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Idea #24908: Option to mark bad blocks while format before install Ubuntu

Written by sandrex the 22 May 10 at 22:01. Related project: Live CD installer. Status: New
Rationale
Hard Disks commonly develop bad blocks.
When full of bad blocks some data may be lost, including the own system.

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Solution #1: Add to GParted an option to mark bad blocks
Written by sandrex the 22 May 10 at 22:01.
GParted would have an option to format system while Ubuntu is installed.
Could be included some hints explaining what is this and prompt alerting that this may take a long time.
Also later Ubuntu is installed (ie format a second partition/device) the basic user which doesn't know command e2fsck would have a simple option to mark badblocks.
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Solution #2: Abort the installation as soon as a bad sector is encountered.
Written by emourik the 30 May 10 at 18:18.
Skipping bad sectors is a VERY BAD IDEA.

I would NOT advise to store anything of value on a hard disk that has bad sectors.

Modern hard drives hide bad sectors by remapping the data to spare sectors. Bas sectors will only become visible if this mechanism fails, or if the spare area is used up.

A drive with one or more bad sectors will very soon develop more bad sectors. In many cases, it could suddenly die completely, because the next bad sector could occur in the 'service area', where hard drives stores their internal parameters.

Note: I daily see unreliable hard drives; I am a data recovery engineer...
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Solution #3: Re-map drive to omit bad blocks
Written by robosolo55 the 18 Jun 10 at 12:06.
As someone who is trying to keep some old PCs running longer to save money, I would appreciate it if the partitioner could remap the drive to skip over the bad blocks. Essentially it would make a 40 GB drive into a 20 GB drive.

This might take a long time to accomplish, but would enable the user to get more life out of a machine with periodically re-mapping as the drive deteriorates.

Ultimately, a solid state drive may be the answer but they are still rather expensive.

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Solution #4: Offer to scan for bad sectors during partitioning and formatting when installing
Written by turbolad the 13 Jan 11 at 20:36.
Give users the option of scanning for bad sectors at the partitioning and formatting stage of Ubuntu installation.

A tick box - ticked by default - and a quick explanation like this, for example:

__

[ ] Scan disk surface for bad sectors (takes many minutes).

It is recommended to scan the disk surface for errors, unless the disk is known to be completely healthy.

__

If one or more bad sectors are found, warn the user and recommend regular backups if the faulty disk drive is put into service.

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Ralph Corderoy wrote on the 24 May 10 at 14:33
Don't modern drives replace a bad sector with a good spare one internally when the bad sector is next written? The days of entering bad block numbers and also writing them on the hard drive's "bad blocks" label have gone, haven't they?

If I've misunderstood, then perhaps the Rationale needs expanding.

darksoulbr wrote on the 26 May 10 at 12:36
@Ralph : It still can happen if the drive runs out o spare sectors.


Although an unexperienced user could have problems with the time it takes check, i think this option would be a nice addition.

turbolad wrote on the 13 Jan 11 at 20:58
A hard drive that is working properly should never have any bad sectors. Mishandling a hard drive in use increases the chance of the read/write heads damaging data.

sam123 wrote on the 13 Apr 11 at 12:12
Its not feasible because scanning for badblocks takes a very very long time.

Auzy wrote on the 13 Apr 11 at 12:46
It also possibly puts the harddisk under more stress, possibly increasing the chances of drive failure.

Furthermore, passing a bad block test doesn't mean the drive is good, it might start failing a few hours after.

That being said, make it an option, but put a warning. It's important to let people do what they want, when they want, and if they are using a refurbished harddisk, realistically, I'd want to run a bad block test myself..


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