reinstall to compensate for disk hardware problem ?

[gscratch]

This is a generic Intel box with a single internal 80GB disk (probably Seagate, but I don't remember. I can find out if it matters)
running 12.04LTS native (ie, NOT a partitioned disk dual-boot with Windows)

Recently, Ubuntu takes a long time to start and the disk makes the 'scrape scrape scrape pause scrape scrape scrape' noise when I start FireFox.
I'm able to see the file system, and have copied important data onto an external USB drive.

Would it help to completely re-install Ubuntu? is it worth it? or should I just go buy another internal disk (which would require a complete new install anyway)

thanks

[ibjsb4]

Check you HDD with "Disk Utility" to see what shape its in. It should already be installed in your system.

https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applicat...-disk-utility/

[ahallubuntu]

~

[mörgæs]

If the bad sectors are in one area of the disk, for example the first 10 GB, you can create an empty (unused) partition there and only use the rest.