HD possible failure

[dae_amp_ika_dtp]

I have a 120GB Maxtor drive that I believe is starting to fail for good.
A few months ago it started clicking, so I ran seatools and it stopped.
Lately on startup the computer is loading slower than normal.
Its a P4 3.2ghz HT 800FSB with 2GB PC3200 ram. Windows XP
Ive done virus/spyware scans. Its clean.

This morning, CHKDSK started up on its own.
It fixed a bunch of stuff in the file system, I can post a log later.(working ATM)
At the end of the log it found 8kb worth of stuff in damaged sectors.
So im thinking its going to give out soon.

Seatools isnt finding anything.
I'll try a full CHKDSK, last full run that I did it found nothing wrong, but that was a few months ago.

Im preparing for possible failure real soon. And I need advice for some options.

I want to either...
Put in a new hard drive, and copy my existing one onto it using Acronis.
Or
Fresh install windows XP.

I know starting new would be the best for the system.
But I have alot of applications/settings that I want to keep.

If I go with the drive cloning, are there any risk that I should know about?

Thanks in advance.

 

[raybay]

The clicking in the Maxtor is a sure sign of failure, and you should be able to see a S.M.A.R.T. failure or "failing" screen when you run any of the Seagate or Maxtor tests.
Save it to use as a slave. With a little bit of luck, you should be able to save all the data to a new drive by using this maxtor in the salve mode, or use an external USB drive case.

 

[dae_amp_ika_dtp]

Seatools found no problems. I even booted it from cd, and did the thorough test.
The drive hasnt clicked since the first time I ran seatools.
Im leaning more to the fresh install side.

 

[rf6647]

Acronis is a good clone tool, but here is an advisory. I have followed the main thread. This thread zeros in on a solution if needed

 

[dae_amp_ika_dtp]

Thanks for that post.

At work I asked a few other techs what they would do.
One guy said if I clone a drive with a bad sector. I will have nothing but problems with the new drive, he also said my corrupted file system will xfer over to the new drive.

Is that true? Are there steps I can take to prevent that?

 

[kimsland]

Imaging your HardDrive: https://www.techspot.com/vb/post664079-2.html
I know that my Ghost software, can ignore bad spots, when imaging.

But I believe you are best to backup and install clean

 

[dae_amp_ika_dtp]

So im shopping for a new disk. What would you choose?

Hitachi or Seagate?

Im looking at the 160GB 7200 RPM ATA 100/133 models.

 

[kimsland]

I don't want to get stuck on Sales questions.
I'd probably go Seagate but 250Gig
Anyway they're all under warranty

 

[tengeta]

Out of personal experience Hitachi's come DOA more often, but if they both work they generally last long. I hate advertising myself, but when it comes to high percentage DOA items like HDD's and Motherboards I find it hard to keep my mouth shut.

 

[dae_amp_ika_dtp]

Thanks. ive been running a 80GB seagate external for the past 3 years without probs.

Anyways, I ran both Seatools and CHKDSK. and both found 0 problems with the drive.
I backed up important files just in case.

Is that because CHKDSK ran yesterday and found 8kb of bad sectors and marked them as bad?