| Failing HDD | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 13 2010, 09:07 PM (187 Views) | |
| Phaedrus | Feb 13 2010, 09:07 PM Post #1 |
|
After fixing a neighbours internet connection I was asked to look at their laptop as it was running really badly, to see if I could do anything with it. Its running Vista....badly on 512mb of ram. Its 80gig hdd is less than half full. I did the usual Windows clean up, removed all the temp internet files and such with CCleaner. Checked and tweaked the antivirus and sorted the startup entries. I was told often the machine just hangs and needs hard rebooting. After I`d done all I could with Windows I put a Mint CD in to have a look how that went. After booting to the live cd Mint disc utility pops up telling me the hdd is faulty and liable to fail! It gives details of the drives bad sectors, seek error rate, etc. It recommends backing up and replacing the hdd. Nice one Mint .....again!
|
![]() |
|
| John | Feb 14 2010, 12:23 AM Post #2 |
|
Operating systems cannot report bad sectors, they are replaced as necessary by the HDD firmware with a shed load of spare ones on the platters, operating systems report data they cannot read as bad sectors, believe me if Windows thought it was bad sectors it would have been screaming from the rooftops. A format will probably see it running fit as a fiddle regardless of OS. My guess is the drive was just full of shít. |
![]() |
|
| Phaedrus | Feb 14 2010, 09:21 AM Post #3 |
|
I hope you are right John. I was surprised to see the alert when mint booted up. I didn`t choose to run the disk utility. I was also surprised at the amount of smart data it was giving me about the disk. So my options are: Shove some Ram in it and reformat - I don`t have Vista on disc, so I guess its image the C drive, reformat and restore the image. The recovery partition might be an option here maybe ![]() Shove some more Ram in it and tell em the drive is a bit shagged. I`m tempted to go for the last one. You know what its like being the local guy everyone calls when their pc`s have problems. Sort it out and its all smiles and thanks, but what happens if you hose their system and kill their machine? I need a disclaimer...I`ll have a look at it, but if I break it trying to sort it out - too bad. |
![]() |
|
| Gina | Feb 14 2010, 02:32 PM Post #4 |
|
I know the feeling!!!
|
![]() |
|
| John | Feb 17 2010, 11:36 AM Post #5 |
|
Cant you borrow one mate? If i suspect a PC to be using a hidden partition i always delete it with a full format and then install as normal, if the PC moans and i have to ring M$ i just tell them the HDD failed |
![]() |
|
| Phaedrus | Feb 17 2010, 11:48 AM Post #6 |
|
Normally I would just get a copy and use their own serial, but Vista is such a pile of poo I would rather tell em to upgrade to Windows 7 or switch Linux tbh. How much is and upgrade from Vista to 7 I wonder? Can`t be much I wouldn`t have thought? In this case I just did a bit of a cleanup and advised they go to Crucial and get some RAM and I`ll fit it. Maybe they wont bother...who knows ![]() Had another one yesterday..."Can`t get on the internet. Internet Explorer won`t work and its all gone really slow and keeps sticking" Went over...Its Vista 1gb of Ram ....Did a system restore, shoved Firefox on and advised them to get some more RAM.
|
![]() |
|
| John | Feb 17 2010, 12:00 PM Post #7 |
|
I know you love the penguin but telling people to use Linux is only setting your self up for more work, you know i am no computer idiot and even i cant work it out, your average Joe that stumbles with simple windows tasks is bound to end up a pain in the arse. Upgrade is around 60 quid i think, personally i would make them stick with Vista make sure it is fully patched and shove another GB or RAM in the box. |
![]() |
|
| Phaedrus | Feb 17 2010, 12:39 PM Post #8 |
|
You`re right. I guess its RAM thats the main woe with Vista on older machines. TBH I have no qualms about putting Linux on anyone`s machine. I don`t expect any technical problems or come backs. Its just I haven`t got the time or patience to be everyones phone in Linux guide. Its a case of stick Mint on...show em how to log in...There`s Firefox for your internet, there`s your email, there`s AMSN, have a look though the menu and enjoy...If you get stuck reboot to Windows
|
![]() |
|
| John | Feb 17 2010, 01:18 PM Post #9 |
|
Mate i struggled to even install something so how can you expect no come backs from your average user? |
![]() |
|
| Phaedrus | Feb 17 2010, 02:20 PM Post #10 |
|
Coz its got that easy mate....I`d say its at least as easy as Windows for most users. Probably easier in many ways. Especially Mint. That is of course if it works on your system in the first place. If you run into the kinds of hassles you did with graphics drivers and wireless it can still be a right pain in the arse as you sadly found out...although its getting easier to sort these gripes out as well now. Basically if Mint installs ok and you get an internet connection your laughing. |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · Computer Chat · Next Topic » |



.....again!




....Did a system restore, shoved Firefox on and advised them to get some more RAM.
12:19 AM Jul 11