Re: Vulcan HD Breakthru

[Stephen Shaw <xstephenx@apple2.org.za>]

On Sun, 10 Mar 2002 10:33:17 -0800, Paul Grammens wrote:

>
> "Stephen Shaw" <xstephenx@apple2.org.za> wrote in message
> news:a6f4vq$jpu$1@venus.itns.co.za...
>> On Wed, 6 Mar 2002 11:02:25 -0800, David Chiu wrote:
>>
>> > I am not clear on what the HDTEST does when it is told to format an IDE
>> > drive, but people should keep in mind that earlier IDE drives may not
> like
>> > to be "formatted;" some older drives are reduced to a paper weight that
>> > way. I think it is by far safer to wipe the partition tables and boot
>> > block.
>>
>> I disagree. I have resurrected a lot of 'paperweight' drives by using
> Linux
>> FDisk utility. It is much more powerful than the Microsoft utility of the
> same
>> name. If your HD has gone south after using HDTEST use Spinrite or Linux
> Fdisk.
>>
>
> I think what David was getting at is that some IDE drives store essential
> info on part of the drive. Erasing that makes them into paperweights. I
> don't think any ordinary util can recover from that situation because it's
> drive-specific.
> Of course, a drive can be a paperweight for other reasons. In fact, a 40
> meg IDE drive is inherently a paperweight these days, except for excentric
> collectors of antique computers!
> -Paul

Your idea Paul - thanks. I have now copyrighted 'Executive Collector of Antique
Computers' - it sounds better than eccentric ;-)


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The only reason some people are still alive is that is illegal to kill them.