Odd problem

Hey guys,

was working on another PC today, nothing major. Person reported that the PC sounded like an airplane. it was very easy to diagnose that the HD was only being held in by 1 under-sized screw, and rattling like a washing machine :|

So I disconnected the Sata power and data connectors, re mounted the HD, put 4 proper screws plus 2 tool-less plugs just to make sure it was good and solid

I double-checked all my connections to make SURE they were good and tight. and then I cheked again because I always doubt myself.

I connected the power wire and monitor, plus keyboard and mouse, and turned it on.

It's an HP, it got to the HP BIOS screen, but when I tried to do anything it just hang there. I couldnt enter the BIOS, and I couldnt boot. Every option just made it hang there and do nothing :|

So I unplugged everything, pulled out the CMOS battery, and held the power button for about 30 seconds.

I reconnected everything, making VERY sure again that the wires were tight and well connected.

when I powered up, it made it through Bios, and windows startup. It got as far as the desktop.

Thats when all these vertical lines and weird colors started dancing around the screen. the lines were perfect and vertical, no waves at all.

after about 5 more shut-downs and boots, im able to determine this happens 50% of the time. sometimes it will run fine, others it does the freaky line dance.

any ideas guys?

Thanks

 

Hi Nico,
Check that the GPU card and Ram are seated properly, I would clean the Ram's gold connections with an eraser or alcohol wipe,check to see if all the fans are free of dust and gunk.
This could also be a failing HDD, run the HDD manufacturers diagnostics tool to see if there are any errors/bad sectors.

iain.t

 

Thanks iain.t,

I already checked the RAM, and cleaned the ram slots with compressed air, on such an angle so the air blows the dust out instead of deeper into the RAM slots. Also used 99.5% isopropyl alcohol with no additives to clean the connectors.

I suspect the video or HD myself, but the user has on-board video making it harder to troubleshoot.

The HD was being held by 1 screw and being tossed around inside this rig for god knows how long, making that a high probability.

I will have at look at the HD manufacturer and look up their diagnostics apps. and post my results.

Thanks a bunch
Nico

 

Nico,
Have you got a PCI e graphics card that you can put in to test to see if it is the on-board that is failing,you may have to disable the onboard one in the bios, if you have this will help in ruling out the card!,I would still also let the hd's diagnostics run as that will attempt to fix any bad sectors on the disc.

iain.t :major

 

yes sir I do, i got a 256MB ati radeon 9500 pro I keep around just for that.. only thing is I loaned it to a friend because he was having GPU issues and I wont have it back until sunday.

I go ahead with troubleshooting the HD for now, that will keep me busy enough until sunday.

many thanks
Nico

 

Hi Nico,
Keep me up-dated on how the diagnostics go, I think they will show up that all is well, I believe now for this to be a failed/failing graphics card, try updating the cards drivers.

iain.t :major

 

ok I got more time to work on this..

I've been searching western digital's site for the diagnotic tool for the drive. I cant seem to find it :|

the drive is a WDC WD25 00JS-00NCB1 SCSI

anybody know which diagnostic tool I need to use? lol

 

Download Western Digital's latest version of Data Lifeguard:

http://majorgeeks.com/Western_Digital_Data_Lifeguard_Tools_d2855.html

I suggest doing the "long" test - it often catches issues a "quick" test or chkdsk misses.

 

Ok, ran the quicktest for now, everything passed, I will run the long test tomorrow when I leave to do the groceries lol..

Test Option: QUICK TEST
Model Number: WDC WD2500JS-00NCB1
Unit Serial Number: WD-WCANK9226960
Firmware Number: 10.02E02
Capacity: 250.06 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: PASS
Test Time: 12:02:58, April 09, 2011

 

Well I accidently started the long scan, so I toughed it out.

it showed some problems..

Test Option: EXTENDED TEST
Model Number: WDC WD2500JS-00NCB1
Unit Serial Number: WD-WCANK9226960
Firmware Number: 10.02E02
Capacity: 250.06 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 08-Error was detected while repairing bad sectors.
Test Time: 13:29:13, April 09, 2011

 

Hi Nico,
Please take a look here...

http://community.wdc.com/t5/Desktop/WD3200AAKS-disappearing-bad-sectors/td-p/57666

I think you need to contact WD for a RMA to send the disc off as its failing.
I would create a clone of your disc to save any data and programs....

http://majorgeeks.com/Macrium_Reflect_FREE_Edition_d6034.html

this will clone your drive. I have not used it but i'm sure that if there is a better one (free) available some one will point you in the right direction.
You could also wipe your drive free then run the diag' from disc and see if it then can repair the bad sectors. But I'm sure HDD's come with a lifetime warranty now-a-days.

iain.t :major

 

Thanks,

Thats good to know, This is my neighbours PC, so I'll see how much convincing it will take to get him let me create an image of his drive and RMA it lol.

On another note, the freaky line dance has not returned in about 3 days now. The PC has made it through a good 15 or so boots without any more problems. So this will be a good opportunity to back everything up and RMA the drive.


Glad it's not mine lol

Nick

 

Hi,
Your Friend would be a fool if he didn't allow you to create an image of that drive, even if he had to buy a new/used drive he could put that image on it, so would be losing nothing. Anyway good luck in persuading him.
Seems odd also that you have not had the vertical bars back,I wonder if that has happened due to the bad sector trying to be read??.

iain.t :major

 

Nick,

Glad the WD Data Lifeguard software uncovered the problem.

As iain.t stated, cloning the drive is a good idea; however you (or your neighbor) should also do a backup to CD, DVD or USB stick of all data, pictures, music, tax/Quicken files, etc.

The cloned copy will only be as good as the data coming off the old drive. If anything is corrupted, it will clone as corrupted to the new drive. I'm mentioning this in case the issues repeat with the cloned drive - if this happens a fresh install of Windows and any software will be required (FYI, I discovered this the hard way a few years ago :banghead).

PS: Given what professional tech support goes for, your neighbor owes you at least one big favor in return.

 

Thanks guys,

I have everything backed up so far, creating the image is next.

now theres a new enomily happening, when this PC wakes up from hibernation, the taskbar, toolbar, and most of the desktop icons are gone, but everything works via the start menu. I'm assuming this is also related to the failing HD?