Should I scan a new HDD for bad sectors?

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  1. Posts : 109
    64 bit OS?
       #1

    Should I scan a new HDD for bad sectors?


    Is it preferable to do a disk scan on a new HDD, before putting anything on it?

    I presume all new drives would be tested to be free of any defects or bad sectors by the disk manufacturer before it gets put in a box and shipped out for sale/purchase?

    So I presume there is no need to do a disk scan on a new HDD, before installing a new OS on it? Reading some threads suggests otherwise. So I ask if It is preferable to do a disk scan on a new HDD before installing a new OS on it?

    And if so, which one? "chkdsk /r", or disk manufacturers HDD disk scanner?

    Thanks, Vista
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  2. Posts : 2,465
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #2

    I don't think it's a bad idea to do a preventive scan, just in case, before you put anything important.
    Theoretically, all hardware devices are toughly tested before shipping, but reality is that even then they can fail, be it because of poor handling or a mechanical/electronic failure, or anything else. And in case you actually found something bad, you're on time to claim warranty on it (and remember, warrants cover the device, NOT the data you put in there).
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  3. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #3

    It's definitely a wise idea to test a drive before putting it into service. I do so with all my drives using the manufacturer's scanning software. I've had only one test bad on me.
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  4. Posts : 2,973
    Windows 7 Professional 64bit SP1
       #4

    I do a long read and long write test on all of my drives as soon as I get them out of the box and put them in my computer. The Seagate 4TB drives take about 11.5 hours for the entire process, but I know when it's finished, they are in perfect working order.
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  5. Posts : 7,055
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit
       #5

    IMO, on a new drive a Quick or Short Test with the manufacturer's diagnostic utility should be more than sufficient to assure one that all is good. A time-consuming Long Test is just not necessary if the Short Test passes.
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  6. Posts : 1,045
    Win8/8.1,Win7-U64, Vista U64, uncounted Linux distor's
       #6

    Look at the SMART data, print it out so you have a record. I wouldn't run a bunch of tests. I look at new drives with Hard Drive Sentinel, if the report is good to go, so am I.
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  7. Posts : 109
    64 bit OS?
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Thanks, good replies. I guess it can't hurt to do a scan using the manufacturer's scanner before installing anything on it. If you found one new HDD that was bad before installing same, then you saved yourself from further headaches after installing a new OS.

    11 hour scan, yikes!

    I guess the old theory: Its better to be safe than sorry, at a later date makes sense.

    Thanks, Vista.
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  8. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #8

    Vista32toWin7 said:
    ...11 hour scan, yikes!...
    Run it overnight.
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  9. Posts : 109
    64 bit OS?
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Hey back again. I left my upgrade stuff alone for about a year. My laptop was running okay until recently. So back at it. I purchased a new Seagate Momentus XT SSHD 750 GB drive awhile back. I want to run a disk scan on this drive before paying a tech to clean install a new OS on it.

    I have MiniTool Partition Wizard 8.1.1 installed on my machine, which has a surface test scanner for bad sectors. I'm not sure how good it is as compared to other free scanners, like Seagate's SeaTools utility tool? Problem there is it requires NetFrameWork 4.0 to run. I have tried to install NFW 4.0 several times in the past to no avail. So that's not going to work.

    I also looked at the Sentinel scanner, but I'm not sure if that's a paid version or free trial download?

    Also if I do run a disk scan on my new SSHD, I would remove my battery first, push the power button to remove any power in the machine, remove the HDD now in the machine, put the new SSHD in its place, power the unit on to run the test. Once done I disconnect the SSHD and put the original HDD back in....is this correct?

    Keep in mind I don't want to install the OS or go into the bios right now, I just want to scan the new disk for bad sectors before the tech gets here to save some time/$$.

    Could I also do this disk scan externally with a Sata-USB cable connected to the SSHD?

    Thanks, Vista32.
    Last edited by Vista32toWin7; 30 Sep 2014 at 17:20.
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  10. Posts : 2,465
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #10

    Vista32toWin7 said:
    Also if I do run a disk scan on my new SSHD, I would remove my battery first, push the power button to remove any power in the machine, remove the HDD now in the machine, put the new SSHD in its place, power the unit on to run the test. Once done I disconnect the SSHD and put the original HDD back in....is this correct?
    For a laptop it's fine that way. I would prefer to put both disks at once (with the new as slave) to have my full OS working, but notebooks have physical constraints......... so yes, do as you said!
    Just remember beforehand to have a bootable CD/pendrive/whatever with your tools ready for the test, as your OS will not be available at all once you pull the disk.



    Vista32toWin7 said:
    Could I also do this disk scan externally with a Sata-USB cable connected to the SSHD?
    Sure, it's entirely possibly if you have the cable, that way you can use your main OS to perform any tests/installs/data transfer or whatever. I would not buy the cable just for this, but if you plan to use it afterwards it may be worth the money.


    Vista32toWin7 said:
    Keep in mind I don't want to install the OS or go into the bios right now, I just want to scan the new disk for bad sectors before the tech gets here to save some time/$$.
    Don't you want to try yourself? It's not that hard to do the install yourself, it just takes time and some patience. I find it a great learning experience, at least. In a hurry, yes, go for the tech.
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