I am using windows XP SP2. I did not install SP3 due to AMD hang problems. This is what happened: After i used my PC for about 1 or 2 days, my PC will not boot into windows due to following error: Windows cannot start because folllowing file is missing or courrpt \windows\system32\config\system I tried using Windows XP boot cd to do a FULL format the harddisk and it gave me this error: unable to format partition, the disk may be damage. However, Quick format still can be done successfully sometime, not all the time. I Used CHKDSK /r to check for any error and nothing was found. It never happened before until these few days. Is there any software that can detect bad sectors and prevent my hard disk from using? I assume it is due to bad sectors i guess.

Try downloading and running a utility from the hard drive manufacturer.

Chkdisk should correct the bad sectors and block them from being reused. If this is a continuing error even after running the repair program then I highly urge you to look for a replacement drive. ************************************** I have used this company for about 5 years now without ISSUES...free shipping...this is a IEDE 40 gig western digital for $20us and usually get it anywhere in US in 5 days or less. http://3btech.net/wedi4054rpmi.html ****************************************** Sometimes the HDD manufacturer's utillity will be the best option for trying to repair their own drives. Visit the website and look for the download...bootable to either CD or floppy...your choice. These utillities will verify any issues with the drive and thentry to repair them if possible....doing a complete overwrite to zeros will sometimes do wonders for the drive itself but there is nothing that can be done for mechanical failures. Obama's Spread the Wealth I gave my waitress' tip to a homeless person. She has a better understanding!

I heard Western Digital harddisk is more reliable than Maxtor which i am currently using. Seagate as average. I hate Maxtor.

Seagate took over Western Digital. I hope the quality is being preserved. The warranty is better now.

"Seagate took over Western Digital" I think you meant Maxtor? Seagate acquired Maxtor several years ago. Western Digital is a competitor & not part of the Seagate Empire. "If my answers frighten you then you should cease asking scary questions" - Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) in Pulp Fiction

Jam: Yes, they took over Maxtor, not Western Digital. Well, then I'll say that I hope the quality improves. But I guess there's no reason to expect that since, as jackfood indicated, Maxtor isn't very good.