Any way to test a hard drive?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fred Mann
  • Start date Start date
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Fred Mann

Hello,
I have a hard drive that I pulled from a hard-disk recorder (recording
studio gear), and I wanted to format it and reinstall the OS because it was
behaving badly.
I have a windows ME boot disk floppy (I guess it's a floppy). I ran fdisk
and deleted the existing partition, restarted, and ran a format. When the
format completed, it said "unable to write boot", or something to that
effect. I assume there's a good chance that the HD is dead, but I wanted to
be sure.
Is there any kind of free software that I could use to test the drive?
In case it's not obvious, I am NOT an expert in doing this kind of thing (at
all!!!), but I sure can follow instructions!
Thanks,
Fred
 
Fred Mann said:
Hello,
I have a hard drive that I pulled from a hard-disk recorder (recording
studio gear), and I wanted to format it and reinstall the OS because it was
behaving badly.
I have a windows ME boot disk floppy (I guess it's a floppy). I ran fdisk
and deleted the existing partition, restarted, and ran a format. When the
format completed, it said "unable to write boot", or something to that
effect. I assume there's a good chance that the HD is dead, but I wanted to
Click to expand...

go to the website of the HD's mfg...
they should have a free diagnostic you can run from a boot floppy
 
Fred said:
Hello,
I have a hard drive that I pulled from a hard-disk recorder (recording
studio gear), and I wanted to format it and reinstall the OS because it was
behaving badly.
I have a windows ME boot disk floppy (I guess it's a floppy). I ran fdisk
and deleted the existing partition, restarted, and ran a format. When the
format completed, it said "unable to write boot", or something to that
effect. I assume there's a good chance that the HD is dead, but I wanted to
be sure.
Is there any kind of free software that I could use to test the drive?
In case it's not obvious, I am NOT an expert in doing this kind of thing (at
all!!!), but I sure can follow instructions!
Thanks,
Fred
Click to expand...

MHDD is the most powerful freeware utility i've yet encountered. With
power, comes vast potential for harm, so stick to the non-destructive
stuff. I use this utility in the form of a bootable CD.

Read the manual before using this.

http://hddguru.com/content/en/software/2005.10.02-MHDD/
 
Hello,
I have a hard drive that I pulled from a hard-disk recorder (recording
studio gear), and I wanted to format it and reinstall the OS because it was
behaving badly.
I have a windows ME boot disk floppy (I guess it's a floppy). I ran fdisk
and deleted the existing partition, restarted, and ran a format. When the
Click to expand...

oops, deleteing a partition is ok, but the first thing AFTER that is
making (a) new partition(s), NOT format the disk.
After making (a) new partition(s), you THEN format the partitions,
each partition separately..

After formatting the partition(s), you can run test software...
 
oops, deleteing a partition is ok, but the first thing AFTER
that is making (a) new partition(s), NOT format the disk.
Click to expand...

He restarted the system before formatting.
After making (a) new partition(s), you THEN
format the partitions, each partition separately..
Click to expand...

There aint any other way to format.
After formatting the partition(s), you can run test software...
Click to expand...

You dont need to format the partition(s) to run a diag.
 
He restarted the system before formatting.
Click to expand...

from floppy.

The guy has to guess he's holding a floppy in his hand, idiot !
Anything could have phappened.

Get back into your brown paper bag and join your family.
 
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