Hard drive `gone'

skintmostofthetime

Now - nice `n simple explanation please - It's probable that my hard drive is on it's way to the great hard drive heaven so -- what do I do - yes - buy a new one BUT is it that simple? I've got a newish flat screen - keyboard prob a bit naff and yes I can get a cordless mouse BUT HOW do I know how/what I'm looking at re the hard drive purchase?

Can I get away with just getting an external one - will it bypass the old one and let me get away with XP for a couple more years when I then go the whole hog and by a decent laptop - or whatever is the best thing at that time. !!
Now remember what I said - nice n simple please.

fwor

In what way is it "gone"? What error messages or symptoms do you get?

It's important to understand that, as there's no point in replacing the hard drive if something else has failed or is about to.

skintmostofthetime wrote: »

Can I get away with just getting an external one - will it bypass the old one and let me get away with XP for a couple more years when I then go the whole hog and by a decent laptop - or whatever is the best thing at that time. !!

An external hard drive will only help if your PC can be persuaded to boot from a USB-connected drive. Many recent ones can, many older ones can't.

Your best bet would be to find out what type of hard drive is currently fitted (there are only 2 main types in use) and then get another one like it. In most desktop PCs there should be enough space and cabling to fit a second drive with no problems. You will of course need to re-install Windows on the new drive.

skintmostofthetime

Thanks for the kwik reply - I had to reload XP a few weeks ago because I was getting so many error messages you wouldn't believe. So I have a `clean' system so I thought but I'm stll getting a lot of `low virtual memeory' messages - and I've been really really good and not downloaded anything. I've been deleting history etc, I've defragged - I've got something like 80% free room but it's still TOO SLOW, I've deleted talktalk latest update because it just made it too slow to work with then @ one point xp was behaving really oddly - If I tried to enter `my computor' it would `flash' up quite quickly then the torch would appear. If I was quick enough - fine. If not - I could be sitting there for a while.
I did research and was told it looks likely that the HD was on it's way out. My PC is 4/5 years old - not that old I'll admit but then things move on so quickly.
If you have anything other advice - great. If not I'm pretty resigned to having to spend some dosh.

Jay08

Right Click my computer and properties how much RAM is the system showing? Can you please provide us this information.

skintmostofthetime

Ram -224mb

jackvisual

I would say your problem is not with the hard drive but your RAM.

I would buy more RAM, at least 1gb.

That is the most likely cause of your problem, not enough RAM

skintmostofthetime

Space 73.03 GB free space 64.19GB

fwor

skintmostofthetime wrote: »

Ram -224mb

It would help to add more memory - go up to 512Mb if you don't have lots of windows/tabs open at once, or 1Gb if you're into lots of multi-tasking.

One other thing to be aware of: if your PC had malware on it before you re-installed XP, don't assume that it's now clear. ~Some~ malware can live through a re-install by "infecting" the Master Boot Record and associated areas of the disk which don't get overwritten.

Then again, it may just be that your hard disk is on it's way out...

skintmostofthetime

Well that's a lot cheaper so ............ next question - I know where to get it but get too confused about how much and how to combine it/them.

I think if I remember right that if you get too much it still won't work. Do I just double the total amount? I don't store photos/emails/files and so am still wondering why it still soooo slow.

skintmostofthetime

Sorry you beat to it so my last post crossed with yours. Thanks for advice - I'll think that's the way I'll go for now. It's a cheaper option at this time.

Jay08

You have 256mb and some is going used for the Video card this is no way enough for apps today + XP you need 1GB at least, I would get 2GB.