Installing around bad sectors

[Mr. Snuggles]

I'm trying to install ubuntu on a somewhat-old laptop, but when I try to re-size the partition via gparted, if always fails. The installer says it is because of bad sectors on the hdd, but Windows doesn't pick anything up, and numerous chkdisk /r did not improve the situation.

The details on the installation errors seem to imply that there is a way to install around these bad sectors; is that possible?

Yes, I know that easiest thing to do is get a new hard drive, but I don't really want to put money into this old thing.

[oilchangeguy]

I'm trying to install ubuntu on a somewhat-old laptop, but when I try to re-size the partition via gparted, if always fails. The installer says it is because of bad sectors on the hdd, but Windows doesn't pick anything up, and numerous chkdisk /r did not improve the situation.

The details on the installation errors seem to imply that there is a way to install around these bad sectors; is that possible?

Yes, I know that easiest thing to do is get a new hard drive, but I don't really want to put money into this old thing.

please define old laptop. specs please, it may not even be able to run ubuntu.

[Mr. Snuggles]

It's a Compaq R4000. I know ubuntu will install on it (seen examples).

[oilchangeguy]

It's a Compaq R4000. I know ubuntu will install on it (seen examples).

that may be true, if the laptop in question has enough ram. which is why i asked for the specs of YOUR computer.

[Mr. Snuggles]

CPU: Athlon 64 3200+ 1.8ghz
Ram: 512 mb
HDD: 80gb

Wubi works fine, but the disk performance was a little slow for me and I really would like hibernation.

[Mr. Snuggles]

Solved!

Used the guide on the Parted Magic website for resizing via command line ntfsresize (using the --bad-sectors option) and then repartioning with fdisk.

Got 8.10 installed and running great.