Re: [gentoo-user] Checking an HD for problems

[Stroller]

On 22 Sep 2010, at 17:46, Grant wrote:
> ... I noticed some errors when I was cp -ax'ing everything
> from my old drive to the new drive which were accompanied by loud
> clicks.  Is there a way to do a comprehensive test/check of the old
> drive to see if it has any problems?

You don't need to do a test. The disk that is making the noises is f**ked.

Assuming that it's the old drive that is knackered, and if you're not certain 
that all important data has been copied correctly, then use GNU ddrescue (there 
is more than one dd_rescue, and GNU's is the best one) to do a bitwise clone of 
the data. Follow the examples in the manual to do multiple passes - the first 
pass will get most of the data from good sectors, subsequent passes will make 
repeated attempts at the bad sectors.

Stroller.

Re: [gentoo-user] Checking an HD for problems

[Mark Knecht]

On Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 9:46 AM, Grant  wrote:
> I just switched to a new WD Caviar Black hard drive (really fast and
> quiet!) and I noticed some errors when I was cp -ax'ing everything
> from my old drive to the new drive which were accompanied by loud
> clicks.  Is there a way to do a comprehensive test/check of the old
> drive to see if it has any problems?
>
> - Grant

I know it's not a popular solution here in Linux-land, and it's pretty
slow for large drives, but I still use SpinRite for that sort of
thing.

As a quick test, if the old drive has S.M.A.R.T. is to read the data
held in the drive to tell you if the on-board controller is seeing
problems.

Hope this helps,
Mark

[gentoo-user] Checking an HD for problems

[Grant]

I just switched to a new WD Caviar Black hard drive (really fast and
quiet!) and I noticed some errors when I was cp -ax'ing everything
from my old drive to the new drive which were accompanied by loud
clicks.  Is there a way to do a comprehensive test/check of the old
drive to see if it has any problems?

- Grant