Re: Netra X1 hardware flakiness

[Jochen Kunz <jkunz%unixag-kl.fh-kl.de@localhost>]

On Sun, 9 May 2010 16:13:09 -0400
Chris Ross <cross+netbsd%distal.com@localhost> wrote:

> is it possible to effectively "format" an IDE disk,
No. Modern disks can't be low-level formated by the user as it was
possible with MFM / RLL / SMD disks. This is due to embedded servo
tracks etc..

> to reinitialize the bad sector list?
You can try to write all sectors by dd(1)ing zeros from /dev/zero to
the disk and then reading them back. This may help - if there is still
enough free space in the bad block replacement zone. Most likely this
isn't the case.

But, honestly, if there is no important data on the disk that must be
rescued, all I recommend is: Trash that disk as fast as you can. IDE
disks are consumables, i.e. cheap junk. Don't waste your time with a
failing IDE disk, replace it.

You got one single chance: Once I had a failing IDE disk. But it wasn't
the disk, it was the PATA cable. That cable was too long and had
intermittent contacts... The disk run fine with a new PATA cable.
-- 


tschüß,
       Jochen

Homepage: http://www.unixag-kl.fh-kl.de/~jkunz/