[Info-vax] Backup A Dying Disk.

[Steven Schweda]

> I think it is "T 71" or "T 75" from the console.

[...]
TEST 70 - Allows the customer to format hard disk drives and
RX33 floppy diskettes. RX50 diskettes need not use this
utility as they come preformatted. If formatting a
non-Digital Equipment Corporation hard disk drive, this
utility goes into a query mode thus allowing the customer to
enter drive parameter data prior to actually performing the
format operation.
[...]

      http://antinode.info/dec/vs2000_diag.html

   But if the disk is really dying, you may be doomed. 
(Although, with enough effort, I believe that someone has
worked out firmware to allow a SCSI drive to work in a 2000.)