Possible HDD problem.. need help to diagnose

I have a Dell xps M1530 laptop running Vista fully updated.. approx 1 1/2 yrs old.
Had motherboard replaced on 6th Nov 2009. Repair order form says "replaced motherboard/heat sink and tested ok"

Laptop was just past warranty date when this was done but I told them it didn't meet the standards required to sell electronics in Australia and they sent someone out the next day to fix it free of charge. So Laptop is not under warranty and I have to work this problem out myself.

It all started 3 days ago with the blue screen of death. After trying to repair itself and having someone computer savvy look at it I finally agreed to restore it to Dell factory settings.

I kept having problems (black screen at start up that just had a line of writing up the top.. it would run through and then start up but after a little while become unresponsive. Cursor would move and I could switch between any windows I was using but couldn't shut down/restart or open task manager or anything else). So I decided to reinstall windows (Not using Dell factory settings, just the Vista reinstall disk that came with it).

Still having problems... every time I swicth the computer on it does that black screen with the one line of writing thing and then goes on to a screen saying installing (or configuring) update 1 of 3.. which it then runs through and starts up. This wouldn't be a problem if I actually had installed some updates. Otherwise runs ok once I get it going. If I can't get it running I will put in the windows CD, boot from that and then do a repair which does get it working but once I turn it off I'm faced with the same thing when I want to use it again.

Now I was told by my computer savvy friend that if I keep having problems I might need to get a new HDD. No problem there, I'd like to look at having more space anyway and also since the laptop gets so hot I wouldn't mind putting a more powerful cooling fan in (if possible) so I'm just wondering what I should do to determine whether the HDD actually IS the problem? and if it's not what do I do next?

 

Determine the make of HD you have (ie manufacturer) then download and run the diagnostics program.

Also just as a matter of good house keeping check that the drive is correctly detected in the bios.

From what you have said, I do not personally think that this is a HD related issue.

You may also wish to tell your computer savvy friend to boot your laptop using a Linux Live CD (Puppy a good choice only 100mb and loads entirely in ram). Reason for doing this would be that if Linux/Puppy boots correctly and you can move around the Linux o/s, then it can safely be assumed that your mobo and other components are working.

That then leaves us HD or o/s.

Maybe another user has a better take on this updating sequence that you see at boot and can help resolve it more efficiently.

Good Luck

 

Thank you!

I'll try the first two things you suggested in the morning.

As for the updating sequence that didn't happen when I switched my comp on after work but it did run the startup repair on it's own so whatever the problem is it hasn't resolved itself.

As for booting the laptop with a Linux live CD that will have to wait for the weekend but i'll get it done and hopefully I can work out what's going on and get it fixed.

 

As an addendum, this is the bit that makes me feel that somehow in spite of your re-install efforts, we are dealing with o/s corruption.

Of course there still remains the possibility that the HD has some logical errors which it can no longer compensate. These would/should show up in the HD diagnostics test.

Lastly, if you have the time you could download and run HD tune (free version). It's a small install and very easy to figure out (hit the last tab and run the quick diagnostics). HD tune is not a substitute for the HD diagnostics but you can get a quick feel.

Good Luck

 

I have a WD scorpio blue 320 GB SATA hard drive. Test results show:

Test Option: QUICK TEST
Model Number: WDC WD3200BEVT-75ZCT1
Unit Serial Number: WD-WXE608K8A675
Firmware Number: 11.01A11
Capacity: 320.07 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 11-Cable Test::Write sector error!
Test Time: 08:52:28, February 24, 2010

Test Option: EXTENDED TEST
Model Number: WDC WD3200BEVT-75ZCT1
Unit Serial Number: WD-WXE608K8A675
Firmware Number: 11.01A11
Capacity: 320.07 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 11-Cable Test::Write sector error!
Test Time: 08:52:34, February 24, 2010

I'm assuming this is a not so good thing?? I'm not going to go poking around inside without some serious layman term instructions.

BIOS said:
Primary Hard Drive: 320 GB HDD

This actually worked. The results are positive I guess because all the little squares went green.

Also I had issues with Google Chrome while trying to post and browse this morning. Computer would become non responsive again. I switched to FF and it seems to be doing ok right now

 

That looks like some of your software (OS too) is being crashed trying to read/write to bad sectors on the hard drive = time to buy a replacement hard disk, I'm pleased you have the Windows CD to reinstall. Do you have all your data backed up safely away from the hard drive?

It's possible that the drive errors are 'soft' errors, ie. they will disappear after a full format and the old drive will still be useable in an external caddy to hold a copy of your data - I'd certainly not trust it as a boot or permanently-connected drive though.

 

There is nothing left on the computer.. after I reset the computer to Dell factory settings I lost what was on here.

Luckily I was advised to move stuff to an external HD a few months ago which I did so I didn't really lose a lot.

You mention that the could be 'soft errors'.. is there a way to determine one way or the other if this is true? And if it turns out it's correct would I just buy a little external case to pop it in? If it's possible to use it some other way I'd love to do that. My 1 TB external is close to full, I was planning on getting myself a 2 TB but will probably have to put that on the back burner if I'm going to have to but a HD for the lappy.

As for buying a new HDD.. I checked some prices and a 500 GB one tickles my fancy but I'm wondering if it's possible to put more than 320 GB in it?

 

Was the diagnostics run within Windows? If that's the case, downloading an ISO and creating a bootable diags CD may give us more info.

 

Lol you've kind of lost me here..

Diagnostics run within windows.. I assume that since I had windows running at the time that I did these tests then the answer would be yes?

Creating a bootable diags CD.. I had absolutely no idea what this is but after a google search I found a youtube video that showed me how to make a Dell diagnostic CD (figured this would be a good choice since I have a Dell lappy). I DL'd ISO Recorder and made the disk but it wouldn't boot.. assuming I would boot it the same way I would boot the windows install/repair cd.

 

ok, try using the .iso from WD and use ImgBurn to write the ISO to CD. Then you try to boot from it just as you described Have a pen and paper ready to jot down the diags results.

 

The test result obviously confirms that your tech savvy friend's pc diagnostics nose was working well.

HD can either have physical error (defects on the actual platter(s)) or logical errors (error created by bad clusters, sectors, etc).

If the error is physical then time to get a new HD and forget about any other diagnostics steps as they would all be a waste of time, unless you felt confortable having your data on a HD which would give you repeated problems and always be at risk.

If the error is a logical one, then it can be possible to correct this and have a HD which has data integrity.

Of course the HD error may also be to do with the mechanical operation of the HD itself (arm, pcb) but this looks unlikely as the error is to do with a Write sector error!

My opinion for what it's worth is as follows:

You could zero fill the drive with the manufacturer's prog (zero filling removes all data by writing zeros to all the sectors). If your error is a logical one then zero filling will remove the error(s). My understanding is that HD firmware will mark the area as bad and not write to that/those sectors. There is a point beyond which zero filling cannot recover from this (it is also my understanding that even brand new drive will have some bad sectors in any case).

Personally, I would zero fill the drive (could take a while 10hrs+) and then immediately after test the HD again with the WD diagnostics program.

If the test fails then error is physical or mechanical, if it passes the test then the error was logical.

At least 90% of the battle is over as you know what is wrong now.

Good Luck

 

Ok so I made a boot disk using the instructions given by satrow.

It wouldn't boot

I got an initial message saying 'Starting Caldera Cd' or something very similar and then nothing happens.. I left it for a while to see if it was just being slow but no joy.. after three attempts I've decided I'm gonna go grab a new HD while I have the cash.

I'd hate to take the chance and leave it for another 2 weeks until my next pay and between now and then it craps it's self. I intended to run the diags CD and then do a zero fill as risk_reversal suggested but since I couldn't get the cd to run I'm just going to go ahead and try a new HD.

I figure if I grab a new HD and it solves my problem then I'm done.. If it doesn't I can put my old HD in an external case and I have more storage space and then just follow on from this thread to try to fix it.

Also I just wanna say thanks heaps for actually explaining to me in terms I can understand what could be going on.. It's taught me a lot about how HD's work which will probably help me in the future.

So hopefully I will be posting again in a few hours with good news.. otherwise I'll be back asking for help again

 

In my opinion this will cure issue, unless the new HD has a problem.

With the new HD I would nevertheless zero fill it first and then run a diagnostics on it. In fact the first thing I do with a new HD is run the diagnostics, then zero it and then diag again. A hassle but well worth the effort.

Zero fillig will map out any dodgy sectors before they are used.

Good Luck

 

Ok so new 500 GB HDD is in and working beautifully! I also had an O/S change, windows 7, which is different but oh so pretty. I have not had a single issue and have turned off and restarted the laptop many times in the last few hours and it hasn't run chkdsk once and it's all just damn perfect right now.

Thank you both for all your help. I am seriously a happy camper right now

Also the guy who put my new HD in is going to take a look at my old one and if it's fixable he's going to let me know and pop it in an external case for me. Happy days