Assuming you aren't formatted in Reiserfs or some other cockamamie Real File System for a real OS: could you boot to DOS (yeah That DOS) and run SpinRite on your *.nix install?

(I mean - without partition tomfoolery and some kluge simulating 'logical drives' as a temporary expedient, which I don't quite see enough to be sure: is either absurd or.. probably a lot of fakery to be done)

Reason being - while you can obviously X-out any old sectors you want to, once you know which they are: with SR you would also get a free refresh of the lo-level format, along with his magic B/H magnetic prestidigitation of every magn. domain on the disk. It could save a drive (has for me) but guessing in advance is.. er impossible.

??

Ashton
Pity ol Steve hasn't redone SR for modrin thingies.. :(