is my hard drive dying?!

RussJK

merlin1 wrote: »

ok will try that thanks! is there anyway to update definitions prior to loading the cd? no ethernet cable, we are wireless here

They should be pretty much up to date already. Modems usually come with an ethernet cable, for the initial set up, worth having a look around for it though so you can browse the net while it's running. Preferable to burn it from a clean computer. Pointless to continue restoring from the recovery partition if you have a rootkit.

No idea about the aswMBR message - unless it says "rootkit found" then it's above me.

hudgebadger

Hi

Have a try of this:

http://www.tufftest.com/ttp/

It costs $9.95 and is well worth the price.
You download it and it creates a bootable CD that will run various tests on the PC.
The full list of tests is on the website.

Hope this helps

merlin1

RussJK wrote: »

...Pointless to continue restoring from the recovery partition if you have a rootkit.

hmm just read your post in loobie's thread on root kits. it would make perfect sense if i did once have one and it's messed with the recovery wouldnt it?

right i've burned the iso from dr.web so i'm going to sign out and scan, see if it throws anything up.

Hammyman

Use the Seagate tools to reset the drive to factory standard. It'll write the drive full of zeros which will correct any software and bit errors.

merlin1

Hammyman wrote: »

Use the Seagate tools to reset the drive to factory standard. It'll write the drive full of zeros which will correct any software and bit errors.

thanks hammyman, i have scanned the system with seatools for windows, it also has confirmed that my hard drive has no errors... from the bit of googling i've done since it seems to be the 5 hash mismatch things. software seems to be the issue and the more i think about it the more i think that i may have had a rootkit at some point and it has damaged my recovery partition i have read of people factory recovering their systems and having the corruptions return after a short while.

if i do as you have suggested this will wipe the OS yes?

closed

it will also wipe the restore partition.

Running various rootkit scanners should find one if they are there, I think it unlikely the factory restore partition is infected, but always possible

If it was, you'd notice symptoms straight away after a restore

Linbox

Hammyman wrote: »

TBH, hard drives are so cheap its not worth messing about.

I agree, you keep trying to fix it but it keeps failing with errors. It takes 10mins to change a hardisk. You've prob got a bad sector or six on the hdd. replace reinstall and backup.

merlin1

Just a quick post to say many thanks for your help!

i have today managed to sort it all out by downloading a vista startup recovery disk to do a windows repair. ( found via a vista forum if anyones interested i can post the link as it would be handy tool for anyone to have in their kit).

all programs are now running as they should and i was able to download and install fresh drivers for my Fn keys...

the vista startup disk did a scan and found errors it was able to repair.:) will see if any of this trouble comes back again, although my dear ole dad has offered to buy me win 7 for my birthday, then i can do a "flatten and rebuild" .

many thanks again for all your input, it is much appreciated :T

RussJK

merlin1 wrote: »

hmm just read your post in loobie's thread on root kits. it would make perfect sense if i did once have one and it's messed with the recovery wouldnt it?

right i've burned the iso from dr.web so i'm going to sign out and scan, see if it throws anything up.

In this case I meant more if it was still present on the MBR when you reinstalled Windows, then you'd have the same problems from before as the rootkit would reassert itself. Fixmbr or the equivalent does much the same thing.

Edit: glad you got sorted!

merlin1

RussJK wrote: »

In this case I meant more if it was still present on the MBR when you reinstalled Windows, then you'd have the same problems from before as the rootkit would reassert itself.

yep i'm with you! it's such a massive subject to get your head around is all this malware and virus malarky. i remember having norton pre installed on a laptop a few years ago, 3 mth trial. i declined to start paying and downloaded a free anti virus - big noise and 2 nasty trojans found on install. norton may have missed them, but i'm a sceptic and believe they were waiting in the wings to punish me for not paying!:rotfl: