Scan for bad blocks during install? + hostname

[brianwc]

Hi,

I just tried to install PC-BSD 1.0 last night. Things went well (nice installer!) except I'm using an older hard drive that has some bad blocks. (I know. I know. This box isn't for anything critical though.) Consequently my install of PC-BSD is pretty messed up, primarily because I ran the Adaptec SCSI Disk Utility on the drive AFTER the installation and it "repaired" or "moved" a lot of bad blocks (probably containing important PC-BSD files.)

Anyway, I'm wondering if now that the bad blocks are recognized if a subsequent install would go better OR what I'd really like to do is run a bad blocks scan during the installation. Is that possible? Does the installer have an "expert" mode?

Also, my only gripe with the installer so far is that it never asked me what I wanted the hostname of the box to be. I think anyone who takes the time to install PC-BSD is the kind of person who will not be daunted by naming their box. In fact, they'll be like me and really want to be asked what to call it. Consider this a feature request. (So, how do I change the hostname post-install? Same as on GNU/Linux?)

[TerryP]

Yes just edit /etc/rc.conf in any text editor as root & save. You probably able to do it from the Network Manager under Computer -> PCBSD Settings -> on the KMenuj, but as I'm limited to PCBSD.HP.Vectra for BSD Access it's hard to get KDE going without launching VNC.

I'm sure this is an ultility for checking the disk, but I don't know the name of it.

There should also be some kind of Util/Emgcy/Shell option on the dohicky where you select graphical install so it might be runnible.

You could also always do it, then install.

[g0lem]

that or the classic sysinstall

[TerryP]

that or the classic sysinstall

Can you install PCBSD using the FreeBSD installer?

[Apatewna]

Hi,

I just tried to install PC-BSD 1.0 last night. Things went well (nice installer!) except I'm using an older hard drive that has some bad blocks.

For bad blocks try Hdd Regenerator from http://www.dposoft.net
It performs in-place bad sector repairing, unless its a real physical defect (yes many bad sectors are really software-error generated).

Demo version will only repair the first bad sector it finds. It's quite a popular tool in the IT world. Give it a try. (Man I sound like a spammer ) ops:

[popey]

For bad blocks try Hdd Regenerator from http://www.dposoft.net
It performs in-place bad sector repairing, unless its a real physical defect (yes many bad sectors are really software-error generated).
Demo version will only repair the first bad sector it finds. It's quite a popular tool in the IT world. Give it a try. (Man I sound like a spammer ) ops:

Spam or scam :?:
"Miracle" software from russia makes me a little skeptical.

[antik]

Originally Posted by Apatewna

For bad blocks try Hdd Regenerator from http://www.dposoft.net It performs in-place bad sector repairing, unless its a real physical defect (yes many bad sectors are really software-error generated). Demo version will only repair the first bad sector it finds. It's quite a popular tool in the IT world. Give it a try. (Man I sound like a spammer ) ops:

Spam or scam :?:
"Miracle" software from russia makes me a little skeptical.

"Standard" software from Redmond makes me little skeptical.... :roll:

[Apatewna]

Spam or scam :?:
"Miracle" software from russia makes me a little skeptical.

I am an IT pro. I've been using this proggy for years, since version 1.31 (then it went to 1.41 and 1.51). It does work and as far as I know it could be one of its kind.

[KLU]

Spam or scam :?:
"Miracle" software from russia makes me a little skeptical.

You must hate Tetris, then! :wink:

[popey]

Originally Posted by popey

Spam or scam :?: "Miracle" software from russia makes me a little skeptical.

You must hate Tetris, then! :wink:

Lol,
I did not mean to offend anyone from russia with that statement, my apologies if I did, it was merely a reference to the fact that russia is the source of a lot of scams.
The effectiveness of Hdd Regenerator has been in question since it was released, what it claims to do has been described as gobbledygook, at best misleading as it appears to be just another surface scanner, hardly unique. While utilities like this have a use for data recovery it's a brave sysadmin that would trust them to repair a drive.
IMHO any drive that cannot be restored using the manufacturers own utilities should be binned (or exchanged under warranty).