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IBM-AUSTRIA - PC-HW-Support 30 Aug 1999 |
Running PREP (2614)
Running PREP
The PREP utility initializes and prepares the hard disk
surface for storage of data.
It performs a low level format then checks for bad sectors.
If any bad sectors are found, they are marked in a way that
prevents data from being stored in them.
There are two situations when PREP is used:
- To prepare the hard disk surface for formatting when
installing a new hard disk drive.
- To exclude sectors of the hard disk that have become
unusable, indicated by intermittent or continuous hard
disk drive read failures.
PREP erases all data on the hard disk.
If possible, back up the data on the hard disk
to diskettes before running PREP.
To run PREP:
- Boot the Advanced Diagnostics diskette.
- Press the right arrow key to select the Run Tests
menu.
- Press the down arrow key to select Advanced Utilities
from the menu and press Enter.
- Select 'PREP' and press Enter.
PREP displays its version number, a list of informational
messages, and then asks if you want to proceed.
Do you want to proceed with PREP (Y/N)?
Press N if you want to cancel PREP and return to the DOS
command line.
Press Y to continue with PREP.
PREP asks for the hard disk drive unit number
(drive C = 0 and D = 1).
Hard disk drive unit number (0 - 7):
Enter the drive number.
You will then be offered one more chance to cancel PREP.
PREP will prompt you to press P to continue.
Pressing any other key will cancel PREP and return you to
the DOS prompt.
PREP first scans the hard disk for bad sectors that have
previously been marked.
It displays the message:
Scanning for previous bad sectors...
PREP then performs a low level format of the hard disk
surface.
It display the message:
Initializing the disk...
PREP will then write data to each sector of the hard disk
and read this data back to verify each sector.
This is repeated four times.
PREP displays the message:
Verify: pass n, Cylinder xxx
Where n is the number of the current pass (1-4)
and xxx is the current cylinder under test.
If any bad sectors are found, PREP marks them to prevent
them from being used when the hard disk is formatted.
After the hard disk is verified, PREP displays the message:
Operation complete, press any key to exit to monitor
The hard disk is now ready to be formatted and have an operating
system loaded onto it.
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