win 2k hd with bad sectors

[MechEngineer]

I have a friend who has win 2k server on his server box. It wouldn't boot today. It says something about the directory services could not start due to some bad sectors on the hd. My question is: How do you let windows know those sectors are bad? I figure once we can tell it that, a reinstall will be in order. It will boot in safe mode however. Any suggestions?

 

[igiveup]

Boot into safe mode under the admin account and then get into Scandisk. Do a scandisk and check the option to do a surface scan. Damn thing takes forever like this, especially on a large format HD, but you have to do it. Windows will mark the sectors as bad and then not use them in the future. Problem is that whatever was in those sectors is toast now. Just hope it wasn't any part of a sensitive file or operating system file.

How old is the HD?

 

[MechEngineer]

The hd is an IBM 60 gig. It is only a few months old. He was able to access it enough to retrieve any necessary files. He installed a new drive, and formatted and did a complete reload. Probably the best thing he could have done. He is sending the bad drive back for warranty work or replacement. Thanks for the info.

 

[olds]

Which IBM? 75 GXP, 60 GXP, etc?

 

[MechEngineer]

I dunno..... I am troubleshooting this pc from 450 miles away. I just know they bought another just like it b/c they had no time to wait.....

 

[monto]

rma...maybe he'll get a better drive in return