sfc /scannow problems...

Hi Adrynalyne and all,
I have had multiple problems on my computer recently (http://bbs.blackviper.com/index.php/topic,994.0.html), and among other things tried scannow. My Windows CD came with SP1, while I recently updated my comp to SP3 (That's where the problems started though :cry). NO partitions on the comp itself. So all in all, 1 CD drive, 0 partitions, and last backup created over a month ago. So will really hate having to reinstall Win and lose all the work from the last month and more.

When I try scannow, I get the message the files on the comp are newer, so can't proceed with scannow. Any suggestions?

Dell Latitude D 600
1.5 GB RAM
40 GB Hard Disk
Regularly Defreagged and Cleaned

Symantec regularly Updated
Spybot regularly updated
Ad-Aware (Ever since the new launch, it seemed to not work too well.)
Spysweeper (license expired a few months ago)

Processor: 1.4 GHz Intel pentium M
64 KB primary memory Cache
1 MB Secondary memory cache

Thanks for all the help.
Indi

 

Hi Halo,
Thanks for your response and for creating a separate thread for the issue. As of now it seems there is a lot going on with the unfortunate laptop (Or in other words nothing seems to be working). So for the past 5 days plus I have been trying to unsuccessfully chk for bad sectors and repair/remove them. Have already used Auto scheduled chkdsk (Would allow a chkdsk only on restart), Drive Fitness test (Hitachi), HDTune and now trying to get the Maxtor HD check utility. Chkdsk, Drive fitness and HDTune all report bad sectors, and commands of repairing them yield to nothing. So still got way too much on my plate before I can think about the slipstreaming. http://bbs.blackviper.com/index.php/topic,994.0.html

Would you suggest I do the slipstreaming and the next step (Frankly I forgot what Windows utility I had set out to carry out which needed me to first slipstream) before I attempt another repair of the HD itself. I think it was the Scan now issues...

I really appreciate all your help..

Indi

 

How old is this hard drive?

 

Could be almost 6 years or 3 years. The reason I am uncertain is that it had full on site warranty for the first three years, and a couple days before the warranty expired I had a Dell Engineer change everything (almost). However, since I didn't lose any data, I guess the 6 yrs estimate should be closer to the truth.

Indi

 

Any drive of that age is likely to be at or near the end of its useful life. It's certainly well out of warranty.

I would think it may also be overfull, which could be partly why the scan and check processes are having trouble.

Suitable replacements are getting scarce so I would definitely plan on replacing that drive soon.

Unless you have wanted data on the drive I wouldn't spend any more time on it. If you have data on it either get an adapter for another pc or get someone else to connect it up and pull the data off.

Since you recently upgraded to SP3 I guess that you had upgraded to SP2 before? The PC itself may be too old to cope with SP3. Some SP0 or SP1 pcs had trouble with SP2, let alone SP3, so I would avoid SP3.
I am still advising clients to leave SP3 alone for the moment. Microsoft have released a 'service pack blocker' on their website.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...7A-5267-4BD6-87D0-E2A72099EDB7&displaylang=en

 

Thanks, a lot....

1. I had in excess of 18% of the HD vacant, particularly since I used to do a defrag regularly, which would ask me to get at least 15% space vacant. So it is not Overfull.

2. just ordered a new WD 120 GB Scorpio. So guess that should take care of the laptop for a little while more...

3. I do have wanted data on the laptop. Luckily, it is just what i did in the last month or more, since I was backing up the data. However, I mostly did an image backup, and not sure if I can get the image backup to get on the new HD. (Thoughts?)

4. The Upgrade to the SP3 is what may have precipitated the ultimate death, even though I understand a 5 yr old laptop in itself is older than a 20 yr old car.

Questions:

1. Will I need to get a new Windows Licence? (I would hate to have Vista on my machine. Already have it on one, and hate it all the time. What if any is a good way to get the same license (Dying laptop's XP license) working on the new HD as well. (Sorry I am a total newbie at this, but thought the new HD may be a new brain for the laptop, and MS may recognize it as a separate laptop.

2. Can I get the existing image backup (of the now dying HD) to put on to the new HD?

3. What is a good way to connect my 2 laptops (1 vista Home premium and the other XP pro) to "pull the data off"? Too late tonight but I also intend to find out more about adaptec (whatever that is) later today.

4. Any other instructions/ Guidance/ tips/ heads-up with the new HD when it is here?

Thanks again...
Indi

 

You are in luck, Dell are one of the good guys here.

You should have at least 2 Dell recovery CDs.

The Windows one is labelled 'operating system'. It is basically a Windows installation disk but there is an additional Dell folder on it that checks with code in hardware on the proprietary Dell motherboard. This allows Windows to be installed without activation. You may be asked for your licence key, but your existing one will work fine.

Once you have installed the new hard drive go into the BIOS to get this recognise the hard drive, then reboot and install Windows as normal.

Then use the second CD to install all the drivers. Do not update Windows at this stage.

Do the drivers in the order

Graphics
Motherboard chipset
Audio
Network
Modem

If you don't have the drivers you can download free from Dell.
If you don't have the OS disk you can buy one cheaply from Dell or borrow one from a friend. Almost any Dell OS disk will do, though laptop ones are best. I keep a bunch for clients who have lost theirs.

Finally I think the old drive was definitely overfull. Windows works best when the system drive is less than 50% full and slows dramatically after that.

Good luck.

 

Thanks. I am now looking forward to the new Drive so I can execute your instructions word for word.

 

Finally have the new hard drive. Anybody have a link to help me understand how best to install the hard drive. I am scared of doing something or the other wrong and losing the hard drive as such. System Specs: Dell latitude D 600 40 GB (Old HD) 1.5 GB ram....

 

The process is well described here:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/latd600/sm/hdd.htm#1123687

It is important to read and understand these basic rules before replacing the HDD
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/latd600/sm/begin.htm#1408299

 

Thanks Joelsz,
I was able to fit the HD but the system doesn't recognize it at all. So tried going into the BIOS and will most probably figure it out, but I hope I am not doing something wrong (process etc). In the Bios I cannot even go to the field of the HD to change the field to try and make it recognize the new HD.

Thanks.
Indi

 

Found the culprit. The new HD came without the connector, which I didn't know about, and wasn't there on any dell support site either. When I called them up, got the answer in minutes, and now am on to installing the drivers et al. This being the first time I also took the option of thorough (Extended Test of the Service tag, and that has been running for the last 90 minutes plus.) Anyway, has been a learning experience till now...and I feel the call of full blown geekhood in a few years time....

Will keep you guys updated.