Thank you for your reply. I will try to find how to do the low-level
format. If I do need a new hard drive what would be a good and
inexpensive one that will handle Linux just fine? Thanks.
Marcia
On Mon, 23 Jul 2001 13:48:48 -0500 "tazmun" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
writes:
> Is there anyway that I can reformat my disk either with Norton
> > or using the HDD low level format in the BIOS? I have a feeling
> this hard
> > drive is not dead but could have been hit with a virus? Strange
> > characters show up with the boot up messages for hdb drive. I do
> not care
> > about saving files at this point. I just want to be able to use my
> > computer again and do a fresh install of LM8 again. Any advice
> will be
> > greatly appreciated. Thank you. Sincerely, Marcia
> >
>
> I suspect that Civileme and the others are correct and this drive is
> toasted, but a couple of thoughts come to me to check possibly.
> Regarding a
> possible virus, it's possible if it was dual booting windoze, but
> unlikely
> if running only MD 8.0. I find that to cause failure to the point
> your
> describing even in windoze it would be unlikely. I have however saw
> the
> bios spit out some weird machine language before when running
> systems that
> are overclocked too far. Are you sure your bios is set right for
> the
> processor your running etc. If the onboard clock has not been
> keeping time
> correctly this is a hint towards a failing battery. If your battery
> died or
> is weak on the motherboard your bios would lose all the settings
> upon
> shutdown and a normal boot after would not be likely. The latter
> was
> probably a long shot though. The low format utilities are not found
> in your
> bios, or at least I've never seen such a thing. I would suggest
> downloading the utilities offered by the hard drive manufacturer on
> line.
> The ones I've used are quite helpful and offer the proper low level
> format
> for your drive if necessary. They normally offer to help you make a
> bootable disk to boot on your floppy drive. The low level format is
> sometimes called the "write test"(specifically maxtor), but remember
> this
> wipes your drive completely clean and requires a fdisk and normal
> format
> afterwards. Sorry I don't know the Linux equivalents. I have had
> drives
> testing bad after a low level format test out ok. Depending on why
> the
> drive got messed up it might be actually damaged and even though
> temporarily
> running right will not last for long. If this happened because of a
> local
> power outtage though I'd say the odds are in your favor of a
> complete
> permanent recovery. But worst case scenario...new hard drives are a
> better,
> cheaper buy then I've ever seen before!
>
> Tazmun
>
>
