Laptop issue

D

dravenuk

Member
Hi guys

I have been given this laptop that is not behaving itself. It refuses to boot to Windows (normal or safe) and it hangs during a chkdsk /r on the 4/5 stage. At a guess it sounds like the HD is in trouble so I'm leaning towards grabbing data off it and resetting it to factory settings to see if that works. Is it worth trying t clone the drive to an external drive and then copying it back over after the reset? Or I'm open to any other ideas :)

Thanks
D
 

My Computer

System One

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Thanks for the response. Backing up the USER folder is an obvious one. Is it possible to back up email (and settings - I realise that might be a bit much) and installed software (Office and Photoshop are the only ones that spring to mind).

Do I just copy these onto the external drive or actually clone it?

After that, what's the plan to test the HD :)
 

My Computer

System One

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
The Seagate test needs to be installed to the HD. Can't do that. Do I need to pull out the drive, stick it in a caddy and hook it up via usb to my other laptop to run it?
 

My Computer

System One

If you cant perform the test and Ubuntu gives you trouble, not much need to go further, its the drive. Save your stuff the best that you can, there is not much else that can really be done.
One last thing is to try the chkdsk, the full test. Check the second box that is shown, this will fix bad segments and if the HD is just damaged in one place you will be OK. If and when fixed, if damage spreads you need a new drive ASAP
Step 8, look at the second checked box
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
If you have good space on the HD to install Ubuntu, it may install. I would do the chkdsk thing that I posted since maybe you only have several bad fragments, due to a bad shutdown etc. If that is the case, once fixed you may be good again.
If you are not good again and Ubuntu works you can use it in your current machine and it will continue to work, unless the HD is failing and the damage spreads

The Seagate tests the entire drive, but may install with Ubuntu. It will test the drive and you will know if the drive is going bad. I truly feel that it is, however.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
So I may have sorted this. I took the drive out, mounted on another machine, ran chkdsk /r from there which found and fixed a few issues. Then I put it back in the Vista machine, ran it again and this time it all came back to life - without the need to perform any factory resets. Score! Thanks for your help, much appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

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