500GB Samsung HDD with bad sectors

[Narciso Peleida]

Hi,

It was detected 18 bad sectors on my 500GB Samsung HDD by HDSentinel software. Then I performed a low level format with HD Low Level Format Utility after backing up all my data. Now HDSentinel informs disk is perfect no bad sector.

Now I would like to know whether I may use this disk as a sistem disk (installing an operating system on it) or use it as an external disk for backups.

I shall appreciate very much your precious help.

Narciso

 

[BradtheRad]

As I understand it, bad sectors are 'mapped out': (a) during a long format, (b) when user runs a disk check utility, (c) whenever a disk error occurs.

I seem to recall reading that even a brand new hd has a few bad sectors which are detected on initial format. They are mapped out.

Nowadays as users we are unaware of these actions by the disk OS. (There was Scandisk in the old days when hard disks were under a GB. It checked each sector's status, good or bad.)

I don't recall seeing any report from a utility, stating how many bad sectors, total, have been mapped out.

 

[D.A.(Tony)Stewart]

The improvements in high density vertical recording and reliability of ECC in data recovery in recent decades has made drives appear to be error free for a long time. THe down side is that the operating system rarely reports any early warning before the drive servo signals between sectors wear out and the disk is unrecoverable. ( even with SMART)

The certainty that it will fail is 100% but the warning time of when it will fail may be 0%

Therefore if it is important data being stored, ALWAYS have an external backup for data , boot method OS and data recovery CD.

Yes you can install OS on it.