CRC errors in file copy with new hard drive

[quadratic]

I was able to successfully hack my Phatbox today and I swapped out my 20gb drive for a 60gb Hitachi. (DK23FA-60, if it matters.)

After swapping the drives I used the PhatNoise Music Manager and everything went smoothly except it gives me a CRC error while copying the files over to the new DMS.

It does not continue copying the files, but it does do everything else. After it ejects the DMS I have to reinsert it and use Windows Explorer to copy over the rest of the files. Everything works perfectly normal after that.

Does anyone know what might be causing this?

[VorTechS]

I've done a little bit of digging around, and I've managed to find out something I didn't know before.

It looks like either PhatNoise MM is validating the data being transferred, or the cradle drivers/disk could be validating it, whereas Windows Explorer doesn't.  [My guess would be it's PMM]

Therefore some of your files may actually be corrupt/incomplete.  Not something I would normally advocate,  but I would trust PMM on this one and check out the files being copied for CRC errors.  Here's a free tool that claims to be able to sort out your CRC issue:

http://filerecovery.hostyourself.net/

[judb]

Other things that can cause a CRC error are bad disk media (run a " chkdisk /r /f #: " where the # is the name of your phtdta partition)

also sometimes bad ram can cause windows to have write or read errors when transferring to or from disk or the network so I would suggest trying a memory diagnostic tool http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp will allow you to download a bootable CD or floppy image that tests your ram.

[quadratic]

Other things that can cause a CRC error are bad disk media (run a " chkdisk /r /f #: " where the # is the name of your phtdta partition)

It looks like you were right. I could have sworn I'd tried chkdsk before posting, but I guess I didn't. I'm going to wipe the drive clear and give it another go. I'll start looking for a new drive too

Thanks to both of you for making this all possible!

[judb]

try doing a full format, not a quick format and see if you do a chkdsk without any switches for that drive. if it reports a lot of bad sectors it could be a failing drive.

[VorTechS]

You could also use the new DMS tools to create your new DMS which will perform a full format and have your DMS ready at the same time.

[quadratic]

You could also use the new DMS tools to create your new DMS which will perform a full format and have your DMS ready at the same time.

That's exactly what I did and everything seems to be working fine now. There aren't too many bad sectors, but I've got a new HD on my shopping list anyway.

[VorTechS]

Awesome.  One thing I'm looking to confirm, if you are able, is that PhatNoise Media Manager doesn't complain about the installed firmware.  If you have plugins to install, let me know if you get this message - as I'm hoping you shouldn't do.

If you do, DON'T use PMM to upgrade the firmware as you won't be able to use the DMS in your PhatBox [it breaks all the hard work done by the hack tools].

[sbingner]

Something I should mention, I've never seen a drive with 'not too many bad sectors' because as soon as I see one... pretty soon another shows up... then another... etc

It's good that you've got another coming... expect this one to be totally useless soon unless HDD technology has improved since the last time that happened to me.

[S80_UK]

Something I should mention, I've never seen a drive with 'not too many bad sectors' because as soon as I see one... pretty soon another shows up... then another... etc

Agreed - I would expect ZERO bad sectors after a format.  Anything else implies that the drive and its contents are well on their way to the great bit bucket in the sky....    When a new drive is made these days, bad areas are already mapped out and hidden with substitute sectors allocated by the drive maker. The drive surface should then not deteriorate further.  But what can happen is that other parts wear - the motor spindle, the head positioning spindle and also the drive electronics can deteriorate if the drive is in a hostile environment.  At that point it can only get worse.

Good luck with the replacement.