I have metadata file errors on all 4 of my partitions:

- Seagate Barracuda 40GB, ATA 100, 7200 RPM drive
- Dual boot XP Pro with 2000 Pro
- The errors are listed at the bottom of this message (the same error message was reported for each partition
- Most of the time everything works just great (I almost always use Windows 2000)

Just in case the metadata file errors were not caused by an existing virus (located in Windows) how about backing up the MBR, then writing zeros to the MBR and using software (such as Boot Corrector) to rebuild it?

Also, any idea of how best to search for info on finding malcode/viruses (on your system), which may have been circulated by the RIAA? (through file sharing services). Someone said this is known to cause these types of errors.

I tired a web search and so far it's been very hard to find anything on this. I use google Groups too, when searching. You'd think this would be a hot subject.

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I decided to check my Seagate 40GB HD with SeaTools Desktop v3.02.03
after experiencing some intermittent problems with my Windows 2000 Pro system locking up.

I ran all the tests and the result was that the drive checked OK but all four partitions were reported to have these errors (and chkdsk /p /r does not remove these particular errors although the drive then works normally for a day or so).

I used this Seagate utility to write zeros to the Entire drive, Partition Expert to create new partitions, copied the backed up partitions, one at a time, back to the main drive (using Ghost 8.0) and still the same error reported (using SeaTools).

************************************************** *
The following errors were found while scanning the volume:
- One or more errors were found in the index
- One or more errors were found in metadata file records
- Other errors were found

***Testing the drive with Maxtor's and Gateway's utilities there are NO errors reported

Hi

I'm sorry but I don't know how to fix your problem, I would also like to remind you that duplicate posting is bad and I have deleted one of your previous posts

Did I post twice to the same forum or do you not allow the same message to be posted to another forum? (hard to decide which one is more appropriate regarding a hard driver error which may be related to the OS).

Sorry for any inconvenience

Yes, sorry to clarify please only post in one forum. If one of our moderation or technical team thinks it would be better handled in another forum, then they will move it there. It just makes it harder to consolidate all the answers if they are in different locations.

I'm Glad you understand.

Well, after all this trouble which appeared to be software related, my Seagate drive finally made a rather quiet click at the instant my Windows system locked up big time. This happened twice.

And the Seagate techs I talked with were totally wrong about SeaTools being accurate in reporting file errors.

SeaTools doesn't even work with NTFS!! (one of their experienced techs finally told me today). They haven't updated the software for years. Is this a little flakey?

I'm using my cloned backup drive while the new drive is being shipped.

The text size is not working properly in this forum editor. Hope it looks better when I hit Submit.