On May 9, 2010, at 16:46, Jochen Kunz wrote:
is it possible to effectively "format" an IDE disk,No. Modern disks can't be low-level formated by the user as it was possible with MFM / RLL / SMD disks. This is due to embedded servo tracks etc..
Yeah, I knew that the old concept of "low-level format" was outdated, but...
to reinitialize the bad sector list?You can try to write all sectors by dd(1)ing zeros from /dev/zero to the disk and then reading them back. This may help - if there is still enough free space in the bad block replacement zone. Most likely this isn't the case. But, honestly, if there is no important data on the disk that must be rescued, all I recommend is: Trash that disk as fast as you can. IDE disks are consumables, i.e. cheap junk. Don't waste your time with a failing IDE disk, replace it.
Yeah. But, that assumes either (a) I have another [new, good enough] IDE disk around, or (b) am willing to buy one. Since I want a small disk, which I'm not even sure you *can* buy anymore, and would rather not spend the small number of dollars, I was asking the "no cost, no new hardware" question first. :-)
Thanks much for your feedback... I'd already started looking for other disks, as you're right that that is the obvious option.
- Chris