disk integrity

[pinbrook]

What tools do you guys use to check the physically of the hard drive.

My laptop had a problem starting up today, I've checked a few things

virus, spyware, disk defrag etc.

Just wondering how to check stuff like disk and memory ....

[NormanRouxel]

Maybe not completely relevant but I use Sequoiaview - http://www.win.tue.nl/sequoiaview/ - to look for huge files that may be filling the disk. You get a view of your entire drive in one very pretty window.

[wjcampbe]

First suspect - a windows update that needed a reboot to finish installing. Second - a loose connection - either a usb cable or an network cable or the slide in connection on a removable drive bay. Third - virus/spyware. Fourth, checkdisk to look for bad sectors and repair them.

Memory test etc - I get from the diagnostics suppied by the laptop manufacturer.

[pinbrook]

Sequoiaview

what a weird tool is that..... good fun though

I've got a feeling Bill is on the money with the windows update that needed a reboot, as I vaguely remember an update sitting on the status bar yesterday.

Going to run checkdisk and a few other things before being brave enough to switch the laptop off again >>>> I guess I have to run it from the command prompt... are there any switches to use or is "chkdsk" sufficient?

[wjcampbe]

I tend to use the /r switch - which checks for bad sectors, recovers any readable data and then attempts repair before marking as bad.

You will have to shut down and checkdisk will run as part of the next startup.

May not be a bad idea to do some backups to cd/dvd before doing this.

[pinbrook]

I'm Stuffed

Ok Laptop will not boot...

I set it up to chkdsk /r, it asked to reboot so I said yes.

Laptop will not boot, I turn it on, it asks for system password so i give it, I then get the windows XP screen display for a second or so, and then nothing.... just a black screen.

I've gone into F2 (setup) asked it to boot from CD, its doesn't boot with the laptop backup disk nor with a proper windows disk (not the disk that belongs to the laptop but none the less a kosher disk)

Any ideas....

[EDIT 20 mins later] unplugged all peripherals, switched on and off several times, allowed time to cool off. Laptop is now doing checkdisk...

[NormanRouxel]

You may still have Safe Mode boot available. Try hitting the F8 key repeatedly after powering on to get to the boot options menu.

[pinbrook]

Check disk now allows laptop to boot, I'm now re-copying data (to get several copies of data, profiles etc etc) before attempting another reboot....

my poxy PC won't recognise any USB hence my external backup disk can not be hung onto this machine. Just doing another straight copy from laptop to PC's backup disk, before checking the content external backup drive on a 3rd machine. Just want to be sure I have several copies of the laptop before turning it off!

also collating the midnight oil....

[pinbrook]

Ok so what do I do now.

All data is backed up, the PC has the latest data restored so I've got a working machine (PC is not very portable though ). AND the laptop powers up fine now...even now reads the diagnostics disk

I need to instill confidence in the laptop, how do I know if its hardware or software at fault.

I could wipe the laptop and re-install....

Any advice welcomed

[RuralWeb]

I need to instill confidence in the laptop, how do I know if its hardware or software at fault.

I could wipe the laptop and re-install....

I would be tempted to format the hard drive and re-install XP then do a 100% check of all functions - assuming it loads ok!

[fleetwood]

This months PCPro has just dropped through my letterbox.
Big feature - "Rescue a Dead PC - The expert guide to diagnosing and fixing PC & laptop problems"

Its a bit long for me to go through this morning, but may be worth a look - their articles are usually pretty good.
If there are any gems of advice, I'll try and post them when I've had a read.
Might be worth checking the website www.pcpro.co.uk to see if its accessible via that - otherwise maybe worth a few quid to pick up a copy.

[chris ashdown]

Bite the bullet and fit a new hard drive as you will always be worried about this one

[acompton]

Jo, what do you suspect is the actual problem? Hard drive physical integrity or virus?

My kids recently knackered 'their' PC with a virus from a dodgy link posted on MSN. I had to format the drive to get rid of it.

On the subject of hard drive physical integrity, most drives come with SMART monitoring (automatically remaps faulty sectors). The BIOS can detect and warn you if it is running out of remap space. My PC at work is currently in this state, but the IT department have no idea what to do (replace the drive).

With all the real-life photos appearing, I'm going to have to take off the flying helmet (and remove the false lantern-jaw).

Alan Compton
www.greenknightgames.co.uk
Great board games and cards games you won't find in the High Street
http://www.greenknightgames.co.uk/ac...iftTRAP_2.html
GiftTRAP - the ideal Christmas game

[jont]

I would also replace the hard drive and possibly the power supply as these are relatively cheap but prone to failure. As it is an essential part of your business you need confidence as you say ... just ensure your 5 years of Tetris high scores are saved somewhere safe first

[pinbrook]

Jo, what do you suspect is the actual problem? Hard drive physical integrity or virus?

To be honest I suspect Bill's initial suggestion of a windows update not completing properly, as there was one sitting ready to be installed, and a couple of reboots only showed the sheild in the task bar.

I don't think it is a virus.

Check disk runs clean, although the first chkdsk found just one error on the D drive.

I'm going to completely re-install, I have restored a PC which is now an exact copy of the laptop, i keep a Pc in hand for this purpose (all data gets backed up to backup drives so it takes an hour or so to get the PC ready.)

I'm using the laptop at the mo, and probably will do for a few days to get a better feel for the problem being hardware, before reformatting and re-installing.

Its getting close to decamp to the sun for the winter time of year so I need to get this sorted pretty soon.