Wednesday 26 September 2012

Safe to run Check Disk / CHKDSK on SSD / Solid State Drive

Safe to run Check Disk / CHKDSK on a SSD / Solid State Drive - What other people say.

Summary - It is OK to run a file system check, but do not use any bad sector recovery options. Running Check Disk without any "switches" ( /f /b) is OK.

Most forum around the the net are inconclusive when it comes to whether it is safe to run Check Disk / CHKDSK on a SSD, and I guess in their experience it hasn't caused an problems.

Super User  - YES to use CHKDSK on a SSD

Toms Hardware - NO

AnandTech - MAYBE

overclock.net - MAYBE

ocztechnologyforum.com - OCZ skirt round the issue.

Safe to run Check Disk / CHKDSK on a SSD / Solid State Drive - My Experience.

I am just one person with one brand of SSD, but when I ran check disk with the "recover bad sectors options" selected I lost 27 GB of my SSD to bad sectors, these are what I understand to be soft bad sectors and would go away with a reformat.

My drive is a PCIe Revo Drive from OCZ, so I did a search and found others with the same problem. Do not "attempt to recover bad sectors" on an SSD.

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Monday 24 September 2012

Revodrive 3 SSD - 30 GB of Bad Sectors

Revodrive 3 SSD - 30 GB of Bad Sectors - The Problem

I have a revodrive 3, and after running checkdisk in the hope of fixing some minor system glitches, I find I am missing 80 GB. CHDSK reporting 80 GB of bad sectors.

Revodrive 3 SSD - 30 GB of Bad Sectors - A Solution?

Info here. But it suggests a OS reinstall . . . not ideal.

I have read various, scrub that, lots of forums and web sites and they all recommend looking of hidden system files, and disabling hibernation or reducing page file. This does not work.

I have run space sniffer and nothing shows up a untoward there. What next.

HD Tune Pro. Things look fine. But checkdisk (run as administrator shows a different storey)







So I have 24 GB of space?


This is verified using space sniffer. Problem is the figure don't add up. 111 GB - 59.7 GB does not equal 24 GB it does equal 51.3 GB so where is the missing 27 GB?

More Missing Space on SSD Info Here.

I belive that it is check disk that is the problem, perhaps the drive is so fast that checkdisk  reports sectors as out of parameters (bad sectors). Just a guess.

More SSD Drive Trouble Revo 3 x 2 in this instance.

"For these same symptoms to manifest with 3 separate drives is unlikely, so it would appear more likley that the corrupted sector information comes as a result of enumeration issues as opposed to physical failure at the drive translation/nand level."

Again here the problem started after using check disk.

and again "I lost 100+ gb after a checkdisk!"

Same Problem Here CHKDSK again : SSD checkdisk error


I have also heard that updating you OCZ firmware and BIOS can help. This is easily done with there linux boot cd. Just back up first.

Infuriating 

Update - Ah hah - Oh ho. This information explanatory at least.
Microsoft say not to use Check Dick on an SSD. And I would agree that is where all my problems started. 

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Friday 21 September 2012

Switch to Classic Toolbar in Foxit Reader

Switch to Classic Toolbar in Foxit Reader - What is Classic View?

With the newer version of Foxit Reader you can choose between classic toolbars or tabbed tool bars.

Tabbed Toolbar View in Foxit Reader:


Classic Toolbar View in Foxit Reader




Switch to Classic Toolbar in Foxit Reader - How to Switch

To change modes from tabbed to classic go to file click (top left hand corner);



then selct "change tool bar mode, upon which you will see the below option, choose classic toolbar mode, restart foxit reader, and away you go.

I am not sure how you switch back again! Could always reinstall only take a couple of minutes.

If you like Foxit Reader you may also like Foxit Phantom PDF, but read this to see if it floats your boat before you buy.

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Tuesday 18 September 2012

Surly Restrictor Seat Clamp Review


Surly Restrictor Seat Clamp Review

There is not a alot you can say about this offering from surly, other that I can verify that is is good quality, and chunkier than the aaaaverage set clamp. The bolt is big, and hopefully it will keep my seat post in one place.

Surly Restrictor Seat Clamp Pics


Surly Restrictor Seat Clamp Observations

There is a weird collar that pokes up around the top of the clamp, I am not sure what this is for, will it collect dirt next to the seat tube, maybe, do I care . .no.

Solid bit of kit.





Update 01/07/2013 - 9 months on and seat post has not budged once.

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Carradice Super C Rack Pack Review and Pictures



Carradice Super C Rack Pack Review - Overview

If you need a high quality rack pack ( a pannier that mounts on top of you pannier rack rather than at the sides) then look no further than the Carradice Super C Rack Pack. Made in the UK from cotton and built to last it truly is a lovely pice of kit.


I purchased this Carradice Super C Rack Pack to fit on my folding bike (giant conway folding bike), as there is not enough clearance for my heals when pedaling if I use a side mounted pannier.

Carradice Super C Rack Pack Review - Build Quality

I paid £ 60 for my bag from some online retailer, and so I was expecting somthing failry well made, and that is exactly what I got, the bag is bomb proof, and although time is the ultimate test I have a feeling that the bag will last. For those of you who are familiar with the old army webbing pouches, that is the style of construction, built to last for sure.


Carradice Super C Rack Pack Review - Fitting

There are four velcro straps that are used, the rack on the bike I fitted it too was smaller than average, but it fits on very securely no worries there.

Carradice Super C Rack Pack Review - Style . . .

Dare I say it (wince) but this is probably suitable to carry around over your shoulder with the supplied strap. It is a nice looking bag, if you compare it to some of the offerings from ortlieb etc, it has a bit of a nostalgic look about it.
Carradice Super C Rack Pack- Official Write UP from Carradice


Range Super C
Weight (grams) 550
Capacity 13 litres
Dimensions 16cm wide x 21cm high x 36.5cm deep
Fixing system 4 large velcro straps
No of Pockets External pocket to the rear
Materials Cotton Duck







Other features

Tough 100% Waterproof Cotton Duck

Heavy duty black cotton duck delivers super performance year in, year out in the toughest of conditions. The durability of cotton duck makes it a great choice for situations in which a strong, hardy fabric is needed. Many hard laborers, for example, swear by the quality of garments made with cotton duck, which protect them from the perils of the workplace.
Easily straps to any rack
Drawcord top under easy access lid
All round reflective strips and LED mounting strap to rear
Carry handle on lid plus shoulder strap for off bike carrying
Ideal for long day or weekend rides

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Thursday 6 September 2012

Kenda K123 / Giant Super Light Tyre Review

Kenda K123 / Giant Super Light Tyre - Intro

These Kenda Tyres (K 123) also branded as giant super light came fitted to my Giant Conway 1.0 folding bike. And are very average in fact they are soooo average I am not sure I will able to keep awake writing this post.

Kenda K123 / Giant Super Light Tyre - Tread



The tread ion these K 123 tires is an all rounder and on the whole is perfect for just about everyting you might want to do on a bike. BUT

Kenda K123 / Giant Super Light Tyre - Build Quality

As with other kenda tires , the build quality is only OK, you get what you pay for. With a max pressure rating of 45 psi these tires are only any good for very light people. I have had some other kenda tiresin the past ( Kenda Semi Slick K847) and they didn't last long, but they were very cheap.

Kenda K123 / Giant Super Light Tyre - Sizes

I have these tyres in a 16" size but there are other sizes available. 18", 20" and 24".


Kenda K123 / Giant Super Light Tyre - Price

At about £5 / $7 a pop these are about as cheap as tires get, but you get what you pay for.

As an alternative I would recommend Schwable Kojaks, Schwable Big Apples or Continental Super Tour all of which are available in 16".

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Giant Conway 1.0 Folding Bike Review (16")

Giant Conway 1.0 Folding Bike - Intro

My Giant Conway 1.0 was on sale for £110 nearly new. I am still trying to work out whether I have got a bargain or not. It is Giant brand so you would expect functional quality and up until now that seems about right. I have now upgraded this folding bike.



Giant Conway 1.0 Folding Bike - Weight

The first thing I noticed (when I took delivery) was the weight, official stats put the bike at around 11 kg, which is not too bad. But I am not convinced this is accurate, it feels heavy for its size. The frame, seat post, mud guards, main part of steerer, are all steel. With alloy only for the bars.

Giant Conway 1.0 Folding Bike - Folding

The Conway 1.0 folds up quiet easily, but could do with folding peddles as these add to the width a fair amount. Don't get be wrong it will go in the boot of a car easily, even a small car, but it makes for a knobbly package.

Giant Conway 1.0 Folding Bike - The RideThis is fine. The ride comfort is surprisingly good, with an upright position if you want and a more "flat back" ride if you prefer, the adjust-ability is immense I am 6 ft 1", and I am pretty sure my 4 year old daughter could ride this as well.

Being single speed you are limited to how strong your legs are as to where you can cycle, steep hills are not OK, but shallow ones are fine, and walking or riding up a steep hill takes around the same amount of effort anyway, if a little slower.

The biggest let down are the tires, which only inflate to 45 psi, even for a fairly light rider (which I am not) this is not high enough. I overinflated the rear tire to around 60 psi, and it didn't explode. See one of my other posts for a detailed look at the Kenda 123 tyres.



The bike has a nice little rack over the rear wheel, but don't expect to put any panniers on this bike as your foot will bump in to them whilst peddling. A rack pack is your best bet, or maybe something on the handle bars.

Giant Conway 1.0 Folding Bike - Giant Specs

Frame: Steel
Net Weight: 11 KG (???? Will confirm)
Size: 16 inches
Brakes: Front and rear
Load: 120 KG
Folding Time: 15 Seconds
Tyre: Kenda 16*1.75

Giant Conway 1.0 Folding Bike - Brakes

It is a long time since I have ridden a bike without v-brakes. Oh my goodness calliper brakes on the front are fairly useless, and the rear hub brake (although neat) is not much better. However with both clamped on as hard as possible you can pull up fairly quickly and the fact that you won't be traveling too fast helps.

Giant Conway 1.0 Folding Bike - Suggested Extras / Upgrades
I would suggest getting some better tires for this bike that inflate to at least 65 psi or higher. Schwable Kojaks would be ideal, or continental super tours. The mud guards are pretty snug so I wouldn't increase the width.

Update 12/ 11/12 - I have upgraded the tires for some Schwable Marathons with Green Guard. Which have made this bike roll very well. The gearing is a little low for a strong rider. I have also changed the brake levers they were rather bendy under load, and have swapped them for some alloy one. Braking is still poor, especially on the front brake!
 
For carrying stuff around I would get a rack pack too I opted for a Carradice Super C Rack Pack which is a nice bit of UK made kit.
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