sata and badblocks

[misha volk]

hello...

im not quite sure where/who to question here. so if you know a better 
forum for this question, please just point me to it.

that said...
im using ubuntu 5.10 with a 2.6.12 kernel and an ICH5 sata controller 
and a WD2500 disk.
the disk has about 25 or so bad blocks (not hidden by the drive).  when 
i try to read/write them the disk access light coming off the mobo 
lights solidly.  programs still run but when they make read/write 
requests to _any_ disk they hang.

under 2.4 this issue does not exist.  thus far, to use the disk ive had 
to boot a 2.4 utils cd and run mke2fs and fdisk from there.  also, i 
have a sata->pata converter card.  the problem exists with and without 
the card.
is this a known issue?  is there a fix/workaround?  if no, how can i help?

ive already contacted jgarzik (kernel developer) two weeks ago but have 
received no reply.

potentially related: is this combo subject to the SIL_QUIRK_MOD15WRITE 
problem?  i only ask because recently my system has died when the disk 
is writing around the 135gb mark...  is it possible to test this without 
recompiling my kernel? *proc or module param?*

thanks,
michael