Causes of hard drive errors

[nonsequitur]

i'm trying to format an old p3 workstation with a fresh install of win2k. this box had been sitting unused for some time, but had been working fine. the client just needs this for a summer intern who needs a workstation. all work will be saved to a networked directory.

i've tried three vintage hard drives (older 3-5 GB), and two will not format, and one would not finish a win2k install. i don't believe all three are bad, especially since one was purchased recently as a working pull.

on the latest attempt, i tried a different ide cable, and still, same problems.

my next effort will be with a newer 20 gb drive, but after that... i dunno.

if there's a bad ide controller on the motherboard, would using a pci-ide card solve the problem? i don't think it's ram... .that wouldn't cause formatting errors.

 

[OldMX]

Wipe those disks with 0's and start fresh (autoclave or dban), if you still have problems then get a pci ide controller

Good Luck

0ldmX

 

[demografik]

I'm having this same problem with a dual p3 dell workstation. Dual scsi drives. I don't know much about raid so I don't know how to try each individual drive. They're in whichever array sees 2 drives as one.

I've been told the problem is the scsi controller, but I'd like to see some responses to this thread before I go buy a PCI controller.

 

[DougLite]

A) Corruption 101 *sniff* Thanks Ice Czar, I will step up and link to your great info instead of you having to come and do it Also, I've bookmarked it now - no need to search for it

B) Try loading defaults in the BIOS.

C) PCI add-in cards are cheap - They're worthwhile troubleshooting tools to have sitting in a drawer if you do stufff like this often.

For our latest poster who is having SCSI problems, you need to review termination, the cable, SCSI ID settings, as well as SCSI BIOS settings before you dismiss the onboard SCSI HBA.

 

[nonsequitur]

thanks for the suggestions... looks like i'll be having a late night!


edit (instead of bump)... after zeroing out two hard drives (one of which was two year old drive), using different ide cables, and still with formatting errors, i'm going to pick up a pci-ide card. let's hope that works...