Problem confirmaion required

Scottland · 2 Apr 2006 at 17:23

Hi,

A friend dropped off a computer that wasn't working.

When XP booted it soft resets itself, no options on the boot menu do any different. Fixmbr and fixboot both were unsuccessful.

I've attempted to format and reinstall windows - but the windows format tool stops about 80% though with an error about the disk.

I'm guessing its the hard drive thats kaput, but before I replace it - any other things it could be that I could test?

ta

trojan698 · 2 Apr 2006 at 17:43

You got a spare HD you can fire in to test?

Scottland · 2 Apr 2006 at 18:53

The only one I've got "spare" would involve backing it up first, restoring a backup windows install onto it, and then once tested restoring a further backup.

So, a bit of a PITA

iraiguana · 2 Apr 2006 at 22:27

if no other drive to test it then i would say try and use a knoppix live cd (as suggests runs from cd) and see if u can get that to run. if not then would suggest probelms go deeper.

if it runs fine then u know u need a new drive.

Scottland · 3 Apr 2006 at 08:48

Good suggestion with a Live CD, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks

Scottland · 5 Apr 2006 at 19:46

Tried another hard drive, and I still get the same problem.

Can't format the new drive to install windows on, I get an error at the end of formatting.

I've swapped out the RAM for known working stuff, and tried a different IDE channel.

Ideas?

Captain Kirk · 5 Apr 2006 at 19:56

Only thing I can suggest (and its a long process) is swap out everything one by one for bits you know that work. Could be the PSU though.

Scottland · 5 Apr 2006 at 20:01

I haven't got all the bits needed to swap everything, I'm personally thinking motherboard rather than PSU. Which is the only thing I haven't got to swap...

Scottland · 5 Apr 2006 at 20:11

PSU swapped, again with a known working one. And it's still the same, looks like the motherboard then

Captain Kirk · 5 Apr 2006 at 20:19

I'm inclined to agree with you. You seemed to have changed everything else that is important. What's the chances of changing that for a working one?

Scottland · 5 Apr 2006 at 20:25

Well the only other common component is the CPU, I could swap either really its just a PITA.

Captain Kirk · 5 Apr 2006 at 20:34

has the CPU ever been overclocked? In which case has it been pushed too far? It's a possibility. I hope your mate is gonna supply a few beers for the trouble

Scottland · 6 Apr 2006 at 07:28

Nope, it's been stock all the time. In fact the system is really only used for th'internet/email etc.

FrankJH · 6 Apr 2006 at 07:45

Sounds like you have covered everything ( including IDE/ sata cable?)

I would guess with something strange on the mobo also

Dutch Guy · 6 Apr 2006 at 11:50

Have you tried other memory?