Is There A Way To Check Bad Floppy Clusters?

[ivan 1]

I´ve looked at the drive management functions, and I thought I could check a bad floppy cluster, and mark it somehow on the fat. If not using autoit, does anybody know I could solve this problem

IVAN

[ezzetabi 3]

W9X/ME

format a: /autotest /u

W2000/XP

echo s|format a: /u

Formatting mark all non usable sector.

[Nutster 3]

Without reformating the floppy, try:

Windows 9x:

Start - Programs - Accessories - System Tools - ScanDisk

(C:\WINDOWS\SCANDSKW.EXE)

Not sure where it is on NT/2000/XP

[ivan 1]

Thanks, both worked, I should have mentioned however, that I don´t want users to be aware that their station is being monitored.

[ezzetabi 3]

For nutster:

9x

DOS version is:

Scandisk a: /autofix /nosave /nosummary /surface

NT I dunno too,

2000/XP the command line is:

chkdsk a: /f /r /x

For Ivan:

I am sorry, the user will see something. Even if you hide the formatting/checking window (with @sw_hide) the OS must deactivate all handle in the drive an so windows that display the drive content will not show it anymore, open file will be closed and so go on.

And, overall, the drive light will blink...

Edited April 9, 2004 by ezzetabi

[Nutster 3]

For Nutster:

9x

DOS version is:

Scandisk a: /autofix /nosave /nosummary /surface

NT I dunno too,

2000/XP the command line is:

chkdsk a: /f /r /x

The DOS mode ScanDisk.exe does not like having the GUI active and so ScanDisk.exe actually calls ScanDskW.exe to take care of things. If you run ScanDisk.exe before the GUI is launched, it should do the job itself, in DOS mode.

To quote Dennis Miller, "But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong."

Also, for everyone: Do not run ScanDisk, Disk Defrag, or other low-level disk utilities when other programs are running. Whenever the disk is written to, the program has to restart. And those program as very processor/device intensive; they will slow everything down.

[Somerset 3,042]

W9X/ME

format a: /autotest /u

is good but if you add a /c to that, it forces format to test each cluster. if found bad it will mark them bad during the formatting process...

[ivan 1]

Thanks to all. The job has been met. I still thinking I can find a faster way skipping format of scandisk.

[ezzetabi 3]

The DOS mode ScanDisk.exe does not like having the GUI active and so ScanDisk.exe actually calls ScanDskW.exe to take care of things.

Yep, you are right. So in Windows GUI it is better use

SCANDSKW a: /n