> OK about a week ago, seemingly without warning my MBR/partition tables did a > runner. I have no idea what happened or why, it appeared as though the > partition boundaries had gotten confused, I don't know, at any rate I just > wiped the hard drive (there wasn't anything overly important on it) and > reinstalled (debian). Now my issues really start. The system will just > randomly hang[1]
Clear case of faulty hardware. Possibilities are: hard disk (test with smartmontools[1]), memory (test with memtest86 for 24h[2], cabling (corroded contacts, broken copper strands), motherboard (faulty chips or PCB connections), CPU. Faulty motherboards and chips, including CPU, are never fixable. Replace. Swap components with another system to isolate the problem. Never use badblocks to check disks; ignore all advice to the contrary unless you really understand the physical issues involved (and then still find badblocks is of use to you). Volker [1] Turn on auto off-line tests. Run an explicit short and long self test, if there is a problem, these will almost always show it. Look at the number of reallocated sectors and pending reallocations. Replace disk if problems show. Disk manufacturers will do warranty replacements if any bad/reallocated sector shows, otherwise a certain number of them is acceptable, say up to 1 per month of disk age. If the number jumps up suddenly, take the disk out immediately and throw it hard against some concrete, to avoid temptation. [2] Memory tests are very one-sided, not necessarily in your favour: If memtest86 shows a problem within an hour, you're lucky and your memory is really bad. If it shows a problem at any time, replace memory module(s). If it shows no problem, even after 24h, it means nothing much. There is no comprehensive and reliable memory test, for physical reasons. There sure isn't a fast one. (Well for the chip manufacturers there is, but that's no good to us.) -- Volker Kuhlmann is list0570 with the domain in header http://volker.dnsalias.net/ Please do not CC list postings to me.
