I had a crash that buggered my system but one that I managed to recover from using e2fsck.

Since then I have been getting intermitent disk crashes.

If I reboot after a crash e2fsck says I have an inconsistancy that cannot be fixed and gives me some instructions that don't work. (See different, unanswered thread).

badblocks says I have three bad blocks on /dev/hda5
fdisk says /dev/hda5 doesn't contain a valid partition table
cfdisk says Bad primary partition 1: partition ends after end of disk.

I am still using the hard drive without too many problems, all my files are still there. It just crashes now and again.

QUESTION
Can I rebuild the partition table around the existing file structure?
Will writing a new partition table effectively format the drive?

"Can I rebuild the partition table around the existing file structure?"
Yes, but there is a better way.

"Will writing a new partition table effectively format the drive?"
No. But if you change partition sizes while doing so then you will be forced to format the affected partitions.

I suggest that you copy everything to a backup. Then completely rebuild the partition table from scratch, format every partition, and restore the backups.


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Be prepared. Create a LifeBoat CD.
http://users.rcn.com/srstites/LifeBo...home.page.html

Steve Stites

It is a Fujitsu MPG3409AT dated 04-2001

http://www.hddclassactionsettlement.com/

I've got a better idea.
I'm going to throw it away.

"I'm going to throw it away."

Good idea. But you should hang onto it and your receipt until you see whether Fujisitsu is going to give rebates to dissatisfied customers. You also might ask Fujisitsu directly for your money back. Class action suites are usually settled by the defendent paying the class action lawyers a hefty fee to accept a paltry settlement for the people they are representing.


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Steve Stites