[techtalk] Low level formatting

[shad]

Well, i would leave the low level format as a about to throw the hd in the
garbage option, as there is a very good chance that will perminantly trash
the surface. My suggestion is make sure the values printed on the lable
match what the bios is detecting. Turn off the bios virus checker if it is
on, and try turning off lba and 32 bit access if the bios supports that
option. set bios to highest reliabilit level, not speed/performance.

Next cruise the web and get the lates bios flash pack from the mb
manufacture, and then see if there are any firmware upgrades to the HD.
Goto the HD manufactures website and see if there any know issues with your
hardware combination.

Check that the cables are all firmly seated, and that the master/slave
settings are right. say try the hd with no cd attached, try the secondary
ide port. turn off s.m.a.r.t.

Dont low level format, the disk may not be broken, but it will be if you
do. :-)

Best
Shad

"Wood, Mary" wrote:
> 
> Having exhausted all other options, I am going to try a low-level format on
> a hard disk.   The ultimate goal is to install Window$ 2000 (don't hurt me
> ... it's someone else's machine!).  Yes, I realize that is a little off
> topic and sacrilegious for a Linux group, but I take it a format done from
> BIOS is non-OS specific, making this topic fair game, right?
> 
> Anyway, I've been scrounging the 'net for a tutorial, help page, cheering
> section, anything at all to hold my hand through this apparently delicate
> process.  All I get is a unanimous cry of "Don't even think about it you
> mere mortal.  You'll destroy the Hard Drive."  Well, if I don't do it, the
> Hard Drive is toast anyway, so what have I got to lose?
> 
> Can anyone point me to someone, somewhere on the net who's willing to say,
> "If you really want to do it, here are some useful tips..."?
> 
> As Window$ 2k is on a CD ROM and the BIOS will only boot from A or C, I've
> tried installing NT and 2 versions of DOS from floppy, all of which stall
> saying unable to write to the hard drive.  PartitionMagic gives me the same
> response and trying to run ScanDisk or FDISK from a bootable floppy tells me
> I can't access the Hard Drive (but it's there ... I know it!  The PC detects
> it!).  So, if anyone has any suggestions besides a low-level format, those
> would be greatly appreciated also.
> 
> - Mary Wood; in BIOS hell.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> techtalk mailing list
> techtalk at linuxchix.org
> http://www.linux.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/techtalk