Hard Drive Problem - any techie help please?

BarGin

A friend's Compaq Armada M700 laptop (quite old) wouldn't boot into Windows (XP Home) - it would get so far and then give up and start again. Couldn't even get into safe mode.

I tried reformatting the hard disk but it gets to 35% and then keeps trying but can't get any further.

Is there anything else I can try or is it time for a new hard disk (or more likely new machine)?

BarGin

sco0ter

Does it give any error codes?????.. Mate had this problem and it turned out to be his RAM Error code 4 I believe

alanobrien

Could be a number of issues, if you have access to any low level diagnostic programs that would help to identify the problem.

Spinrite is one of the best diagnostic and fix programs for dodgy drives.
Info here;

http://www.grc.com/spinrite.htm

albertross_2

Try going to the hard disk manufacturers website, and download a drive fitness test diagnostic.

Spinrite costs more than a new hard disk, so probably not worthwhile in this situation.

albertross_2

Try going to the hard disk manufacturers website, and download a drive fitness test diagnostic.

Spinrite costs more than a new hard disk, so probably not worthwhile in this situation.

BarGin

I've managed to find hard drive fitness diagnostic and it tells me the drive is dead. Thanks for all your suggestions.

BarGin

BarGin

I don't suppose anyone knows how to get into the bios on this machine and if it's possible to disable the hard disk as it's started making a racket?

BarGin

DrSmutt

Press F10 on boot up

espresso

Try pressing F10 during boot-up.