Laptop issue

[dravenuk]

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

 

[richc46]

Welcome
While reading your post, my first feeling was that it was the Hard Drive. Since we both seem to agree lets:
Save your stuff, first
Then we can give you a real good test to see if it is the HD.

Can you save your stuff?
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/wind...backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

 

[dravenuk]

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

 

[richc46]

I would just copy my important stuff to an external. Then disconnect the external hard drive. We dont want problems after your stuff is saved. Once saved try this test
| Seagate
If your email is saved on the computer with windows live, yes you can save it.
http://www.emailquestions.com/windows-live-mail/2487-backup-windows-live-mail-2011-a.html

All downloaded or installed software will be lost and must be reinstalled if HD is gone.

 

[dravenuk]

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?

 

[richc46]

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

 

[dravenuk]

Will the Seagate thing work under Ubuntu? If not then I'll pull the drive out and run it as an external on the other machine

 

[richc46]

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.

 

[dravenuk]

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.