To test a HDD

raringer · 06-21-2011, 05:30 AM

Hi..My PC with Win XP Pro and FS Fat32 will only boot up to the Asus m/board logo...and remains there.I don't know if the 60GB HDD is functional. I removed the 60GB IDE HDD and put it into an external case. I also have an old PC with Win 98SE and Fat32. Can I connect this external HDD via USB to the old PC and (1) will it be recognised and (2) could I read any info. off it and (3) is there any risk in doing this, especially if it is dead or dying?
I can access another PC running Win XP Pro and FS NTFS. Would your answers be different if this PC was used instead?
Thanks for any assistance whatsoever...Ray

**Networks** · 06-21-2011, 06:46 AM

Windows98SE was not so great at USB devices however if it does pickup the drive then you should be able to read it. The XP Pro NTFS would be my choice. No danger in checking the drive out in an external case.

raringer · 06-23-2011, 03:26 AM

Hi Networks...many thanks for your reply. I will try and use the NTFS system. as soon as I can. Appreciate your response....Ray

raringer · 06-24-2011, 08:21 PM

Hi Networks..Sorry that this message could not go yesterday..something to do with maintenance on the TechSupport site.I have tried both IDE 40 and IDE 60 GB HDD's in an enclosure and opened each in another PC that has XP Pro and NTFS system. I can read both drives ..so drives are mechanically good. I also tried to Defrag. each but got this message when I clicked on Analyse using the 40 GB HDD " Defrag could not continue prescan because there is a corruption inthe file H:\WINDOWS\System 32\CONFIG\System profile\Application data\SKYPE " ... "H '" is is the external drive. For the 60 GB IDE Fat 32 drive the message was similar "Defrag could not continue prescan because there is a corruption inthe file H:\Winfast work area " Winfast possibly refers to the VGA card.
These 2 drives have come from a PC that wiould only boot up to the Asus logo and stayed there which is why I removed both drives for checking. The 40 GB HDD has the OS on it and runs XP Pro. Can you suggest what could be a useful procedure to adopt to make the PC boot up from the HDD? I had thought that I should format the drive and try to reinstall XP Pro on it with NTFS system rather than Fat 32 and then return it to the PC that would not boot up. If this is a viable option and the PC still will not boot up then I would have to look at something else by which time you might think the PC is not worth spending any more time and money. It has 2.53 GHz CPU and Asus P4B533-E mobo..I am sure you will have a better idea. Can I still convert the 60 GB HDD from Fat 32 into NTFS without losing information? I would appreciate any advice you could offer...thanks...Ray