Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!samsung!usc!apple!oliveb!amdahl!dwl10
From: dwl10@uts.amdahl.com (Dave Lowrey)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.tech
Subject: disk "keys"
Message-ID: <37SF02dNa4kc01@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com>
Date: 4 May 90 18:11:06 GMT
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Houston TX
Lines: 45

What exactly are disk "keys"?

I am having some problems with my hard drive, and need some help figuring
out what exactly is happening.

I have an A2500, 2909A controller, and a 43+Meg Rodime hard drive.

A week ago, I got the dreaded "Disk Read/Write error" requestor. I
had recently done a backup, so I formated the partition, and
re-loaded the data.

To be sure that all was OK, I ran disksalv against the partition, and
it came up with several "Block Key Mismatch" errors.

To make sure it wasn't my backup program (quarterback), I re-formated
the partition, and installed Lattice 5.0. Disksalv again found several
"Block Key Mismatch" errors. This time it was different blocks.

I then took my drive, and low level formated it on a PC. The format and
verify went clean. I therfore don't think the problem is a media error.

The "Bad" blocks are consistant, in that the same block number is "bad"
whenever I do the same load. If I re-install Lattice, after restoring
the rest of the disk, I still get some new "Bad" blocks, but in a different
file.

The really weird thing is that the supposedly "bad" files can be read! No
data appears to be missing, and no errors occur when I access the file.

Now for my questions.....

What exactly is a "Block Key". I assume it is written when the disk is
formatted. Are they ever re-written?

Is there a utility that I can use that displays the keys? Can they be
"fixed" so that they are correct?

Is disksalv maybe giving me "false" errors?

Any ideas on what to do next?
-- 
"This ain't Rock 'N Roll, |  These be my words, not my employer's!
 this is Genocide!"       |Dave Lowrey - Amdahl Corp. - Houston, TX
 David Bowie -            |In Texas:  {moray,uhnix1}!starsoft!david
"Daimond Dogs"            |The World: dwl10@uts.amdahl.com (amdahl!dwl10)