Dell Latitude LSt - cannot format HDD

Dave Stevens · 08-20-2007, 08:37 AM

Cn anyone help me with this - I have just aquired an old Dell Latitude LSt with most of it's bits but not working very well. Takes about 5 hours to load Windows ME then its everso slow 30 sec to 5 mins to do anything. I tried using restore but there were no restore files. I've tried MSCONFIG to close own everything but it is still so slow as to be unusable. Safe mode would boot but again very slow. The Dell Utilities runs ok in DOS and shows everything to be working. Tried to reload ME but it stopped halfway through after 24 hours of trying. The C: drive was visible and could be read using DOS from the statrt-up CD. I tried to reformat the hard drive but it stopped at 8% completed with the message 8 percent completed, Not ready, Format terminated. After a couple of attempts with the same result I tried FDSK to delete and repartition the drive - this seemed to work OK but I still cannot format the drive - same message as before but I now can't see or access the C: drive. Has anyone got any ideas or advice.

I have contemplated replacing the hard drivefor a bigger one (its 6Gb) abut as its a DELL the drive connector is non-standard and I dont think it's worth spending money on the machine as it is only destined to go to my Grandson

Any help woul be greatly appreciated

**TheMatt** · 08-21-2007, 12:26 AM

Hi Dave, and welcome to TSF!

Take a look at this page. It will help to determine if your hard disk is in danger of failing and if it needs replacement.

Dave Stevens · 08-21-2007, 08:02 AM

Hi Matt - brilliant, thanks. I needed to do a low level format using the Fujitsu disk utilities but the machine now goes like the wind (a bit of an exaggeration) with Windows XP on it

really appreciate the help

regards

Dave

**TheMatt** · 08-21-2007, 10:37 AM

Good to hear Dave. Any other questions?

08-20-2007, 08:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dave Stevens Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2 OS: windows me	Dell Latitude LSt - cannot format HDD Cn anyone help me with this - I have just aquired an old Dell Latitude LSt with most of it's bits but not working very well. Takes about 5 hours to load Windows ME then its everso slow 30 sec to 5 mins to do anything. I tried using restore but there were no restore files. I've tried MSCONFIG to close own everything but it is still so slow as to be unusable. Safe mode would boot but again very slow. The Dell Utilities runs ok in DOS and shows everything to be working. Tried to reload ME but it stopped halfway through after 24 hours of trying. The C: drive was visible and could be read using DOS from the statrt-up CD. I tried to reformat the hard drive but it stopped at 8% completed with the message 8 percent completed, Not ready, Format terminated. After a couple of attempts with the same result I tried FDSK to delete and repartition the drive - this seemed to work OK but I still cannot format the drive - same message as before but I now can't see or access the C: drive. Has anyone got any ideas or advice. I have contemplated replacing the hard drivefor a bigger one (its 6Gb) abut as its a DELL the drive connector is non-standard and I dont think it's worth spending money on the machine as it is only destined to go to my Grandson Any help woul be greatly appreciated

08-21-2007, 12:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Dell Latitude LSt - cannot format HDD Hi Dave, and welcome to TSF! Take a look at this page. It will help to determine if your hard disk is in danger of failing and if it needs replacement. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

08-21-2007, 08:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dave Stevens Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2 OS: windows me	Re: Dell Latitude LSt - cannot format HDD Hi Matt - brilliant, thanks. I needed to do a low level format using the Fujitsu disk utilities but the machine now goes like the wind (a bit of an exaggeration) with Windows XP on it really appreciate the help regards Dave

08-21-2007, 10:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Dell Latitude LSt - cannot format HDD Good to hear Dave. Any other questions? __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides