More Computer Problems!!

[guardy06]

Hey guys,

PC has had another hiccup. Got home tonight and it was running very very slow. Managed to do virus, malware etc scans(although it took ages) and they came up clean. So i restarted and it came up with the apologies windows unable to start message. Tried booting in safe mode, but did a loop and came back to the same message!!

When i tried repairing windows, it didn't come up with the currently installed version, just said the drive needed formatting because it is damaged or corrupted. So i exited instead and now here i am(laptop's a life saver!).

Now the same thing happened a few weeks ago and that time i did a clean install of windows XP and everything was running smoothly for a while, until a blip yesterday morning which i managed to sort (corrupted system file).

Can anyone shed any light on what might be causing this? Its getting me down! :(

[mithrandir]

Have you tred running some checks on Hard drive integrity?

[guardy06]

I'm going to have a go at that in the morning, not done it before. You thinking the hard drive is failing?

[scrivz69]

Sounds like a HD fault to me too buddy,what make is it.

[mithrandir]

I'm going to have a go at that in the morning, not done it before. You thinking the hard drive is failing?

I reckon it might be. You can usually download a diagnostic tool from the HDD manufacturer's site.

[guardy06]

Not sure, bought my pc 3 years ago from pcspecialist, i'll have a look in the morning, sat in bed now!! This is why i was thinking of having raid1 in my new setup.

[Jonny2Bad]

Yeah sounds like th hdd is on its way to hdd heaven

[Dano]

Agree with all, sounds much like the HD is flapping it's heavenly wings.

[guardy06]

Thanks guys, just had a look and its a western digital one. Will have a look on their website for a hd integrity utility.

[Baggpuss]

Agreed on the HD front, my dads drive did it last month, or something similar anyway.

[guardy06]

i've just put the serial number into the WD website and it says its still under warranty!! Gonna do the diagostics in a minute to see what i need to write in the reasons for return.

[guardy06]

I've run the diagnostic utility and its come up with an error which said it was a defective hard drive. So i've done the RMA. Should i format the drive before i send it back? Thanks for the help guys. :)

[PhoenixRising]

If there's stuff on there of a 'questionable' nature or personal information, then I would format it. Otherwise, don't bother.

[guardy06]

lol, none of its 'questionable', just personal information etc.

[guardy06]

Right, so i've wrapped the hard drive and attached the label to the box and written the rma number all over it!! Do i need to put any documentation in the box with the harddrive?

Sorry, this is my first rma!

[guardy06]

Just checked my RMA status on WD's website and my replacement has been shipped today. Its a 400GB one instead of the 320gb i sent back.
I think this is quite good, but it is my first experience of rma's so have nothing to compare it to!

[guardy06]

My replacement hard drive came yesterday. Windows is now installed and i'm up and running again!! :)

[Callidus]

gratz on a nice result fella :)

[guardy06]

Cheers mate, its nice to get off the laptop!! Typical really, I'm building a new system soon anyway!