Alignment

[LunarMist]

I need to align my EARS, but they have advancing format sectors. Does it matter which computer or OS I use for drive alignment, for example one with XP32 and then use them an x64 system?

 

[Bozo]

Wouldn't a plastic surgeon work better?

 

[LunarMist]

I have no budget for that.

Maybe a hammer would work better. The drive is not seen by the alignment utility.

 

[time]

I'll hazard a guess you're using the Acronis POS that is labeled for each drive manufacturer. It didn't work for me.

If it's a partition with data, you'll need something like the Paragon Alignment Tool (no longer free, but does work). Alternatively, copy the partition to somewhere else and use an alignment-aware tool to copy it back.

If it's an empty partition and you're using XP, you need either an alignment-aware partitioning tool (I don't know of any free ones, unfortunately) or the MS DISKPAR utility (not DISKPART).

It's probably easier just to create the partition on a Windows 7 box, even if you then move it to an XP box.

 

[LunarMist]

Yeah, it is the Arconis. I have another boot disk program from the Paragon, but was avoiding it.

 

[Howell]

Wouldn't a plastic surgeon work better?

I usually put in for a haircut.

 

[LunarMist]

Well, that doesn't work in this computer so I give up. I will use the drive without alignment and hope that works.

 

[LunarMist]

It is like this drive, but in a retail box. The box had nothing in it but the drive and screws. There is no CD or cables anymore.

 

[Stereodude]

I guess downloading and burning a gparted live CD was too tough. :scratch:

 

[LunarMist]

The computer does not see the drive when I tried the Paragon. I have no idea if that bootable disk would be better. It is too late now though as the drive is 75% full. The write speeds seemed fairly normal.

 

[time]

I've just realized what you're saying. You're running under Windows, you can see the drive partitions with Windows Disk Management or Explorer, yet these tools can't even see the drive? :scratch:

It's not in a RAID or something, is it?

 

[LunarMist]

The Paragon tool boots from a disk in Linux or something. The WD Acronis tool was a windows app.