Topic: New Hard Drive

[Michelle]

Just when you thought you were safe.........she's back...........

Wasn't sure where to put this one.......

My Boyfriends computer is dying........... the hard drive is making clunking noises and gives blue screens and black screens on start up - I forget what it says now but if you keep trying eventually it starts up for a while until it makes the noise and blue screens. I've looked it up and it seems its either the connections or the Hard Drive is dying. We've opened it up and it all looks lovely so time to get a new hard drive. Its not new its like 7 years old and I think a 40gb so it won't hurt to get a new one.

What would u suggest?  I've seen a 250GB for about £30 - What would be a good make that isn't too cheap but not too expensive 

[Sandra]

Be careful Michele, older pcs with only a 40 gig drive may have a bios limitation as to which size of drive it will support.

Some would only support 60 or 80 gig max but bigger drives usually have a jumper setting that can limit the drive to 32 gig so it can be seen by an older bios which doesnt support the bigger capacities.

Can you give us some information about the pc, ie motherboard make and model and if possible the bios information that comes up on the screen when the pc starts.
Even if it wont boot up it will still show that screen as thats independant of the hard drive.
If it flashes past too quick to read then hit the Pause/Break key before the screen display moves on to the second screen.

[Michelle]

oh poo really! .......... ok I'll get the specs - its okay it will turn on eventually.

[Michelle]

okay three times now and it won't boot up - darn thing.

so far all I can get is this........ does it help? 

Intel (R) Boot Agent Version 4.0.14
Copyright (c) 1997-2000 Intel Corporation
Intel Base Code PXE-2.0 (build 082)
Copyright (c) 1997-2000 Intel Corporation
PXE-E61: Media Test Failure Check Cable
PXE-MOF Exiting Inel PXE Rom
Drive Not ready - System Halted.

(i guess this should be moved from Pals Mal now should it? )

I ready somewhere about Jumpers should be checked but I only have cardigans?! 

[GillE]

I'm pleased you've asked this question, Michelle - I've just experienced the same problem on my backup system.  However, there are two HDs on that computer.  Is it possible to find out which one is about to turn up its toes?

Gill

[Michelle]

I saw someone else a while ago was saying their computer was making a noise on another thread, was that you ?


I thought I should mention it all started when............

Noise - then blue screen - 0x0000077 0xc000185

mircosoft said this....... http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315266

then there have been other blue screen messages since that one.

Anyway I'm going on...... I'll try and start it again.

[Simon]

Moved, as requested. 

[Michelle]

Thank you Simon,

New info.......... Couldn't get the darn thing to boot up.  So we tried a new Cable still nothing.

So we we just stuck in the old HD with 98 on it and after a while of it saying it didn't have drivers etc, it started i think in safe mode, but that does suggest it is the Hard Drive doesn't it. So now back to which one..... Still need the info don't i 

[Sandra]

@Michelle.
Sorry that isnt what I need 

Its the very first screen that comes up when you switch the pc on at first just before it goes beep, white writing on a black screen.

@Gill.
Can you enable S.M.A.R.T. in the bios as that will often tell you if a drive is about to become troublesome and it will warn you to back up data as the pc boots up when enabled.

[GillE]

It wasn't me who asked, Michelle.  This is something which only happened today.

Sandra - I've had problems with this computer and hard drives for years - that's why it's my backup machine.  When I switch it on, it fails to detect its second HDD and I have to go into the BIOS on boot up to detect it.  When I switched it on just now I accessed the SMART and enabled it.  Everything seems to be performing fine right now; I just hope it lasts!

Incidentally, the machine is a 1800MHz CPU with a 100MHz bus speed.  The MB is a Micro-Star MS-6534 in a Medion PC with an Award 6.00PG BIOS and 512MB (8nS) memory.  It's an oldie, but until I heard that dreadful clicking it had served me very well .

Thanks

Gill

[Sandra]

It could carry on like that for years yet Gill.
Cant think why it shouldnt detect the second drive each time.
Does it list it on the startup screen or just show as no primary slave ?

[Michelle]

okay here we are..........

Board:Intel Corp D850GB AAA48527-906
Serial Number IMGB14023665
Bus Clock : 1110 megahertz
Bios Intel Corp GB85010A.86A.0063.P14.0107182015
7/18/2001


HD is working again now, its upside down lol and no noise shhhhhhhhhhh

Is that all you need Sandra?

[Sandra]

That should do it Michelle.
I will see what I can find out for you later 

[Sandra]

Looks like youre going to be ok with any size Michelle.

The info I found from Intel says it supports large drives over 137gig, so as long as you have XP with SP1 on it should see any drive.

[Michelle]

thanks so much for checking that out sandra  


its still going right now ........ how wierd is that!


just waiting for the crunch to come lol