hard disk integrity check

[Yorvik]

Gary W. Swearingen wrote:
> 
> I'll propagate a rumor I heard: Use of "badblocks" has been obsolete
> since drives started to remap their own bad blocks many years ago.
> You won't find bad blocks until after your drive has found so many
> that it's better used as a doorstop.
> 
> I beg to be corrected by someone with real knowledge.

I was told a couple of years back, that if you can find bad blocks with 
'normal user software' the drive has had it and may as well be chucked.

Personally, I can remember when harddisks had labels on them listing the 
bad blocks.

Cheers
SteVe