Thinkpads Forum

Hi there!

I was just wondering, I've got hold of a hitachi DK23BA-20 drive, that has a couple of bad sectors (nothing really bad, but I'd like to fix them) and I've been trying to run Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test, but it keeps telling me that it's not a HGST drive so I can't use the erase drive option (error 0x70). If I got it right, that's because the drive has a specific branded firmware, do you reckon I could flash it to a hitachi firmware so that I can use DFT on it?

TIA!

ps: if you know of any other solution, feel free to say so!

My understanding is that some of the earlier Hitachi drives are not supported by DFT. For more (and probably more accurate) information, visit here:

http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/download.htm

Thanks!

The link says that DFT is not meant for DK32XX drives but it doesn't mention anything about DK23XX...

I'm stuck here

What brand is it firmwared with? Compaq maybe?

Try the Ontrack - Data Advisor, should be able to do the same. The only other program that I know of is HDD Regenerator and it's not free. Have you tried a Windows surface scan?

phool@round wrote:What brand is it firmwared with? Compaq maybe?

I'm not 100% sure, but I would say Dell

Try the Ontrack - Data Advisor, should be able to do the same.

Thanks, will do that!

The only other program that I know of is HDD Regenerator and it's not free.

So I've heard of it. Does it really work? How can it "repair" bad blocks?

I wish I knew how HDD Regenerator repairs bad blocks. I'd be more wealthy if I did....

So basically you're saying it DOES work yeah?

Yes, it does. I'd try the "free" as in "free beer" alternatives first. Have you tried Scan Disk? It too can repair or mask bad blocks.....

Nope. Will try all of your hints mate, cheers.