Does this sound like a hard drive problem?

srobison62 · 07-19-2007, 11:32 AM

OK heres the back story: I plan on getting a comp for christmas, so for the time being I decided to setup an old compaq s4020wm with so upgrades so I could play lord of the rings oline with some of my buddies. The computer was my sisters but the video went out on it, so I bought a video card and never did anything else with it until now. I got a copy of xp pro an attempted to install it onto the computer however before it started installing windows it was installing the devices and a window popped up saying windows could not install the mouse driver device(device installer error). So I pulled the mouse out and restarted this time it popped up windows could not install drivers for the display. at this point I thought it froze and I made myself some coffee then another window popped up that said Windows could not load the installer for (XXXXXserial numberXXXX) contact your hardware vendor for assistance. Any help wuld be greatly appreciated.

**BCCOMP** · 07-19-2007, 12:53 PM

If this is a copy and not an original CD, it may be corrupted or scratched. I would also suggest running memtest as a bad ram module can cause various installation errors.
Thanks,
Bill

srobison62 · 07-19-2007, 01:08 PM

how can i run mem test

**BCCOMP** · 07-19-2007, 01:18 PM

I would download to a bootable floppy disk. Boot the PC with the floppy installed and run the test. There is also a bootable CD version. Here is a link that may help you:
http://www.memtest.org/
Ther are also other links for info and downloads.
Hope this helps,
Thanks,
Bill

srobison62 · 07-19-2007, 01:59 PM

problem is when i log on it puts me in install screen. and right now im on my lapop so i cant make aboot disk.

srobison62 · 07-19-2007, 02:20 PM

I think I may have figured it out, I was messing with BIOS and I noticed my hard drive was set as primary slave, so I set it to primary master and it bypassed the point whereit was stopping, its installing now so wish me luck!

**BCCOMP** · 07-19-2007, 04:07 PM

OK, Good luck.
Let us know how you make out.

srobison62 · 07-20-2007, 11:14 AM

well good news is windows installed fine, I am hooked up to the internet, but a problem I did not forsee is games these days require dvd rom drives, which htis computer does not have. So I downloaded the digital version of the game. After doing that and getting all the updates when I try to start it Im getting aan error message that says I cant connect.

I think the problem is that my hard drive is to small. I ordered a cheap 20 gig hard drive and it is on its way, do you think I should use it as my primary or set it up as a slave for storage?

**BCCOMP** · 07-20-2007, 12:25 PM

I would check the amount of harddrive space you have left first, before replace or slaving it. Normally a harddrive will not interfer with network. It is possible that after you did all the updates you may have to reset your net connections. I am not sure if you are hardwired or wireless. I would also be concerned about the amount of memory (RAM) you have to run newer games. If you can POST your PC specs and let me know how you are connected (net) I may be able to assist you further.
Thanks,
Bill

srobison62 · 07-22-2007, 02:40 PM

Yea I am pretty sure its the Hard drive, because it is only a 10 gig which is the reccomended spec for the game, but haveing to download the installer takes space and does windows updates, and xp pro itself. like I said before I ordered that 20 gig and Im hoping that will work. as far as system specs it is an athlon xp 2400 cpu 2.0 ghz, and I put a stick of 512 in along with the 256 thats already in there. The original hardrive that came with it I believe is corrupted that is why I put the 10 gig in because thats all I had. when I plug up the other hard drive it goes into a windows xp setup screen, and since I have xp pro I cant continue the installation. also when i hook them both up, It does register so I have been unable to format the drive. any help in this area would be greatly appreciated, as I would much rather have the 40 gig that comes with the computer.

**BCCOMP** · 07-22-2007, 06:27 PM

If you know the manufacture of the harddrive go to the web site and download their version of hardrive utility. It will check out your harddrive and see if it is usable.
Thanks,
Bill

07-19-2007, 11:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
srobison62 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8 OS: win xp	Does this sound like a hard drive problem? OK heres the back story: I plan on getting a comp for christmas, so for the time being I decided to setup an old compaq s4020wm with so upgrades so I could play lord of the rings oline with some of my buddies. The computer was my sisters but the video went out on it, so I bought a video card and never did anything else with it until now. I got a copy of xp pro an attempted to install it onto the computer however before it started installing windows it was installing the devices and a window popped up saying windows could not install the mouse driver device(device installer error). So I pulled the mouse out and restarted this time it popped up windows could not install drivers for the display. at this point I thought it froze and I made myself some coffee then another window popped up that said Windows could not load the installer for (XXXXXserial numberXXXX) contact your hardware vendor for assistance. Any help wuld be greatly appreciated.

07-19-2007, 12:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 6,898 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Does this sound like a hard drive problem? If this is a copy and not an original CD, it may be corrupted or scratched. I would also suggest running memtest as a bad ram module can cause various installation errors. Thanks, Bill

07-19-2007, 01:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
srobison62 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8 OS: win xp	Re: Does this sound like a hard drive problem? how can i run mem test

07-19-2007, 01:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 6,898 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Does this sound like a hard drive problem? I would download to a bootable floppy disk. Boot the PC with the floppy installed and run the test. There is also a bootable CD version. Here is a link that may help you: http://www.memtest.org/ Ther are also other links for info and downloads. Hope this helps, Thanks, Bill

07-19-2007, 01:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
srobison62 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8 OS: win xp	Re: Does this sound like a hard drive problem? problem is when i log on it puts me in install screen. and right now im on my lapop so i cant make aboot disk.

07-19-2007, 02:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
srobison62 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8 OS: win xp	Re: Does this sound like a hard drive problem? I think I may have figured it out, I was messing with BIOS and I noticed my hard drive was set as primary slave, so I set it to primary master and it bypassed the point whereit was stopping, its installing now so wish me luck!

07-19-2007, 04:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 6,898 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Does this sound like a hard drive problem? OK, Good luck. Let us know how you make out.

07-20-2007, 11:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
srobison62 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8 OS: win xp	Re: Does this sound like a hard drive problem? well good news is windows installed fine, I am hooked up to the internet, but a problem I did not forsee is games these days require dvd rom drives, which htis computer does not have. So I downloaded the digital version of the game. After doing that and getting all the updates when I try to start it Im getting aan error message that says I cant connect. I think the problem is that my hard drive is to small. I ordered a cheap 20 gig hard drive and it is on its way, do you think I should use it as my primary or set it up as a slave for storage?

07-20-2007, 12:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 6,898 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Does this sound like a hard drive problem? I would check the amount of harddrive space you have left first, before replace or slaving it. Normally a harddrive will not interfer with network. It is possible that after you did all the updates you may have to reset your net connections. I am not sure if you are hardwired or wireless. I would also be concerned about the amount of memory (RAM) you have to run newer games. If you can POST your PC specs and let me know how you are connected (net) I may be able to assist you further. Thanks, Bill

07-22-2007, 02:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
srobison62 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8 OS: win xp	Re: Does this sound like a hard drive problem? Yea I am pretty sure its the Hard drive, because it is only a 10 gig which is the reccomended spec for the game, but haveing to download the installer takes space and does windows updates, and xp pro itself. like I said before I ordered that 20 gig and Im hoping that will work. as far as system specs it is an athlon xp 2400 cpu 2.0 ghz, and I put a stick of 512 in along with the 256 thats already in there. The original hardrive that came with it I believe is corrupted that is why I put the 10 gig in because thats all I had. when I plug up the other hard drive it goes into a windows xp setup screen, and since I have xp pro I cant continue the installation. also when i hook them both up, It does register so I have been unable to format the drive. any help in this area would be greatly appreciated, as I would much rather have the 40 gig that comes with the computer.

07-22-2007, 06:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 6,898 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Does this sound like a hard drive problem? If you know the manufacture of the harddrive go to the web site and download their version of hardrive utility. It will check out your harddrive and see if it is usable. Thanks, Bill