Factory restore - Updating ram.

Rikki

JasX wrote: »

Do you know the make of your hard disk, if you can get the model number from windows 'Device Manager' menu (under control panel > system) or take it out and look at the sticker we can direct you to the right low level tool

without knowing which testing program you're using can't comment but if you get the right test program from the company that made your drive you will at least get an appropriate error code, if not fix the drive (if its just bad sectors causing the problem)

I wrote it down during the test. The hard drive is SAMSUNG MP0603H

The test I was running was 'PACKARD BELL SNAPSYS'. - Hard Drive Test.

JasX

Rikki wrote: »

I wrote it down during the test. The hard drive is SAMSUNG MP0603H

The test I was running was 'PACKARD BELL SNAPSYS'. - Hard Drive Test.

You'll want to run this program from the samsung support site, seem to have very clear step by step instructions.... jump straight to the 'self diagnostics' and 'surface scan' bits at the bottom

http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/support/utilities/Support_HUTIL.html

I'm guessing you don't have a floppy drive so you'll need to use the CD version and burn a bootable CD from the .ISO image file (not this is not the same as just copying the file to a writable CD)

do you know how to do this?

(either you'll have an existing piece of CD burning software on the laptop/other PC you have access to with a writable CD drive or you'll need to google for a "freeware ISO recorder")

Rikki

JasX wrote: »

You'll want to run this program from the samsung support site, seem to have very clear step by step instructions.... jump straight to the 'self diagnostics' and 'surface scan' bits at the bottom

http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/support/utilities/Support_HUTIL.html

I'm guessing you don't have a floppy drive so you'll need to use the CD version and burn a bootable CD from the .ISO image file (not this is not the same as just copying the file to a writable CD)

do you know how to do this?

(either you'll have an existing piece of CD burning software on the laptop/other PC you have access to with a writable CD drive or you'll need to google for a "freeware ISO recorder")

Will check the hard drive later when I have more time.

Master CD Creator is already on the laptop.
It's basically start and follow the on screen instructions. ( Can take up to 10 CD-R's - hoping I can use 1 DVD-R?)

I will need help with creating an ISO file back up on my netbook. Click Here

JasX

kk should be quite straightforward but if all else fails

Download the .iso file from the samsung support site above

Download this freeware .iso recorder (v2 if you're on XP, v3 if you're on vista -thats the PC you're using to burn the CD not necessarily the faulty one)

http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm

you'll then need to use the .iso recorder program to open the samsung .iso file and burn it to a disk (will be quite small so 1x CD needed)

pop the CD into your drive and boot from it as above

might need to change your boot order in BIOS if your faulty computer isn;t set to boot from the CD drive (ie if you have the CD in and your computer seems to be ignoring it)

Rikki

Is there any easy way to transfer my msn characters to a file for saving?

andy2004

shouldnt they be in the MSN folder.
I would not GHOST the bad drive onto the new drive, this could cause problems, Ghosting or Imagining a drive would also back up the bad sectors hence the reason i say it would be better to install from a xp cd, just need your serial from the preinstalled os and then use someone else's cd to reinstall using that serial. the drivers should be available from the website for the laptop. Download these and burn before installing the new hd.
if your burner is a dvd-rw drive then yes you can burn a dvd, sometimes though they are only cdrw drives depending on age of laptop.
It is possible to repair the harddrive using hdd regenerator which you will find on hirens boot cd freely available about 120mb but comes with plenty of tools to backup / repair / clean your laptop/computer.
Hdd regenerator basically ignores the format of the drive and scans the hardware, fixing if possible any bad sectors it finds on the way, or if not repairable will deallocate them. I would personally use hirens to try and repair the drive first. if the samsung tool doesnt work.

The external usb case someone mentioned earlier for you to put your hd in, is a good idea, and these can be picked up for around £6 on ebay.
2.5in harddrives Pata type can be picked up at any good computer shop, depending on how big you want and the price your willing to pay will determine a trade off,
expect to pay around £40 for a 120gb, a price of the 2.5in laptop from ebuyer http://www.ebuyer.com/cat/Hard-Drives/subcat/2.5%22-Laptop-IDE-Hard-Drives or http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Components/HardDrives-Internal/2.5inchHardDrive/ making sure that they are IDE not SATA any of these should fit.
IDE is the same as PATA, or ATA66 / 100 / 133 are all 44 pin connections., SATA = Serial ATA which is a L shape connection

Rikki

I can't find a msn folder.

Once I've saved them (not vital if I can't, just sad )I can go back to factory settings. Next test the hard drive, then get a dvd-r ( I have a dvd writer in the laptop) to make the recovery disc. I don't want to replace it unless I have to.

This laptop is years old but it's worth upgrading rather then buying new.

I'm concerned after reading the information on the samsung site. Will I loose the restoration partition from the hard drive? I know I will after making the disc but is it worth risking the drive check before making the disc as I don't have any.

Hutil can test a drive solely manufactured by Samsung. It is strongly recommended to back up the user's significant data in advance because Hutil has a Write operation that can erase it. Samsung has no responsibility of lost data. The version on pictures may be different from that you download.

Rikki

My laptop is HERE

andy2004

Hutil shouldn't affect the data if you only use it to CHECK/read and not fix the drive, which is a read only command, and this will tell you if the drive has bad sectors, as i previous stated I use HDD Regenerator which works on ALL harddrives, to fix bad sectors. to quote the makers:

HDD Regenerator is a unique program for regeneration of physically damaged hard disk drives. It does not hide bad sectors, it really restores them!
and its on hirens boot cd which is free.

Going back to Hutil. and looking at this webpage http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/support/utilities/Support_HUTIL.html look near the bottom, from the 8th picture up.
5. Select submenu ( SELF DIAGNOSTIC)
looking at the pics the only 2 I would worry about is the simple read/write and write verify.
It would be better to wait and burn the backup cd before you use this program, incase after using that WRITE it does the entire drive. it could be just a simple lets write 20mb est. of random data and read it back and see if its the same as what was written.
and that should be in a area of the drive that according to the MBR >Master boot record that is empty.

This is why I always say, when you get a new computer and it says CREATE & BURN BACKUP/RECOVERY DISC's when you turn it on you do it. if you dont have disc's go out and buy some before its used and screwed up.

Rikki

I have now restored the computer to factory settings.

How do I update the windows messenger?