Help With Hard Drive!

Shaunm_2

I've got a problem with my hard drive! the first thing that came up was load needed DLL's for Kernel, a chap from work took it home and apparantly he fixed it and it was working. Now when i switch it on it says do i want to start in safe mode, last known good configuration or start windows normally. is my comp knackered? what hard drive do you guys recommend?

Thanks

j_davies

Shaunm wrote:

I've got a problem with my hard drive! the first thing that came up was load needed DLL's for Kernel, a chap from work took it home and apparantly he fixed it and it was working. Now when i switch it on it says do i want to start in safe mode, last known good configuration or start windows normally. is my comp knackered? what hard drive do you guys recommend?

Thanks

Comp may well not be broke and the HDD is fine or it maybe bust because you may have deleted files will nilly or either the HDD has just failed or you shut down the PC unexpectedly now it wants to start in safe mode.

Well does the PC always want to start in safe mode or is it just the once that it wants to start and your unsure what to do, well just start the PC in safe mode and then when in safe mode just restart the PC as normal by clicking Start Turn Off Computer, is it using XP? if after that and it wants to restart in safe mode again then you may have some serious issues and I would suggest taking PC to a repair shop.

Shaunm_2

j_davies wrote:

Well does the PC always want to start in safe mode or is it just the once that it wants to start and your unsure what to do, well just start the PC in safe mode and then when in safe mode just restart the PC as normal by clicking Start Turn Off Computer, is it using XP? if after that and it wants to restart in safe mode again then you may have some serious issues and I would suggest taking PC to a repair shop.

No it's done it a few times, i've done over a dozen system recoveries. Even when i start it in safe mode it just goes back to the same old screen (safe mode, old config, start normal) Yes i think my comps using the home editiion. So in all my comp cannot do anything, it just takes me back to the same screen! Looks like a new pc might be needed:mad:

Phantom_Flan_Flinger

You could try and do a clean install of XP.

Failing that, if the HD is knackered, you can pick up 160GB drives from PCWorld for £40. Only know this because my HD failed on me last week.

Shaunm_2

Phantom_Flan_Flinger wrote:

You could try and do a clean install of XP.

Failing that, if the HD is knackered, you can pick up 160GB drives from PCWorld for £40. Only know this because my HD failed on me last week.

I think the IT guy from work did that, stored my documents and wiped the drive then re-installed XP.

think i'll need to get a new one, i think it's pretty simple to put in.

thanks for the help

Labman_2

Had similar problems a couple of years ago & a replacement HD cured it. It's not difficult to swap old HD for new HD.....your IT guy should be able to do it easily. I'd advise you to let him show how if he's willing....it's always good to learn something!

Aliktren

"i've done over a dozen system recoveries. "

Have you done a clean XP install from your original disks, thats not reinstalling XP, thats formatting the disks during installation and reinstalling it from scratch.

Do this before you buy new hardware.

albertross_2

As others have said, reinstall the OS before buying a new hard disk, it's highly unlikely that the physical HD is causing the problem

Shaunm_2

albertross wrote:

As others have said, reinstall the OS before buying a new hard disk, it's highly unlikely that the physical HD is causing the problem

Yes the chap did do all of the things people have mentioned. Thanks for the info. He suggested a new hard drive as the comp had broke again within a day of him fixing it, plus £40 out of my pocket won't matter

albertross_2

If you want to check whether it is a physical problem, then you can use this to check for smart errors, and identify the brand, then download a drive fitness test from the disk manufacturers website.

http://www.passmark.com/products/diskcheckup.htm

From what you've said, it does sound like a logical corruption, rather than physical, or a problem with other hardware stopping the PC from booting.

Shaunm_2

albertross wrote:

If you want to check whether it is a physical problem, then you can use this to check for smart errors, and identify the brand, then download a drive fitness test from the disk manufacturers website.

http://www.passmark.com/products/diskcheckup.htm

From what you've said, it does sound like a logical corruption, rather than physical, or a problem with other hardware stopping the PC from booting.

Ok thanks i'll do both. If it turns out my HD is 'up the creek' can anyone suggest a decent one to buy?

Thanks