While I don't know about the software to test this I can say that in a
simular situation I replaced the controller card with one from a like (same
brand/size) drive that had been diagnosed and replaced because of too many
bad sectors. The drive that was previously undetectable works great.


Chris Hayes
----- Original Message -----
From: Elizabeth Boston <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2000 1:59 PM
Subject: [PCBUILD] Hard drive failure


> Greetings,
>         I am interested in testing hard drives for different kinds of
> failure, due to a recent experience.
>
>         I had a friend bring in his computer. His wife said that the
> computer kept asking her to put in the recovery disk when she
> tried to turn it on.
>         I hooked the computer up, turned it on, and it booted with no
> problems. I ran it overnight and did a thorough examination of
> the hard drive (a Samsung 3.2G) with SpinRite, and I think I also
> used the hard drive diagnostic from Ontrack, although I am not
> sure.
>         The tests showed that there were no errors on the hard drive,
> and I sent the computer home with a clean bill of health. Now,
> three weeks later, the computer is back with the same problem. Of
> course, now that I have it here while it is not working, I can
> see that it is not asking for a recovery disk, but the drive is
> not being detected by the BIOS, and the resulting message says
> "Disk Boot Failure, Insert system disk and press enter"
>         I have tried enough different tests to be satisfied that the
> problem is with the drive itself, since the computer will
> recognize a working drive, and my workbench computer can't find
> this drive when I connect it there.
>         I'm assuming that since there were no bad sectors or problems
> with this drive three weeks ago when it first had the problem,
> that the disk itself is fine, and it must be the electronics or
> controller on the drive that is not working. Is this what all of
> you would conclude as well?
>
>         Is there software that will test for this as well as testing the
> surface of the drive? If there is, I would be interested in
> knowing how well it has worked for you before I spend money on
> it.
>
>
>      Elizabeth Boston
>       [log in to unmask]
>       [log in to unmask]
>
> Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of
> its strength.
>           - Corrie Ten Boom
>
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