Re: chkdsk /r and surface scan

"Anthony Ewell" <aewell@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:d92233$iip$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Anthony Ewell wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> Is there an XP equivalent to Win 9x's scandisk
>> "Thorough" scan (surface scan)?
>>
>> --Tony
>
>
> Hi All,
>
> I posted the above in a different posting. I got
> a lot of hits but no one directly answered the
> question. I was told to look up the options
> on chkdsk and to use the /r option.
>
> /R Locates bad sectors and recovers readable
> information (implies /F).
>
> Question: is "chkdsk /r" a surface scan? And, is
> it equivalent to 9x's scandisk "Thorough" scan?
>
> It really sounds to me like they are not the same
> thing; sounds like it is looking for errors in
> active data, not both data and empty space.
> For one thing, scandisk's "Thorough"? takes
> 10 time as long.
>
> Please enlighten me.
>
> Many thanks,
> --Tony
>

Chkdsk /r does the same thing as scandisk with the thorough option. With
modern drives if you are seeing bad sectors the drive is probably no good
and should be replaced. Modern drives have replacement sectors they use
automatically. Windows (and the user) don't see this until all the spares
are used. The price of drives has come down to where you have to make a
judgement call on what your data is worth to you. With large drives under
$150.00 how much time do you want to spend when the drive ultimately fails
and you have to rebuild your file system? If chkdsk /r finds bad sectors I
would recommend downloading the usually free diagnostic software from the
manufacturer of your hard drive and test the drive. Be sure to back up your
data first. The act of testing can sometimes cause a marginal drive to fail.

Kerry


.

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