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Thread ID: 30664 2003-02-27 05:10:00 HDD Bad Cluster part2 Julius Caesar (3079) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
124303 2003-02-27 22:26:00 Boot off a Windows 95 startup floppy

Optionally repartiton

Format using the command line FORMAT C:/C
to format and check previously marked bad sectors.

Ensure the chs settings in BIOS for the hard drive are correct
Merlin (503)
124304 2003-02-27 23:12:00 Hi,

Yeah I've already used that command, but thanks anyway.

As for referenced, I may of mislead everyone about my issue, but I'm certain that the issue is still related to the one that I have discussed earlier. My apologies, if this isn't releated!

The correct message shown on screen when trying to do a format is:

Not Ready
Format terminated.

Once this has reached to 12%, I recieve the above error.

As for the optionally repartition - well, my hdd is is already partitioned. This being C: with a total of 80Mb and the partition drive D: with a total of 20mb used (Primarly where Windows 95 Setup files are located) plus any extras including old msdos games etc....

After when the situation (which I assumed was fixed at this point), I also considered installing from the Partition Drive.

As for the chs-(Cylinder Heads.....), I know I wouldn't of required to go back into BIOS, as its password protected, and when I first installed the hard drive, I haven't had any problems related to my settings in BIOS. As this was the reason for implementing a password.

Thanks anyway
Julius Caesar (3079)
124305 2003-02-27 23:16:00 Hi Billy,

Thanks anyway for your help.

Bugger too! But no worrys, I also own 2 other more computers at home and intending to buy another one shortly, so If I don't get this old one working....hey, no probs...

I was probably thinking of buying a new HDD for this 'Ancient' machine, but (I'm assuming here) that I would experience more problems when using an up to date HDD with an old 486 machine and Windows 95 on top, since the BIOS is Ancient too and everything even the motherboard with no name is "Ancient" also.

Cheers!!!
Julius Caesar (3079)
124306 2003-02-27 23:44:00 Scandisk and format both mark bad sectors when they find them., by making FAT entries. Scandisk might find corrupted sectors, rather than "bad" ones. If you have marked bad sectors with scandisk, format will find them again, because it wipes the FAT table and makes a new one. :D

You might gain by using the IBM programme zap.exe to zero the whiole disk. (you can find it by using the PressF1 search for "zap.exe" on this site).

The low level formatting done in the factory "permanently" removes bad sectors, by mapping them to spare sectors or tracks. This is done by writing to nonvolatile memory in the controller board.
Graham L (2)
124307 2003-02-28 02:45:00 Are you trying to format with format c: /s ? If you are, try dropping the /s part. That worked for me. Susan B (19)
124308 2003-02-28 03:59:00 Cylinder 1 on Head 0 is damaged.

Ditch it.
Merlin (503)
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