Hard drive failure????

alieg · 12-17-2008, 02:29 AM

About 2 weeks ago I sent my desktop in for repair because it had started blue screening, they said it couldn't be fixed so we got a new laptop. The invoice seemed to suggest they had replaced the HDD, so I started to take apart the PC.

I decided to have one more go at fixing it and it worked! I was trying to copy over the remaining documents when it restarted unexpectedly (but normally)

Now when I try to load it, it just hangs on the Windows logo screen. I can get into safe mode and have tried to uninstall the display driver, which hasn't helped. That's when I gave up.

It doesn't sound like mechanical failure and it's not blue screening anymore, so what now? It's only 18 months old, what am I supposed to do?

Help!

Lenovo 3000 J series
WD 2500 J series HDD
Win XP SP3

Oh, one more thing, we bought the PC from the repair shop, but they installed the OS, we never got the XP CD so I can't repair it from that.

**linderman** · 12-17-2008, 02:03 PM

borrow a matching windows disk from a friend if possible ....... by matching I mean windows home edition on your computer means you need to borrow a win xp home edition CD ............. cant mix home and pro

then peform the repair install ..........

alieg · 12-18-2008, 09:46 AM

thanks. I only have an old emachines CD, I'll try that, although up until last night I couldn't open the CD drive, when I did get inside it I found a copy of vista ultimate. obviously the technitian didn't have a clue what was happening with the machine and was trying to restore the wrong OS. if only my laptop had the video card to run ultimate...

alieg · 12-23-2008, 06:35 AM

OK, I reinstalled and I can initially use the computer, but when I restart it says it can't find an OS.

Tumbleweed36 · 12-23-2008, 07:03 AM

Check in the bios setup menu to make sure your hard drive Priority has the boot drive listed first.

**linderman** · 12-23-2008, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tumbleweed36

Check in the bios setup menu to make sure your hard drive Priority has the boot drive listed first.

alieg · 12-24-2008, 01:17 PM

Erm... I set everything back to default but it still can't find the c drive

Tumbleweed36 · 12-24-2008, 01:32 PM

Did you check in the bios to see if it was recognized, or are you looking for it in My Computer?

Tumbleweed36 · 12-24-2008, 01:34 PM

Since that is a Western Digital drive, what else is on that ribbon cable and how are both drives jumpered....and lastly, where do you have it on the ribbon cable?

12-17-2008, 02:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
alieg Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 14 OS: Vista Home Premium 64bit	Hard drive failure???? About 2 weeks ago I sent my desktop in for repair because it had started blue screening, they said it couldn't be fixed so we got a new laptop. The invoice seemed to suggest they had replaced the HDD, so I started to take apart the PC. I decided to have one more go at fixing it and it worked! I was trying to copy over the remaining documents when it restarted unexpectedly (but normally) Now when I try to load it, it just hangs on the Windows logo screen. I can get into safe mode and have tried to uninstall the display driver, which hasn't helped. That's when I gave up. It doesn't sound like mechanical failure and it's not blue screening anymore, so what now? It's only 18 months old, what am I supposed to do? Help! Lenovo 3000 J series WD 2500 J series HDD Win XP SP3 Oh, one more thing, we bought the PC from the repair shop, but they installed the OS, we never got the XP CD so I can't repair it from that.

12-17-2008, 02:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 19,416 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Hard drive failure???? borrow a matching windows disk from a friend if possible ....... by matching I mean windows home edition on your computer means you need to borrow a win xp home edition CD ............. cant mix home and pro then peform the repair install .......... __________________ Even a Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day ! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

12-18-2008, 09:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
alieg Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 14 OS: Vista Home Premium 64bit	Re: Hard drive failure???? thanks. I only have an old emachines CD, I'll try that, although up until last night I couldn't open the CD drive, when I did get inside it I found a copy of vista ultimate. obviously the technitian didn't have a clue what was happening with the machine and was trying to restore the wrong OS. if only my laptop had the video card to run ultimate...

12-23-2008, 06:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
alieg Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 14 OS: Vista Home Premium 64bit	Re: Hard drive failure???? OK, I reinstalled and I can initially use the computer, but when I restart it says it can't find an OS.

12-23-2008, 07:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 18,067 OS: XP Professional	Re: Hard drive failure???? Check in the bios setup menu to make sure your hard drive Priority has the boot drive listed first. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

12-24-2008, 01:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
alieg Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 14 OS: Vista Home Premium 64bit	Re: Hard drive failure???? Erm... I set everything back to default but it still can't find the c drive

12-24-2008, 01:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 18,067 OS: XP Professional	Re: Hard drive failure???? Did you check in the bios to see if it was recognized, or are you looking for it in My Computer? __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

12-24-2008, 01:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 18,067 OS: XP Professional	Re: Hard drive failure???? Since that is a Western Digital drive, what else is on that ribbon cable and how are both drives jumpered....and lastly, where do you have it on the ribbon cable? __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.