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When should you replace a Hard Drive?

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5 replies

by joq

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I've been trying to repair a Laptop Hard Disk- Seagate st94011a. Problems first occurred when Windows XP wouldn't boot or install from cd. I ran SeaTools for DOS (downloaded from Seagate) which repaired loads of errors to a point where I could successfully install XP again.

Since then, the Laptop has been functioning fine, but when I periodically run SeaTools again, it will still detects and repairs 99 errors on each run.

I was then advised to try a Zero-Fill on the HDD (I read this can restore most disks to working order). This completed successfully, but when SeaTools is run to test the disk for errors, it still finds them (again in bunches of 99 at a time) although in different areas of the disk than before.

Some people have said that the HDD should be replaced, but is that the correct advice or not? Since XP & any installed programs all work without a problem I'm unsure whether to replace the disk or just keep using it?

I really hope someone can advise me on this as I've been stuck with this decision for some time now! Thanks.

5 replies

by bart777

If you can't afford to lose the program or data on the drive then go get a replacement NOW.

If you have no problem losing it all and don't mind reinstalling everything from scratch then keep on working as things are now.

Your choice.

If it were my machine I'd be running to the store NOW.

by liame

I have to agree.

You need to look at it and say... a replacement drive is 30 quid, how much time am I prepared to spend trying to get some more life out of a dying one with no guarantee of any permanent success?

Even if you manage to get soem more life out of it you are still going to be left with a less than perfect drive that is far more likely to fail at any time than a nice new one.

by prototype_nsx

First of all I would like to ask you is how important the hdd is to you? is it ok if the hdd drops dead anytime ? If yes then u can schedule a backup for that laptop and keep it working till it dies or else get a new hdd and free yourself of the trouble and use the so called corrupt one as an external hdd to carry less important files.

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