badblocks Command Examples

Search a device for bad blocks. Some usages of badblocks can cause destructive actions, such as erasing all data on a disk, including the partition table. More information: https://manned.org/badblocks.

• Search a disk for bad blocks by using a non-destructive read-only test:

sudo badblocks {{/dev/sdX}}

• Search an unmounted disk for bad blocks with a [n]on-destructive read-write test:

sudo badblocks -n {{/dev/sdX}}

• Search an unmounted disk for bad blocks with a destructive [w]rite test:

sudo badblocks -w {{/dev/sdX}}

• Use the destructive [w]rite test and [s]how [v]erbose progress:

sudo badblocks -svw {{/dev/sdX}}

• In destructive mode, [o]utput found blocks to a file:

sudo badblocks -o {{path/to/file}} -w {{/dev/sdX}}

• Use the destructive mode with improved speed using 4K [b]lock size and 64K block [c]ount:

sudo badblocks -w -b {{4096}} -c {{65536}} {{/dev/sdX}}