hardrive help

[Crazy Hobbit]

I'm running XP. I think my hardrive may be puttering out on me (its an 80 GB IBM :roll: ).

Is there something like a Scandisk I can use to thoroughly check the drive for errors or anyting else?

I'm running Windows XP.

[Chairman_Kaga]

chkdsk will check it. I think it's chkdsk /f to fix the errors.

ie

chkdsk c: /f

It should tell you it can't run on the C drive and then allow you to schedule it at next reboot.

[ignus]

go to my computer, then right-click the drive and click properties. up on the tabs is one for 'tools'. that page has error-checking, which is probably the xp version of scandisk.

[Chairman_Kaga]

boot time chkdsk /f will do a better job. No open files on the drive that way.

Should help provided it's a block/sector problem and not a read/write head problem.

I also suggest backing up everything you can. :)

[Bokchoi]

From what I've read in Maximum PC Magazine, the last generation of IBM hard disks have problems where they would die after a year. You might want to check IBM's site to see if there's any recall of certain model besides doing chkdsk. If you can, try to run a Norton Diagnostic or if you have a diskette that came with the hdd, use it to run a diagnostic.

[Crazy Hobbit]

go to my computer, then right-click the drive and click properties. up on the tabs is one for 'tools'. that page has error-checking, which is probably the xp version of scandisk.

Thanks Ignus and everyone. It does a boot-time scan when doing this way and it didn't find anything wrong.

I'm concerned because after using my computer for say an hour and then shut down and then reboot, I get an OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND, PLEASE INSERT SYSTEM DISK. I don't hear anything particularly unusual from the drive, like weird noises or anything, I think.

To get it to reboot I have to let it sit a awhile or just keep rebooting till Windows XP finally starts up. I have my hardrive as the only boot device so I don't think its trying to read the CD drive or disk drive.

[megaman]

p33r.

really, it already is crapping out. oh, btw, don't buy a maxtor, even if it is a 120gb 7200 rpm for 80$. trust me.

just go western digital all the way, faster, cooler, less noisy.

[ignus]

if your hdd is fine, it might be a power issue hobbit. a lot of times i have to reset my system 2 or 3 times before i can get it to boot, which is im pretty sure a power issue (i have so many power-draining devices and drives in my pc :D). did u check to see if the ide cable is pushed in all the way and simple stuff like that?

[AnalogKid]

I found this article in Microsoft's KB...


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315679


Problems with Drive Overlay Programs in Windows XP
View products that this article applies to.
This article was previously published under Q315679
SYMPTOMS
You may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

* After the first reboot of Windows XP Setup, you may receive one of the following error messages:
o No operating system
o Setup has determined that Drive C: is corrupted and cannot be repaired. To quit setup press F3.
o Windows could not start because of he following ARC firmware boot configuration problem. Did not properly generate ARC name for HAL and System path. Please check the windows documentation about ARC configuration options and your hardware reference manuals for additional information.
* Windows XP Setup may stop responding (hang) and display a blank black screen after the first reboot.
* After you install Windows XP, secondary hard drives that worked and appeared correctly in the following operating systems may appear to be damaged or have a size of zero bytes:
o Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me)
o Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
o Microsoft Windows 98
o Microsoft Windows 95

CAUSE
These issues can occur if you are using a drive overlay software program to control your hard disk. Some versions of some drive overlay programs may not be compatible with Windows XP.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, contact the manufacturer of the your drive overlay program to inquire about a fix for this issue.

To determine if your hard disk uses a drive overlay program, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

186057 How to Tell If Drive Overlay Program Is Installed in Windows
WARNING: Do not use the fdisk /mbr command from the Windows Me/98 Startup disk or the fixmbr command in the Windows XP Recovery Console. These commands will destroy your drive overlay Master Boot Record information if you are using a drive overlay program, and this may cause data loss. To work around this issue:

1. Back up your critical data.
2. Partition and reformat your hard disk by using the Windows XP CD-ROM.

STATUS
This behavior is by design.
MORE INFORMATION
Hard Disk Manufacturers that Make Drive Overlay Software
IBM
Disk Manager 2000

http://www.storage.ibm.com/hdd/support/table.htm
Maxtor
MAXBLAST

http://www.maxtor.com/products/DiamondMax/software/maxblast/default.htm
Quantum

http://www.maxtor.com/Quantum/support/csr/software/softmenu.htm
Seagate
Disk Manager

http://www.seagate.com/support/disc/drivers/discwiz.html
Western Digital
EZ-BIOS

http://www.westerndigital.com/service/ftp/drives.html
The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

[BoogerBomb]

I dont see whats wrong with Maxtor drives. I have had moine for 5 years with no problems. Now my Samsung and IBM DeathStar, thaose are different stories. But Maxtor and Western Digital are the 2 best ones out there. If you go WD I have heard that the WD740 Raptor 75GB version has a very high failure rate. Its the 10000RPM SATA drive. so i would stay away from it at the moment.

[laters]

See if this will help:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2828.html

[Stockboy99]

I dont see whats wrong with Maxtor drives. I have had moine for 5 years with no problems. Now my Samsung and IBM DeathStar, thaose are different stories. But Maxtor and Western Digital are the 2 best ones out there. If you go WD I have heard that the WD740 Raptor 75GB version has a very high failure rate. Its the 10000RPM SATA drive. so i would stay away from it at the moment.

I hate Maxtor and Maxtor hates me.

I've owned 2 maxtor's and 1 quantum/maxtor. All have died.

I even sent one back under warranty. The replacement was DOA.

The replacement for the replacement lasted 2 weeks. I gave up on it after that.

I've also seen Maxtor's track record at work. Its not good. Not terrible but certainly not stellar.

I have since owned 4 seagates. The oldest is 8 years old and still ticking fine. None have problems.

[Crazy Hobbit]

Hmmm. I do not have any Drive overlay programs installed nor have I used any for my drive. I have checked all cabling and such and they are seated firmly.

I'm backing up stuff as a precaution but I really don't think anything wrongs with drive physically. Just some sort of weirdness. Thanks for the help thus far guys.

[Chairman_Kaga]

Have you tried a new IDE cable? (assuming it's IDE)

Bent pin or "slightly" bent pin can cause intermittent problems. Another thing that can cause problems like this at boot time is bad/too small power supply. If the drive isn't getting enough juice to spin up fully at power-on, it wouldn't be "bootable".

You may want to try removing some hardare just to see. Maybe changing which plug you're using off the supply too.

[laters]

Have you tried a new IDE cable? (assuming it's IDE)

Bent pin or "slightly" bent pin can cause intermittent problems. Another thing that can cause problems like this at boot time is bad/too small power supply. If the drive isn't getting enough juice to spin up fully at power-on, it wouldn't be "bootable".

You may want to try removing some hardare just to see. Maybe changing which plug you're using off the supply too.
That's a good point. I can't believe I didn't think of that, since I actually had that exact problem recently which made me think it was wa HD problem initially. Hobbit, if I were you I'd definitely check the power supply first before fiddling around with the HD itself. When my power supply went kaput, it was my HD that started stuttering and making whining noises and such, so I was thrown off for quite awhile before I could figure out what was actually wrong with it.

[Chalybos]

Replace the power supply and the hd. Then you don't have to worry about either. :D Of course, I'm notorious for using any excuse as an excuse to upgrade, and my wife reminds me of it constantly. :roll: Power supply first. Go for a 400w.

[Crazy Hobbit]

Since I don't have becoup bucks to spend and I'm getting married in a few months, I decided to move out of my RtCW Shuttle case (http://u2sweeney.web.aplus.net/hostedimages/rig2.jpg):( into one of these http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-140&depa=1 since I plan on keeping it for quite awhile (unless they change the ATX standard sometime soon...BTX?). More importantly I want a quiet case. I've wanted to make a quiet system for some time now so now would be a good excuse to give it a shot. I have a fan-less 9600 card so with this case and the new CPU fan, I'm hoping to quiet things down a bit and bring temperatures down.

New mobo http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-138-216&catalog=22&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1 , saving some money and going a few notches below bleeding edge b/c I'm keeping my 266 XP 2400 and my 768 PC2100 memory and can't really afford to upgrade those now, especially with all the new stuff coming around the corner. This board should buy more upgrade room at least for the next year and half.

And I'll need a new Heatsink/Fan combo for all of this as the Shuttle uses a heat-pipe system, so I picked this up too http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-103-419&catalog=62&depa=1 which should last as long the mobo upgrades.

What I did not order is a new hardrive :D because I really believe the drive is just fine, though I have backed up all important information already. I'm just going to gamble that the drive is going to be fine because I'm not ready to upgrade/replace that quite yet.

We shall see.

[BoogerBomb]

You never realize just how much crap you have on your hard drive til you have to back it up.

[Bokchoi]

if you want quiet, you might want to look at antec's new power supply that DOES NOT HAVE a fan. It's surrounded by heatsinks. I'll try to find a link of it.