(Solved) Disk Wiping Stole my GBs

Summer Project: Implementation of a home server, and as such I decided to wipe my harddrives (2x Western Digital 640gb Caviar Black)

The first program I used was SecureErase from CMRR everything was going well until I followed up with a second wipe with DBAN (autonuke: DoD, 3 passes), and for some reason DBAN listed one of my drives as 127gb.  I initially thought it was ditzing out and was a simple display error but when the wipe was done, I formatted the drives and still… one of them was still displaying only 127gb out of the original 597gb.

I’ve tried to use Window’s Disk Management and PartedMagic to find the unallocated space but there is non-detected; like as if 470 gigs just packed up and left. The other WD 640gb drive is fine.

Any help from you guys is GREATLY appreciated.

System used for wipe
C2D E6600
OCZ 4Gb Ram 1066mhz
Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4

Vista 32bit

Main System
Core i5 760
Corsair 8gb ram 1600mhz
Gigabyte P55A-UD4P

Win7 64bit

Problem drive MDL#: MDL: WD6401AALS-00JB71

Is the drive connected to an enclosure or direct to computer?

Try writing zeros to the drive 

The drive was connected directly to the computer through SATA2 during and after the  disc wipe.

I did try to write zeros to the drive with WD’s  diagonistic tool but to no avail.

Is there anythinge else I can do?

Edit: Oh I forgot to mention that prior to wiping the harddrives, they were configured in RAID 0, 128k stripe.

It may be that a HPA has been created. If so, then the solution is to use a utility such as HDAT2 or HDD Capacity Restore Tool to restore the drive’s full factory capacity.

For example, to “change the native size” of your HDD, see page 5 of the HDAT2 “cook book”.

Explanation of Host Protected Area:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Host_protected_area

HDD Capacity Restore Tool:
http://hddguru.com/software/2007.07.20-HDD-Capacity-Restore-Tool

HDAT2/CBL Hard Disk Repair Utility:
http://www.hdat2.com
http://www.hdat2.com/hdat2_faq.html
http://www.hdat2.com/files/cookbook_v11.pdf

1 Like

fzabkar wrote:
It may be that a HPA has been created. If so, then the solution is to use a utility such as HDAT2 or HDD Capacity Restore Tool to restore the drive’s full factory capacity.

For example, to “change the native size” of your HDD, see page 5 of the HDAT2 “cook book”.

Explanation of Host Protected Area:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Host_protected_area

HDD Capacity Restore Tool:
http://hddguru.com/software/2007.07.20-HDD-Capacity-Restore-Tool

HDAT2/CBL Hard Disk Repair Utility:
http://www.hdat2.com
http://www.hdat2.com/hdat2_faq.html
http://www.hdat2.com/files/cookbook_v11.pdf

Wow +Kudos, Thank you very much this has restored the missing GBs. I also inquired help on other forums, I’ll be sure to link your post and make sure you’re creditted.

Thanks Again fzabkar.