My hard drive all of a sudden would not finish loading windows and gave reason as a disk write error. I then put it in as the slave and ran a thorough scan disk. It ran for over 48 hrs stuck at cluster 68,513. I ran ActiveS.M.A.R.T disk check and it can TEC (failure dates) for "Raw read error rate" and "Write error Count" for a few days ahead. The HDD still was under warranty so I took it to the local dealer where I bought it. They said they would check it and reported that the disk was fine because they did a scan disk on it. He said I may need to repartition the drive. I brought it home put it in and tried a standard scan disk which did prompt to run a thorough, which stuck at cluster 67, 459. ActiveS.M.A.R.T. reported the HDD was in "error condition. Immediately back-up you data and replace this hard disk drive! A failure may be imminent." TEC date for that day for raw read error rate, next month for spin up time and BAD for write error count. I did a fdisk and tried to format via dos. It started "trying to recover allocation unit:" at 67,459 and went through 67,475 then locked up/screen blank I left it for another 6 hours and nothing more happened. I reset and tried to format via windows, now it sticks at cluster 67,105. The disk failure message same as listed above. The dealer continues to hold that there is nothing wrong with the drive. I don't want to put all my apples in that drives cart- so to speak and I feel that it is the disk and they should replace it while it is still underwarranty. Is there anything else I can do to repair the disk or is it bad? Thanks

Your hard drive is bad! To format a hard disk does not take hours. Tell the dealer all the error messages you are getting. You should be getting a new one. Robertt

I agree. I would insist that he let me watch while they run a `thorough' scandisk.

Hi Well the procedure to prove drive needs replacing takes a little time to do yourself (but feel free to go to your drive's web page site and look for diagnostic tool for your drive. Download ontracks drive diagnostic if you are not sure of the brand) But go back to the dealership, (always be polite and not too smug - just in case) ask to see the computer teck, stand there until he/she runs the PROPER (NOT scandisk) drive condition diagostic tool that the drive manufacturer supplies. Thats the program that generates a RETURN code for faulty drives. They should have it if they sell drives. Then if that program says things are fine I would start looking at your computer's hareware eg faulty ide cable etc. (apart from surface errors the tool will verify smart and if it is detecting problems a code will be generated, it could take an hour but ..) (Of course ring them and ask if they have this sort of program if you live some distance away)