How to reuse a corrupted HDD

[God_JoKeR]

So a few months back I corrupted my laptop HDD(computer repairman told me I force shut down my laptop too many times), now I'm using a brand new hard disk in my laptop(repairman helped me back up windows into it for free, nice!).

So I heard that you CAN use a laptop hdd in a desktop with a special cable and stuff*, and I was wondering if I can use a corrupted one in it. So here's my question, by corrupted, does that mean my hard disk is completely useless already or does that mean it can be fixed with a clean format?

*Whether you can use a laptop hdd in a desktop or not is not the point here, I'm just asking if I can repair my corrupted hdd by formatting it or not.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Depends on how the drive was corrupted. If it's just bad files, then a simple format will resolve that. If its an actual drive failure where sectors of the disc are going bad, then it's a crap shoot (and personally, not recommended).

-Wolf sends

 

[yoji]

depends.. if the HDD is damaged.. and that's whats causing the corruption - then that's more of an issue.. but if its just corruption through you doing force shutdowns and messing up the write process.. then yes.. you can just reformat the drive and it will be fine..
HTH
Cheers

 

[photonboy]

Yes. Possibly.

1. Write ZEROS (low level format)
2. Full Format (not quick; will build bad sector table)
3. DST (Drive Short Test)
4. DLT (Drive Long Test)

For the last two, or similar tests, try to get a diagnostic utility from the same manufacturer though they may all work with any HDD. I've mixed WD and Seagate diagnostics just fine.

Other:
For LLL, I suggest using one of the utilities from UltimatebootCD. Like this:
a) download and burn disc http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
b) Unhook all but drive to Low Level Format
c) boot to disc (or USB)... change BIOS boot order if need be
d) Find and run utility (will take HOURS)... *Active KillDisk.
e) Shut down, hook up all drives again
f) Start to Windows and continue my diagnostic steps

 

[fudgecakes99]

Run a quick check disk not recover bad sectors. See if it works then if it's still giving you issues run a a bad sector recovery, but no the death of your hdd is on the horizon the likely hood it lasting for much longer are slim. Once sectors go, it's pretty much a warning to get a new hdd. Maybe even an ssd.

 

[photonboy]

Run a quick check disk not recover bad sectors. See if it works then if it's still giving you issues run a a bad sector recovery, but no the death of your hdd is on the horizon the likely hood it lasting for much longer are slim. Once sectors go, it's pretty much a warning to get a new hdd. Maybe even an ssd.

You should ALWAYS check for bad sectors if the HDD is suspect. A quick disk check isn't going to tell you that otherwise we wouldn't even need to run a bad sector diagnostic.

Bad sectors cause data corruption, and it's NOT always obvious right away.

I would agree that maybe run a DST first and see if any errors show up, however I've had errors on DST and doing a Low Level Format fixed them and I had the drive for years after that so that's why I stand by my steps above.

 

[fudgecakes99]

Run a quick check disk not recover bad sectors. See if it works then if it's still giving you issues run a a bad sector recovery, but no the death of your hdd is on the horizon the likely hood it lasting for much longer are slim. Once sectors go, it's pretty much a warning to get a new hdd. Maybe even an ssd.

You should ALWAYS check for bad sectors if the HDD is suspect. A quick disk check isn't going to tell you that otherwise we wouldn't even need to run a bad sector diagnostic.

Bad sectors cause data corruption, and it's NOT always obvious right away.

I would agree that maybe run a DST first and see if any errors show up, however I've had errors on DST and doing a Low Level Format fixed them and I had the drive for years after that so that's why I stand by my steps above.

True, but who knows how long a bad sector fix would take. It's a lot faster to do a quick chk disk. Beacause the reality is even if you run a bad sector fix their's a higher probability it's still not going to work. So i say chk disk then run a s.m.a.r.t test which is basically a dst. At least that way you can narrow it down faster.

 

[God_JoKeR]

Yes. Possibly.

1. Write ZEROS (low level format)
2. Full Format (not quick; will build bad sector table)
3. DST (Drive Short Test)
4. DLT (Drive Long Test)

For the last two, or similar tests, try to get a diagnostic utility from the same manufacturer though they may all work with any HDD. I've mixed WD and Seagate diagnostics just fine.

Other:
For LLL, I suggest using one of the utilities from UltimatebootCD. Like this:
a) download and burn disc http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
b) Unhook all but drive to Low Level Format
c) boot to disc (or USB)... change BIOS boot order if need be
d) Find and run utility (will take HOURS)... *Active KillDisk.
e) Shut down, hook up all drives again
f) Start to Windows and continue my diagnostic steps

So how am I going to perform all these on my corrupted hdd? If I put it in my laptop/computer, it won't run.
What does LLL mean?
"Unhook all but drive to Low Level Format"? What does this sentence mean?
And more importantly, which one do I need to perform on my corrupted hdd?

 

[God_JoKeR]

Run a quick check disk not recover bad sectors. See if it works then if it's still giving you issues run a a bad sector recovery, but no the death of your hdd is on the horizon the likely hood it lasting for much longer are slim. Once sectors go, it's pretty much a warning to get a new hdd. Maybe even an ssd.

You should ALWAYS check for bad sectors if the HDD is suspect. A quick disk check isn't going to tell you that otherwise we wouldn't even need to run a bad sector diagnostic.

Bad sectors cause data corruption, and it's NOT always obvious right away.

I would agree that maybe run a DST first and see if any errors show up, however I've had errors on DST and doing a Low Level Format fixed them and I had the drive for years after that so that's why I stand by my steps above.

True, but who knows how long a bad sector fix would take. It's a lot faster to do a quick chk disk. Beacause the reality is even if you run a bad sector fix their's a higher probability it's still not going to work. So i say chk disk then run a s.m.a.r.t test which is basically a dst. At least that way you can narrow it down faster.

What is a s.m.a.r.t test? My repairman told me the cause is that I force shutdown way too many times and that it corrupted all the files in the hdd, doesn't this mean that a simple full format will do just fine?

 

[yoji]

What is a s.m.a.r.t test? My repairman told me the cause is that I force shutdown way too many times and that it corrupted all the files in the hdd, doesn't this mean that a simple full format will do just fine?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.M.A.R.T.

most Hard disk diagnostic tools will immediately tell you the SMART status..
Cheers

P.S. Why you force shutdown? if just laziness.. you are an idiot.. you should never force shutdown a PC unless necessary.. if you have an issue which forces you to force shutdown regularly - you need get that fixed.

 

[God_JoKeR]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.M.A.R.T.

most Hard disk diagnostic tools will immediately tell you the SMART status..
Cheers

P.S. Why you force shutdown? if just laziness.. you are an idiot.. you should never force shutdown a PC unless necessary.. if you have an issue which forces you to force shutdown regularly - you need get that fixed.

Thanks, about the P.S. part. When I learned that charging a battery while playing will shorten your battery life, I started to use my laptop without battery, so most of the time I just turn off the switch before my pc even completes the shut down process, this was a habit back when I had a battery in my laptop. The other times my laptop ever forced shut down is when my mom uses the computer, she never uses the shut down button in the start menu.

 

[fudgecakes99]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.M.A.R.T.

most Hard disk diagnostic tools will immediately tell you the SMART status..
Cheers

P.S. Why you force shutdown? if just laziness.. you are an idiot.. you should never force shutdown a PC unless necessary.. if you have an issue which forces you to force shutdown regularly - you need get that fixed.

Thanks, about the P.S. part. When I learned that charging a battery while playing will shorten your battery life, I started to use my laptop without battery, so most of the time I just turn off the switch before my pc even completes the shut down process, this was a habit back when I had a battery in my laptop. The other times my laptop ever forced shut down is when my mom uses the computer, she never uses the shut down button in the start menu.

Force shutting down is fairly bad, especially when a drive is in the middle of writing/reading something. You don't just stop where you're going to park hold down the break and take out the key. You have to put it into park first. It's putting unnecessary wear on parts. But yeah s.m.a.r.t. test try and fine one for your specific drive or find your model and go to the website and find a specific drive tool.

Also with lithium batteries leaving a battery unused and letting it drain out completely is also bad for the power cells. So is overcharging.