Computer (hard drive) ?

monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
Couple of things
The chkdsk /f is excellent advice and you should definatly try that in the safe mode command prompt. If it finds a problem on the HD, the /F will attempt to fix it. If it cant fix it, it will mark the sectors as bad and not allow data to be written there. Once you have bad sectors on a HD, it wont be long before others start to go bad. Did you purchase a new drive? I think I remember reading that you did.
The really good news is that you dont need a thing. Since the machine worked in safemode command prompt, it is just a matter of singling out the driver that is causing the issue. After running chkdsk /f (which will probably require a reboot to actually run) the next thing to do is to boot into safemode using the step by step prompt for driver by driver start up. This can be done by changing the boot.ini file and I will be more than happy to assist you in making this simple change.
If unbuntu is not your style, try to find a "trial" or live cd version of Lindows. It is one of the few flavors of linux that you have to pay for. I am not a real fan of it, but it is supposed to be as close to windows as you can get while actually running linux. There are many flavors of linux out there so dont give up on them just yet. BTW, while in Unbuntu at a command prompt (shell interface) did you run a "apt get" ? This updates the OS with all available updates. Your problems could be attributed to not having up to date install disks.
Depending on the legalities of what you want to do, I would not purchase a copy of windows7 just yet. That laptop is licensed for Vista and all you really need are the install disks. To verify this, look on the laptop for the license sticker. If you see OEM anywhere on the sticker then this is correct. I know you can DL the ISOs and then make your own disks. Do you have a functioning DVD burner? I think Vista was delivered on DVD.
As I am unemployed, I have nothing better to do all day than stare at my tank, the boards, and my kids. Post up the results of the chkdsk and what you would like to do from there.
edit: I am assuming you have tried to boot this laptop up several times with the failed sucess you have described correct? If so, the "last known good configuration" will do you absolutely no good. That config file is actually filled with the same garbage that is in the current config file. If you, or anyone else wants to know exactly how that option works I will be glad to explain it. If not, just leave that option out of the equation. It wont work.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Thanks, I'll try this again tonight and see how she goes. I did manage to get video going. I did the search and install updates option as I was installing the ubuntu but apparently it needed some more.
 
slice

slice

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by DragonZim http:///forum/thread/384789/computer-hard-drive#post_3372315
What you are describing does not sounds like a bad hard drive, rather a corruption in your Windows install
+1
go over to Hiren's Boot CD and burn yourself a copy on CD or on a thumbdrive. Hiren's Boot CD is God's gift.
Adjust your BIOS to boot from either the CD or USB first, depending on where you put the copy.
Run all the gadgets, fix enough to boot up normally, run restore.
(I keep a copy on my keychain thumbdrive for those drive-by emergencies)
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
For all those who insist that there is a problem with the windows install, keep this in mind. The laptop diagnotstics has stated that the hard drive is bad. I stand by my statement of "files, or fragments of files are stored on a bad sector on the hard drive. This will cause the problem that you are seeing."
Unless all these magical boot disks have the ability to low-level format the drive AND retain the data, none of them are going to fix the problem. It could quite possibly cause more of an issue. I am not saying one way is right and one way is wrong. But not everyone is comfy with these "ultimate boot disks" and sometimes bad things happen. It is always best to attempt to use whats on the drive to "fix" it first before going out and using 3rd party software.
Running chkdsk /f then rebooting in SOS mode is the best option at this point.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Thanks, Slice. I was just over on the website. I'd like to burn it to a disc but not sure excactly which one I should burn. I don't supposed you could link me to what I need by any chance? When you say to adjust the BIOS...where do I do that from excactly?
I'm trying to put a gameplan together for tonight. I'll try the chkdsk /f method first and see what I come up with. For now I have the new HD with Ubuntu in my laptop and the dvd burner hopefully should still be functioning. If not I'll have to check the wifes desktop.
When I was fooling around with the laptop yesterday I noticed that it had a second compartment on the bottom of the laptop for another hard drive. Off the top of my head I don't remember seeing a second cady in it though to be able to run a second hard drive. I'll double check when I get home. If worse comes to worse and I can get the origional hardrive or drivers going again...does anybody think it possible to transfere all my data from the old HD to the new one that way?
Monsi: I'd love all the help I can get as some of this stuff is over my head.
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/384789/computer-hard-drive/20#post_3372527
Monsi: I'd love all the help I can get as some of this stuff is over my head.
Hence what I was saying. I can tell what you are comfy with and what isnt comfy for you. Leave the BIOS alone for now. That website is basically a list of everything on the disk. The DL page is elsewhere. There are way too many tools on that disk that if you dont know what you are doing, you could seriously eff up your machine. Not only that, but there are tools on that disk "for educational purposes only" that could be deemed illegal to have. Again, if you dont know what your doing, stay away from that disk.
If it appears to have 2 HD bays in it, then put the unbuntu drive in it and boot from that. It should change all the drivers automatically for you and loadup just fine. If so then turn off the laptop and put the original HD into the second bay. Turn on the laptop and the unbuntu should boot up. Open the file manager and you should see the other HD. You can now copy the files where ever to whatever you need.
I will say that I havent kept up with laptop tech in a while, but I dont recall seeing a laptop from HP with 2 HD bays. Whats the model # of your HP laptop?
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
It's the Pavillion DV9700
I opened up the second bay on accident first when I was looking for the HD. The cover was labeled as #2 and then I realized the HD was actually in #1.
 
stdreb27

stdreb27

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/384789/computer-hard-drive/20#post_3372527
Thanks, Slice. I was just over on the website. I'd like to burn it to a disc but not sure excactly which one I should burn. I don't supposed you could link me to what I need by any chance? When you say to adjust the BIOS...where do I do that from excactly?
I'm trying to put a gameplan together for tonight. I'll try the chkdsk /f method first and see what I come up with. For now I have the new HD with Ubuntu in my laptop and the dvd burner hopefully should still be functioning. If not I'll have to check the wifes desktop.
When I was fooling around with the laptop yesterday I noticed that it had a second compartment on the bottom of the laptop for another hard drive. Off the top of my head I don't remember seeing a second cady in it though to be able to run a second hard drive. I'll double check when I get home. If worse comes to worse and I can get the origional hardrive or drivers going again...does anybody think it possible to transfere all my data from the old HD to the new one that way?
Monsi: I'd love all the help I can get as some of this stuff is over my head.
Even with a bad HD, running a scan disk would probably get this boot-able. If you need to recover data. The best bet is still to, pull the HD get an enclosure, and then access the data from a second computer. Assuming damaged HD this will be the surest bet to recover the data on your HD. The less spinning the better.
For CYA purposes, I do that first, before I start trying to play with the HD and fooling with troubleshooting the OS.
Basically, from what you've described, this happened, Windows can't access a file nessassary for you to boot your HD. The file is corrupt. one of two things have caused this. Either it is just a fluke, it is all just magnets anyway. Or you have damage to that sector of your hard drive.
If it is a fluke, running check disk, usually fixes this. If it is damage, then anytime your HD spins you could be causing more damage. Which is why, getting your data off the drive is the first thing to do.
There is a really good store off of McArdle, across from that new Baskins, called Altex, you can get everything you'd need to fix this from there. And it will be cheaper than Best Buy or anywhere else locally...
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/384789/computer-hard-drive/20#post_3372534
It's the Pavillion DV9700
I opened up the second bay on accident first when I was looking for the HD. The cover was labeled as #2 and then I realized the HD was actually in #1.
Can you be a little more specific with the model #? That is a generic model number and there might be letters after it. Those letters will state what specifically is installed/configured for your laptop.
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
I'd take the damn thing to someone who knows what they are doing while the drive might still be salvagable or you can at least have them recover you data.
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
Um.....hello?
I believe that I am doing the best I can from NY. You all want me to drive down to TX or something?
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Lol...oh come on reef, where is your sense of adventure? I'll have to get the mod# when I get home. Hey at least my darn phone is letting me post on this darn site again.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
LOL...MONSI I was just agreeing to take it somewhere cause I hate DIY stuff....nothing to do with you
 
stdreb27

stdreb27

Active Member
ME on the other hand, was making fun of you.
For no other reason than I was bored, and this is far to constructive of a post, for the aquarium.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
So if a snake bit my computer and later died from cilica chip poisening would that make it ok?
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by stdreb27 http:///forum/thread/384789/computer-hard-drive/20#post_3372596
ME on the other hand, was making fun of you.
For no other reason than I was bored, and this is far to constructive of a post, for the aquarium.
nice knowing ya fruit loop
Corey, let me know when you are working on this. The red wings are on from 7:30 to about 10 so I might be tied up for a while. I will check back during the intermissions though.
 
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