Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ibmpa!saare
From: saare@ibmpa.UUCP (John Saare)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Disk-Validator Failure
Keywords: FFS validation
Message-ID: <304@ibmpa.UUCP>
Date: 4 Jan 89 02:42:00 GMT
Organization: IBM TCS Development, Palo Alto
Lines: 35

This is the problem:

	Hardware:
		A500 
		Pac. Per. SubSystem 500
		Overdrive SCSI Host Adapter
		Adaptec 4000a SCSI-ST506 xlator
		70Mb x 2 drives
		2.5Mb Memory (2Mb of which is in the repair shop...)

A low level format using the Overdrive utilities is performed.  The bad block
scan finds no errors (they never do, sigh...).  The drives are FFS formatted,
one partition per drive.  Fireworks, the Earth moves, etc., everything seems
to be working fine, THEN ONE DAY:
As a file is being written, a Volume R/W error requestor appears and I select
"cancel".  Using "protect", I quarantine the directory the error occurred in
and cross my fingers.  I use the system for a while THEN, ON ANOTHER DAY:
The machine crashes, for reasons related to my being 2Mb short.  The machine
reboots, and..., Disk-Validator has a go at the disk.  Because the bad block
is allocated, Disk-Validator tries to read it, and fails. So, given:
	- If I'd wanted a 70Mb R/O drive, I would have bought a CD-ROM.
	- I WILL NOT RE-FORMAT THE DRIVE !!! (ahem, didn't mean to shout...)
	- I'm willing to live with occasional bad sectors if AmigaDOS
	  will let me...
How can I get back a validated disk?  Can a "diskdoctor"ed
file system be used normally, or is re-formatting mandatory?  Are there
any utilities, commercial($$$) or PD($) that will remove specified/bad blocks
from the FFS free pool (is there such a thing in FFS?)?

And now in an act of utter desperation...
If somebody can ACCURATELY solve my problem, I'll promise to be a
better person and/or Usenet citizen.  I'll contribute more often, or
at all, even.  I'll participate in the discussions, but not fan the flames.

Thank you -- John Saare