools, but have both). These can correct bad data, thus repairing the data block. Neither program repairs original mapped out blocks. Then run the program I suggested, to map out the blocks. The drive should be replaced, but could be used during that phase.

As a side-bar: I have 2 Fujitsu SCSI drives, with 7+ years of service non-stop, never powered down except to clean the drive cage, and correct bad data. That is 500,000 hours without mechanical breakdown. I am about to turn them back ON next month. (I did a test last month, and it's 100%).

[Piru]

@Amiga4k

The thing is that physical and logical mapping don't match. If you say block x is broken, that x is by using the logical mapping. What happens is that 'block x' can actually be any block on the physical drive, and it can even change without the user knowing anything about it.

To my knowlege adding bad blocks with hdtoolbox only works for some really ancient SCSI hdds (ones that also support low level format). With these there is no automatic remap/data relocation of bad blocks, and the thing must be done manually.

There are tools that actually allocate the storage used by the bad blocks (they create a file that covers the damaged area). These were mostly useful with floppies though, as there the bad blocks don't move.

My argument is: If the drive is indicating any errors to OS using it, it's time to swap the drive. Even if you might be able to get it working for some months, you could just end up with catastrophic data loss later on. If the drive is acting up, copy the data to a new drive while you can (if you can). HDDs are dirt cheap these days, don't gamble with your data.

As a side-bar: I have some 1.3 TB of hard disks running 24/7. I've had one IDE 2.5" laptop drive die, and two SCSI-II HDDs.

[Tomas]

I would really consider getting a new disk if i was you. You can maybe use this disk for a while by marking the bad sectors as unusable, but the problem will nearly for sure spread again later..

[Brian]

A long time ago before I had $ and HDD's was expencive what I did was to format the drive and when it get's to a surtan % it would fail. I then enter HD Toolbox and make 2 partisions and create a blank space roughly to where the % indicated errors. And start formatting the first and seccond partision. If failing one just entered HD toolbox and moved the blank space a bit. It was a trial and error thing and you ended up losing about 10% of the diskspace if you weren't to sitt there all day.

It worked and I was major happy with my accivement. All was well and fine untill a few days later where the disk gave new blocks with errors. Same procedure as above though now with 3 partisions was made and it again worked... for almost a month before the 3rd error occure. By then I realiced:
1. 120Mb disk isn't suited for 4 partision
2. My time could be better spent then repartision over and over
3. My data was more valuable than the price of a new disk

Buttom line is, at the first sign of disk mallfunction, due to price of HDD's these days, get a new one and salvage as much as possible for the old disk becuase it's on it's last legs and dataloss will happen... but again that's why we all make backups right? ;-)

[whabang]

You of all people should know, Brian; real men don't take back-ups - they call the support dept. and complain! :-P

Oh, and I agree - bin the drive and get a new one.

[Methuselas]

I concur. Bin the drive and get another one.

As cheap as notebook drives are now, it's not worth the risk. Your 1200 is worth it.  :getmad:

[tonyvdb]

I agree with several of the posters on here toss the drive and get a new one. You have several options.
One: just buy a used one off ebay and look for one that has a decent size between 2 and 8 gig is plenty.
Two: buy one from AmigaKit and have the OS installed by them so all you have to do is plop the drive in and turn it on and your off and running with no hassles.