Fun way to test SpinRite on level 2...

  • SpinRite v6.1 Release #3
    Guest:
    The 3rd release of SpinRite v6.1 is published and may be obtained by all SpinRite v6.0 owners at the SpinRite v6.1 Pre-Release page. (SpinRite will shortly be officially updated to v6.1 so this page will be renamed.) The primary new feature, and the reason for this release, was the discovery of memory problems in some systems that were affecting SpinRite's operation. So SpinRite now incorporates a built-in test of the system's memory. For the full story, please see this page in the "Pre-Release Announcements & Feedback" forum.
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  • BootAble – FreeDOS boot testing freeware

    To obtain direct, low-level access to a system's mass storage drives, SpinRite runs under a GRC-customized version of FreeDOS which has been modified to add compatibility with all file systems. In order to run SpinRite it must first be possible to boot FreeDOS.

    GRC's “BootAble” freeware allows anyone to easily create BIOS-bootable media in order to workout and confirm the details of getting a machine to boot FreeDOS through a BIOS. Once the means of doing that has been determined, the media created by SpinRite can be booted and run in the same way.

    The participants here, who have taken the time to share their knowledge and experience, their successes and some frustrations with booting their computers into FreeDOS, have created a valuable knowledgebase which will benefit everyone who follows.

    You may click on the image to the right to obtain your own copy of BootAble. Then use the knowledge and experience documented here to boot your computer(s) into FreeDOS. And please do not hesitate to ask questions – nowhere else can better answers be found.

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ShadowMeow

Well-known member
Nov 3, 2023
99
11
Fun way to test SpinRite on level 2...

I grab a drive from eBay with lots of bad sectors. I clear the G-List. I run SpinRite on Level 2. I let it finish.
If I wish to repeat the test again, I just need to clear the G-List.
 
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I grab a drive from eBay with lots of bad sectors. I clear the G-List. I run SpinRite on Level 2. I let it finish.
If I wish to repeat the test again, I just need to clear the G-List.

Are you doing a low-level format after clearing the G-list? Otherwise, it won't have any effect. While the drive will add to the G-list as it encounters defects, it won't actually use the G-list until a low-level format is done.
 
If that were true then bad sectors could never be reallocated without doing a low-level format every time. Are you sure?
 
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