Re: Any way to salvage disks that can't write?

[gids.rs@sasktel.net]

On Tuesday, March 12, 2013 8:32:45 AM UTC-6, BLuRry wrote:
> This is a silly question I never would have asked ten years ago, but now that supply is limited I wonder is there a way to salvage disks (not their data per se) that are unable to write successfully?  I still have quite a few disks with no defects so I'm not necessarily stuck on this.  But I am curious just for posterity's sake if anyone has ever made unusable disks usable again (even for just temporary purposes)
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> -B


Why would you risk it?  Even if it is for temporary usage, the disk would really never be reliable.  You would have to make multiple backups after every session.  And you would probably waste more time recreating what you lost than its worth.

Having said that.  I would say "yes".  Of the multiple drives I have, the best drive that seems to read perfectly every time, is an "elite" drive that I have.  If I get an error on any of the apple drives, I would always fall back to the "elite" to really test the disk.

I found that 99% of the time, the disk was more than likely ok.  It was usually something to do with the drive that caused the error.  Speed, alignment, heads need cleaning, etc.

Disks are quite robust and can be fairly mangled and still be readable.  My favorite disk was so warped, I had to jam it into the drive.  And it still read perfectly.  It was my favorite, because it was easily recognizable in a stack of disks due to its warped case, so it was easy to pick out as the main boot disk.

At other times, I have come across a box of disks that caused regular errors within a week or two of buying them.  I learned very quickly which brands to avoid.

So for posterity's sake, I hope you are not that curious.  If you do not trust the disks, then don't use them.

Rob