> From:    "Wayne@Tammy" <[log in to unmask]>
>
> Hello all,
>
> I'm working on a laptop for a friend right now, and his hard drive has a
> bad spot close to the beginning of the drive.  The drive FDisk's ok, but I
> can't format it.
>
> I partitioned it into a 50 MB C: drive, and a 1 GB D: drive, tried
> installing Windows 95 on D: , but Windows stalls during the install process
> because of problems on the first partition.
>
> Is there any way I can format the drive, and have it continue on past this
> error?, or get windows to ignore the first partition?  Yes, I realise the
> drive is dying, and that he should replace the drive,  but in the mean
> time, I'm looking for a fast fix.
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Wayne Rowlinson
> [log in to unmask]
>
> From:    Dave Gillett <[log in to unmask]>
>
>   Now delete that first partition, so that the 1GB becomes C:, and try
> installing.
>
> David G
>
> From:    "Wayne@Tammy" <[log in to unmask]>
>
> Already tried that, get an error - "Error SU-0013 - Setup could not create
> files on your startup drive and cannot set up Windows".
>
> "If you Have HPFS or Windows NT file system, you must create an MS-DOS boot
> partition.  If you have LANtastic server or SuperStor compression, disable
> it before running Setup. See SETUP.TXT on Setup Disk 1 or the Windows CD-ROM".
>
> Tried this with both 95 and 98.  Seems that it wants to install files on a
> primary DOS partition, not extended (at least some files).   I still think
> my only hope is some type of switch that will force FORMAT to continue,
> even if it finds an error, or some type of partitioning software that can
> "remove" the bad section of hard drive.
>
> Thanks for replying, any other ideas would be appreciated.
>
>
> Wayne Rowlinson

Sounds like a candidate for a low-level format.  Go to the drive
manufacturer's website and find the software for that make and model.
Make sure you have the right software, as the wrong low-level format
can make a drive unusable.  Be warned that it can take many hours to complete.

If the damage is purely magnetic (for example a power glitch while writing),
this will fix things "as good as new".

If the damage is physical, the low level format will mark the bad sectors
so that they are not used.  Compare the list of bad sectors with the label.
(Record list.)  If the list grows, and keeps growing on any subsequent low-
level formats (or SCANDISKs), then there are broken bits flying around
inside, and the drive is on its way out.

Backup frequently to avoid losing data when it dies, or use it only for
stuff you don't mind losing.

Boyd Ramsay

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