hard drive failing

[Nicole Love]

A couple of weeks ago I went to my computer to find a blue screen with some error(somewhere in it, it said "if this is your first time seeing this..blah blah". I rebooted and it won't go any further than bios(f10 setup)the next screen says (disk read error press ctrl alt del to restart)This is as far as it would go. I finally reloaded the operating system and it has worked fine until yesterday afternoon when I rebooted it, it gave the same blue screen and now it's doing the same thing again. All input is appreciated. I think it is the hard drive failing...but not sure

[Massimo Bianchi]

Hi,
there is a high probability your HD is ready to go away.

Take a backup as soon as you can and change it.

HTH,
Massimo

[Eugeny Brychkov]

Nicole,
this message could mean the following:
1. disk is really failing. How - it depends on disk. Modern disks are able to relocate bad areas' data to good ones, but anyway during relocation data may got corrupt (if sector is unreadable and can not be recovered using CRC). To check disk you should use vendor-specific diagnostic tool;
2. data in OS startup disk areas is corrupt. Possible cause: virus or misbehaving application. Check for viruses, install only 'good' application (define it by yourself ;o) )
Eugeny

[Nicole Love]

The first time it happened. I thought it was a virus because I had forgotten to install my antivirus software and it wouldn't take an install. This time when I reloaded the OS I have not added any other software other than Mcafee and yahoo messenger(don't laugh). I haven't even had time to do anything on it really. Which is why I ruled out the software and viruses...but I don't want to replace the hd only to find out it's something else later. I want to make sure it's fine before I put it back into the office environment. Right now there's nothing important on it...so I can wipe and load with no problem. Just want to think of all possibilities and rule them out before I act on them.

[Massimo Bianchi]

Hi,
then try to do a scandisk .
Probably you will have to rebbot, to free some handles.

HTH,
Massimo

[Nicole Love]

How can I get to scan disk if it won't boot? I can't remember what happened last time when I tried to boot from the disk but I don't think it fixed anything....I might not have known what to do though. Enlighten me...

[Eugeny Brychkov]

Boot from CD (for example, w2k installation CD). I think it will be possible to exit to DOS shell and issue DOS version of 'scandisk'
Eugeny

[Nicole Love]

ok guys, I think I'm running out of options beside replacing hd. I ran chkdsk(scandsk doesn't work) and it says "the volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems". I'll wait around for a few days for other suggestions. There's no rush now since I have to replace the hd anyway probably. Let me know what you guys think. I'm fresh out...

[ephraim_2]

HI NICOLE!

IF YOU HAVE IMPORTANT DATA
ON YOUR HDD, PLS SEND ME A MAIL. I MIGHT HELP YOU.
ephraim2@inter.net.il

EPHRAIM

[e4services]

You definately have a hard drive problem. I would replace all the disk, and what better time with prices so low. WHat is the server and we can give you an idea of your disk options?

[Massimo Bianchi]

Hi,
as if you said you can loose all your data, try with a new installation, but FIRST do a low-level check.

This usually can be done throught (i hope "H" are in the right places) bios setup, at the very start of PC.

Press F2 or similar key to get the bios and select disk, there might be the low-level check. If there is run it, it could help.

HTH,
Massimo

[Nicole Love]

What is a low level check? Is it the same thing as low-level format? If it's not the same...how do I do that? I went through BIOS the day it happened and don't recall seeing anything related to it. I'll have to check again when I get home to the PC.

[Nicole Love]

Nevermind, I went to BIOS and see no option. I also just decided to try another installation, but it won't take it without errors...keeps saying it couldn't copy different files correctly(and I used two different CDs to install). Now I get the blue screen with the IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL message. I'm getting another hard drive this weekend...that's got to be it. Thanks anyway.