My new 75GB IBM Hard drive has developed a bad sector which means I'm unable to boot into windows...

Formatting produces a "scraping" noise from the Hard Disk at around 8%....

I thought about trying a low level format before I send it back for replacement...

Can NE1 advice on the best low level format utilty and where I might obtain it...

Thanks

GRZYB

If you're running XP, take the bootable XP disk, go to repair, Recovery Console, & you can reach an option, a command line option, where you can do a disk sector repair (scan & fix), boot sector repair, & more, if necessary. If need be, there is complete info about using the XP Recovery Console, on MS support site & many other sites. Search: XP Recovery Console.

Low level formatting can cause irrecoverable disk DAMAGE!!!! (Go to the site of your disk controller manu (e.g. Adaptec or IBM HD site), for LLF programs, if you must.) A new HD, like you describe, will not be rectified by a LLF!

I strongly advise you to send the HD back if you can't repair the sector or format normally. Trying a LLF on a disk will usually NEGATE any warranty.

Maybe even scandisk will do this from a windows 98 bootdisk with the 'surface scan'?
Otherwise probably a Norton Utilities rescue disk will do the job.
Try to save as much data as you need/can and (let the company you sold it from) send the harddrive back to IBM. You probably have warranty. A new harddisk shouldn't crash so soon.

NEVER perform a low-level format.

I had the same problem with a Maxtor harddisk a year ago and got a new one without any problems. All data was lost though.

If it's a new disk, and it's IBM, don't play with it - get it RMA'd as fast as you can. IBM is having terrible trouble with drives right now so get to the head of the queue for RMA!

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/22708.html
Go here to see how to join a class action suit against IBM in respect of the IBM 75Gb drive.
I'd also get an RMA quickly - a friend of mine was given a Fujitsu in exchange because the supplier will not sell IBM until they are sorted out.

Someone that doesn't have the experience, should not try a low level format on an IDE drive, but if you use the correct software (usually supplied by the manufacturer on their Web site), and are experienced in computer tech work, you can low level an IDE very easily.
I have low leveled MANY IBM,Western Digital, Maxtor etc., with NO ill effects, Western Digital used to ask you to try and low level a drive BEFORE they would RMA it.
If the drive makes a metalic Noise, though, It's Toast...
You need to call right away and get a number and return it.
But for the record, You CAN low level IDE drives, with the correct software from the manifacturer...
Hope this helps
SeeYa
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The only program you should ever use to test an IBM drive is "Drive Fitness Test" from IBM, you can download it from this page: http://www.storage.ibm.com/hdd/support/download.htm

If this program finds any errors on your hard drive it gives you the option to low level format it. The utility is safe to use, just remember that the data on the disk can disappear.

Another nice utility you can download from the same page is "SMART defender", it monitors your disk from Windows and predicts failures.

Ran the DFT utilty and in deed it asked to erase the disk which I did.....

I've sent the disk back to IBM as I don't trust it anymore....

The last thing you need is to do a low level format after 3 weeks running time!!!!!

GRZYB

I feel for ya man, I have had 2 75gbGXPs and 1 60gbGXP die on me in the last 11 months. I got em RMAed and sold em. They are crap drives. They have to have a fan blowin on em or they die quick.