4thwall

I just built a new computer with my friend, I used a harddrive from my old computer (but the harddrive was new). I had windows xp proffesional & freespire (linux) on it. Since it they had problems (specifically windows) I knew I had to reiinstall both, so I used a software I had to delete their partitions. Then I created new ones for windows & linux (mind you, I've done windows & linux installation dozens of times), and installed windows, loaded it and it seemed fine. Then, I installed linux. When I wanted to go back to windows, it said there was an error, something about harddrive overload. So, for the next few ours I spent doing installations, harddrive wipes, partitions to get this all fixed. Suddenly my harddrive was split in to. (My harddrive is 250 gb, I think maxtor). Yes, 3 pieces of software (specifically freespire, and windows xp installation things), thought that one harddrive was 2 HARDDRIVES (not partitions either), one which was 230 gb, one which 3 gb (mind you, they also said the 3gb one was unusable). I think there might be something relating to a masterboot record and all of this, anyway. Another piece of software (ultimate boot disk) saw it as 250 gb harddrive though. So I tried wiping and reinstalling, I came to a point that for some reason windows xp woulwdn't install, it said something about "cycle" and that the disc might be scratched (tho it wasn't too scratched), and freespire, after I installed it, it wouldn't boot at all. The computer would load and just stay as a blinking _ on the screen. So I thought maybe there is a part of this harddrive which won't let me touch which is the problem, if the wipe the harddrive completely clean, I'll be fine, so I looked for my Dariks Boot and Nuke. I put it in, and it came to the screen where it tells you about choices and if you want to autonuke, and quickly passed it, said something about loading, and said it found a floppy drive, and ended in checking for a floppy disk ( I don't have a floppy drive in this pc). So I decided to go back to a partitioner on one of my linux disks, and blam, my hardrive was 30 gb in total!!!!! Yes, total size, it said 30 gb! WTH! I checked the ultimate boot disk drive tools and they too said 30 gb!

Anyone know what the heck is going on or any fixes? I've been at this computer for at least 11 hours, first everything seemed fine, I thought it was a regular problem, little by little it got worse and worse!

4thwall

I confirmed it, it involvs the MBR

linderman

WOW dude; you gotta slow down you did two weeks worth of stuff there!



I have seen your problem MANY times


you need to download the .ISO file from the Boot n Nuke webpage then burn it on a CD-R (if you dont have Nero or Roxio burning software you can use the Burn4free freeware to burn the ISO boot cd-rom disk with Boot N Nuke on it!
http://dban.sourceforge.net/

http://www.shareup.com/Burn4Free-download-7418.html

dont get side tracked! THIS works!

if you need help or hit a snag; just holler.

4thwall

I thought about wiping the drive completely. I burned the cd last night, the nuke and boot, it was strange. It didn't let me type the autonuke option, it just went ahead and said something like *Floppy Drive found, checking floppy* which is strange, cause I don't have a floppy drive.

Do you know why my harddrive size would decrease to 30 gb (im talking about the whole thing, not just what is filled).

linderman

file system corruption does the 30gig senario

auto nuke should only work if you have only one drive in the computer; otherwise you will need to do the manual version

I suggest (do this myself >>>> been biten before) you pull the power plugs from any drives you DONT want wiped

this process is slooooooowwwwwww about one hour to wipe per 20 gig of drive space

keep us posted on your progress

4thwall

I only have one drive. Again, it bypasses it and for some reason looks for a floppy. It doens't give me the oppertunity to type anything.

linderman

try this one; same concept


http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm

4thwall

I'll tried that, thanks.

linderman

you have already tried killdisk ???????????




what happened???

4thwall

Oops, I meant Ill try that.

4thwall

Ok I tried using that program....I went to killdisk, and its words "Killdisk" just stayed on the screen. Wth?

4thwall

Wait, its working, just one problem, it still says 31 gb is the size of the harddrive. Why is it saying that even on this erase program thing?

linderman

hmmmmm I would say its time to check your hard drive machanical health


go to your hard drive manufacturers website / support & downloads / input your drive model

get a DOS based diagnostic utility (the ISO file version of course) then run the program to evaluate the mechanical condition of your drive; you may have a sick disk ?

4thwall

Damn pain in the ***, I just got all the parts together just a few days ago.

linderman

you didnt change any jumpers on the drive did you ????? because their is a jumper on hard drive to limit them to 32gig size for the old win98 days ?????

4thwall

Jumper? Wth is that? Anyway, yeah first the hardrive was split into two harddrives (at least thats what the comp thought) then it became 1 31 gb drive.

4thwall

So my hardrive is seagate.

linderman

you need to go to the seagate website and download the seatools diagnostic utility for your drive model number

what is your model number

4thwall

Ahh! Actually there are two 31 gb hardrives right now. The model nuumber is

ST3250620A

linderman

sounds like you created Dynamic disks instead of basic disks

are you using win xp pro ?????


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314343