[fvs]

I installed Etch about four or five days ago, Running along and trying to get my favorite app's installed, not knowing much I tried everything that i could out from what information I gathered on a few Debian forms & googled around.
Now I really screwed up I corrupted my second hdb and can't get it to reinstall Debian, Each time it wants to partion it gives an error message that it can't go any further and tells me to reboot. So I thought if I use my WD diagnotic tool i'd find out the trouble, It said that I have bad sectors, I tried full zero to clean the hd, went back to install Debian, no dice same result, Do i need a new HD?
is there anything i can try? Did Etch do that or did I just screw up?

[bigtomrodney]

Bad sectors are just a way of life, they appear when they do. It is possible sometimes to have some luck by doing a low-level format, but beware this can also nuke the drive. It's not impossible that the install destoryed the disk, but it is quite unlikely. Bad news is you may need a new disk if you can't get through a full format.

[fvs]

Thanks, I thought so, Just not to savy about this stuff. Thanks. fvs

[yourname3232]

Yeah, I think the disk is dead, however if you still have a WD warranty this would be the time to use it. My maxtor went out the same way but warranty (only 6 days left) replaced it for me.

[spoon!]

boot Knoppix or something and run as root "smartctl -a /dev/hdb" to check on the SMART status of your drive; it sometimes tells you if it's in very bad condition