HDD Zero Bad Sector after Write Zero

Discussion in 'General Hardware' started by ariyamusafir, Nov 14, 2011.

  1. ariyamusafir

    ariyamusafir Newbie

    Could we assume that HDD is perfectly free from real physical caused bad sector if the report after write zero states zero bad sector? IF assume there is real phyiscal caused bad sectors, could we conclude as well that these bad sectors would also show even if after write zero?
     
  2. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

    I read it twice.. but I'm still not sure what your question is.

    What exactly do you mean, or are you asking?
     
  3. ariyamusafir

    ariyamusafir Newbie

    I read from your articles about myths on the HDD. From there, I summarise that there are 2 types of Bad Sectors. One would be the physical damage on the platter itself in which these are bad sectors that can never be repaired. There is another type which is not damage of the HDD but something else.

    Question... Write Zero on the HDD and then check with command promt chkdsk g:/f and report shows 0 bad sectors. Does this mean tjhat there is no physical damage to the HDD? I mean no physical damage based on bad sectors....

    Thanks
     
  4. Chai

    Chai Administrator Staff Member

    Sometimes it could be relocation of the bad sectors by using the spare sectors. So technically, the bad sectors are still there.
     
  5. ariyamusafir

    ariyamusafir Newbie

    sorry.. don't get it... meaning to say that bad sectors is confirmed physical damage?
     
  6. Chai

    Chai Administrator Staff Member

    It may be, it may be not. After a low level format, bad sector disappears, but that doesn't mean there's no physical damage.

    The moment I see CRC error while accessing the HDD, I will discard the hard disk immediately. That's me.
     
  7. ariyamusafir

    ariyamusafir Newbie

    CRC error?
     
  8. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

    Even a new hard disk drive can have defects on the platters. That's why they always do a low-level format and mark out the bad bits. They will also allocate a number of spare sectors for use as replacements when a sector goes bad.

    When you check a drive and it develops bad sectors, the OS will mark them out as bad. You can do a low-level format to replace them with spare sectors. However, physically the bad sectors are still there. They were just replaced "logically" with good, spare sectors.

    BTW, CRC errors can be caused by a bad cable.
     
  9. Chai

    Chai Administrator Staff Member

    Not if it's trying to copy the same file, and getting the same error everytime.
     
  10. mikegas

    mikegas Newbie

    Bah... all drives have bad sectors, you don't see it doesn't mean in not there. There is no 100% perfect media...
     
  11. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

    Hmm.. Sounds like a bad sector leh.. Maybe you should do a low-level format to "move" that sector out.

    But you are right.. once a drive starts developing such signs of failure, it's best to migrate to a new drive.
     
  12. Chai

    Chai Administrator Staff Member

    That's exactly why I have already stopped using that drive since. :mrgreen:
     

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