Problems formatting partition

[Enigma422]

I recently added 2 Western Digital 250GB hard drives to my computer in a RAID 0 array and parition on this array are set as follows:

Partition 1: 2GB
Partition 2: 40GB
Partition 3: 211GB
Partition 4: 211GB

I first created the partitions using Paritition Magic 8.0 with 16KB cluster size to match the stripe size of the array, but was having problems problems when transferring files over to the new parititions. So I decided to delete and rebuild the array and use Windows Disk Manager to partition and format the partitions again with 16KB cluster size. When doing this partitions 1 to 3 formatted fine, but I had problems with paritition 4. It would get up to 85% then the hard drive LED would go off and it would be stuck at 85% format. After about a 15 minute wait I see that Disk Manager is completing the format, but oddly the HD Activity LED is not on. When it reaches 100% it gives me an error that it could not complete the format. I then try to format it in the command prompt and it gives me a partition table error. I also did a reinstall of Windows XP and followed the same procedure as above, but still the same thing.

So I decide to delete and rebuild the array, but when I format this time I would use the default cluster size settings (4KB), but still have the same problems with parititon 4.

Does anybody know how I can get parition 4 to fully format? I am also worried that one of my hard drives maybe corrupt. Is this an indication of this? I hear no unusual noises coming from my new hard drives.

I am using the Promise RAID card that came with my Gigabyte 8INXP motherboard. There is also a second RAID 0 array also running of of this controller card. My hard drives are hooked up to my RAID controller card as follows:

Primary Master: WD 250GB - Array 1 RAID 0
Primary Slave: WD 120GB - Array 2 RAID 0
Secondary Master: WD 250GB Array 1 RAID 0
Secondary Slave: WD 120GB Array 2 RAID 0

Thanks for your help.

[Cid]

Gotta go to WD's website and download the diagnostics tool and run the tests to see if your HD is corrupt or has bad clusters.

[marc1]

In strip sets (RAID0)
-logical partition must be of the same size
-There is no parity drive so its not fault tolerance
-They are always bad sectors even in brand new drive
Formating isolate bad sectors
In my opinion
Back up all your datas
go to www.maxtor.com create the floppy boot with power max its a universal tool that works with all drives.
Use their 90s fast diagnostic. This thing will tell you the deal.
You can also do fast formating or low formating(probably 48h with 250gb)
let me know what happened

[Enigma422]

I downloaded the WD Digital Data LifeGaurd Diagnostic for Windows and when running it I have a similar problem to what happens when I format. The HD Activity LED went off with about 7 minutes left on the Extended Test.

Current Sector 911175935 of 976794174. I'm going to let this run in safemode and see what happens.

[Enigma422]

In strip sets (RAID0)
-logical partition must be of the same size
-There is no parity drive so its not fault tolerance
-They are always bad sectors even in brand new drive
Formating isolate bad sectors
In my opinion
Back up all your datas
go to www.maxtor.com create the floppy boot with power max its a universal tool that works with all drives.
Use their 90s fast diagnostic. This thing will tell you the deal.
You can also do fast formating or low formating(probably 48h with 250gb)
let me know what happened

I guess you posted this while I was posting my reply. Will get the software and let you know. I have a question about partitions. In my setup all of my paritions are primary paritions. I have no extended partitions so I am guessing that I have no logical partitions (sorry for the n00b comment, I never had this kind of problem before, but from what I understand logical partitions are created in the extended partition. If I am wrong please correct me.)

Anyway, I am considering just spanning the drives if I can't get this RAID array to work right. These are just my storage arrays, so performance, while would be nice, isn't really that important.

So based on what I have told you what would be the best way to set up my partitions. I set up my partitions the way they are because partition 1 is my virtual memory parition, parition 2 is a temporary download paritition, and partitions 3 and 4 are for storage. Thanks again.

[Cid]

I actually came across a question myself and I don't want to start a new thread so I might as well ask here since it has to do with partitioning.

Can I install Windows on an extented partition or does it have to be on the primary partition?

[Enigma422]

I think Windows needs to be put in the primary partition, I think.

UPDATE: Running burn test on PowerMax, but couldn't run the Quick and Extended Tests.

[Enigma422]

UPDATE: Ran PowerMax and it found an error on my second drive. Looks like I'm going to have to RMA it. Anybody here deal with ZipZoomFly's RMA process? I'm leaving my current residence in about three weeks, just want to make sure I get it before then.

[marc1]

I ll answer the best I can.1 st you realize that dealing with HD is really not simple at all.
Briefly
Primary drive in a HD is C: a constant. Its set and never changes.Thats your primary it contains the OS.Now if you have a second HD it usually F: thats the secondary or slave.Watch the jumpers.Its a backup drive.
But you can increase the number of drives electronically or logical drives if you increase the amount of partitions and assign letters you can get up to 23 .
When the computer boots it looks for the primary drive. The MBR or master boot record is directed by the bios to do exactly that boot the computer from the primary drive.
So there is no OS in an extended partition just storage.You cant boot from an extended partition.
In the other hand you can have up to 4 partitions in the primary drive with 4 different OS. Like 98 2000 XP and DOS. You can only boot from one at a time so when the computer starts it should ask you which one you want.
RAID:You could simply make the drives dynamic and start partitioning them.Up to four drives per HD thats a lot of drives...hope I was clear...

[Enigma422]

Well I really don't want to deal with RMAs. If I did a low level format of the drive do you think it would correct the problems. I am going to run Western Digital's Diagnostic software to verify PowerMax's findings and their is an option to "Write Zeros" (or something like that) in this software. Thank you.

[marc1]

Its hard for me to say in a distance. Did you ever run those drives and use them on the net or with files?
PowerMax will definitely grind the disks to the core.Nothing will be left in the drive.
What dont you do this first. Install the two drives in a NTFS dynamic mode watch the jumpers.One slave-one master. Then see if the drives function properly.If they dont try reformating with PowerMax...Let me know best Marc

[Enigma422]

I'm doing a "Write Zeros to Drive" full erase using WD's Diagnostic Utility right now (Been running for about 14 hours and got 6 hours left) All my jumpers are set correctly, but I had the disks set as basic disks (I have all my disks set in basic). I had files on the drives as it formatted sucessfully using Partition Magic, but my system was not stable. Sometimes it would lockup for a minute and respond again while copying files. Other time it would just BSOD and reboot. I was able to do a quick format using the windows format utility, but when formatting through Disk Management or the command prompt it just would not work.

Also WD's Diagnostic tool found errors on the same drive when running its Quick Test.

[bchur83]

UPDATE: Ran PowerMax and it found an error on my second drive. Looks like I'm going to have to RMA it. Anybody here deal with ZipZoomFly's RMA process? I'm leaving my current residence in about three weeks, just want to make sure I get it before then.

I had to RMA a Power Supply to ZZF once. I called them up about cross-shipping, and the guy said to place a new order, and ship the bad PS back, then they refunded me for the RMAed one. Give them a call, it cant hurt anything by calling.

[marc1]

If you wanto be sure your drives are ok it takes a little manip.Disconect them from the RAID controller and reinstall the drive in NTFS mode through the board.Format.It works... the controller could be the problem...

[Enigma422]

Well, after doing a Write to Zero's format in WD Diagnostic tool (took about 20 hours) my problem seems to have corrected itself. I guess when they did the format in the factory it didn't go right. Anybody know how often this happens? I don't think I ever heard of anything like this happen.