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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!reed!omen!caf
From: caf@omen.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: PC-XENIX bad sector problem - Help
Message-ID: <240@omen.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-Oct-85 07:47:02 EDT
Article-I.D.: omen.240
Posted: Fri Oct  4 07:47:02 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 6-Oct-85 08:48:23 EDT
References: <12000019@absolut.UUCP>
Reply-To: caf@.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX)
Organization: Omen Technology, Portland
Lines: 33
Summary: 

Sorry not to use 'r', but with the return path as long as it is, the
probability of successful transmission is about zip ...

I tried running badtrack on the disk when some bad sectors showed up
with Xenix.  The only good thing about the results is that I had
formatted the disk only shortly before then, and so there was little
information to be lost.  I don't think the 286 has a large enough
address space to allow fsck to clean up the resulting mess.

It is possible that the bad block can be "fixed" by repeatedly trying
to edit the affected file.  Sometimes the 69th retry will actually read
the block, at which time it can be rewritten.  If this suggests that
the disk driver error recovery leaves something to be desired, you're
right.

Otherwise, rename the file to something awful and forget about it until
time for an unconditional reformat of the disk with the Advanced
Diagnostics.

If you are losing a block more than once in a blue moon, chances there
is something wrong with your disk controller, or your drive is about to
self destruct.  My year old stock CMI drive has been very happy running
24 hours a days since the controller board was replaced early this
year.  Actually, it took a few unconditional reformats afterwards to
get it really settled down.  Just don't knock on wood if it is near the
AT ...

-- 
  Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX   ...!tektronix!reed!omen!caf   CIS:70715,131
Omen Technology Inc     17505-V NW Sauvie Island Road Portland OR 97231
Home of Professional-YAM, the most powerful COMM program for the IBM PC
Voice: 503-621-3406     Modem: 503-621-3746 (Hit CR's for speed detect)
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