4 Kb in bad sectors?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jason
  • Start date Start date
J

Jason

I had a computer built a little over three weeks ago.
After running a scan disk (error checking on XP home) I
was watching the report afterwards...it went by quite
quickly, but I saw 4 Kb in bad sectors. Is this anything
to be concerned with? I am a computer dummy, so I do not
understand if this is normal or not...but when something
says bad, I assume the worst. What can I do, or is this
just one of those things I have to have fixed.
Thanks
 
A few bad sector is noraml for a disk. Start woorring if the number of bas
sectors increases with time. Also, it is not the known bad sectors that are
a problem, since XP will not write to them. it is the ubnknown bad sectors
that can lead to data loss, or even a PC that refuses to boot.

Consider running CHKDSK with the /R option. Froma command prompt this would
look like CHKDSK C: /R. XP will say that the disk is in use and offer to
perform the checking during the next boot. Accept its offer by typing Y.
Then reboot. Note that this variant of CHKDSK can run a long time, even
over an hour. However, it will check the whole disk, not just the area that
curently has files on it. After returning to the desktop, type CHKDSK C:
without and other parameters. This will check (but not repair/change)
anything. Note carefully whether you have more bad sectors than previously.
If so, do this every week or so, otherwise do not worry about it for a few
months. Of course, if the number of bad sector is increaisng with time,
save your data off the PC and get a new hard drive, soon.
 
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