Server set up with one hard drive containing SQL databases. Hard drive has bad sectors. Can backup all databases but one. I am assuming that the database I can not get a complete backup is partially contained in the bad sectors. I bought an exact hard drive as the one going bad and a raid controller for that particular system. Question is, can I set up a mirror when my main hard drive with the data has bad sectors?

You could try. I've never tried that myself.

If I were going to, I'd backup everything I could and then try. I would also assume that if it is indeed the bad sectors preventing you from backing up the one database, it would likely create problems when creating the RAID. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained and you never know, it just might work.

I highly recommend keeping the RAID one after you get this straightened out. If you had one already, you'd just change the bad drive and no worries. There's a lot to be said for redundancy. :)

how are you determining you have bad sectors? chkdsk /r will mark any bad sectors as unusable. Once marked they will not be replicated with software raid.

I would recommend you not assume your inability to backup the db is due to bad sectors. Usually its for other reasons like a corrupt database or permissions.

Knowing the correct answer and giving a correct answer, are two different things

If you have problems with hdd bad sectors I found something at www.fix-hdd-bad-sectors.com Good luck I hope you will resolve your problem.