Re: Re-installing Windows on bad hard drive?
- From: "Anna" <myname@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 15:56:12 -0500
"Bobby" <bobby@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:415nhlF1cumklU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> My HD started making loud clicking noises about two months ago. It works
> fine but the clicks keep occurring about once per day.
>
> About one month ago disk software caused problems. My anti-spyware
> programs and disk check programs cause a BSOD and a reset about 2/3 way
> through their checks. But everything else works perfectly.
>
> My drive is a 250Mb Maxtor ATA drive. I have tried to use Maxtor's
> diagnostic software but this does not work on my HD/controller combo (see
> old thread on this).
>
> So I suspect I have a faulty HD. Is that reasonable?
>
> I don't want to return the drive (it's under warranty) without being sure.
> It's such a hassle and I don't have a spare drive. So I was thinking about
> trying a clean install of XP (Pro with SP1).
>
> I am worried that an attempt at re-installing XP will fail due to a
> physical fault on the drive. Is that a reasonable fear?
>
> I have two partitions on the drive. C with my software and D with my
> backups. Can I try to re-install Windows on my C partition? How do I
> reformat one partition only? Does XP setup permit me to format a single
> partition or do I have to re-partition the drive before formatting? I
> can't remember a format option without requiring a repartition.
>
> Help! And Merry Xmas.
>
> Bobby
Bobby:
It seems pretty clear from your description of your hard drive's "loud
clicking noises" and possibly the subsequent program problems you've
experienced that you have, as I think you suspect, a failing HD on your
hands. Is there any reason why you can't at least temporarily connect the
drive to an IDE channel for the purposes of checking it out with the Maxtor
diagnostic utility? Even if your motherboard's BIOS doesn't support
large-capacity drives (I'm assuming that's why you're using a controller
card), I believe you could still connect the drive to an IDE channel just
for testing purposes. Am I wrong about that?
In any event, I'm sure you're wise enough to make consistent backups of your
data at this point.
As to your question re reinstalling the OS, I'm not sure why you're
considering this since you indicate the drive seems to be functioning
properly (aside from the clicking noises) at this point. Why go through a
reinstall?
As far as multi-partitioning - you can delete your present partition(s) and
repartition the drive during the installation process if you decide to make
a new install of the OS. There's no need to create partitions prior to
installing the OS. But frankly, at this point I would leave well enough
alone. As long as you can live with your present system, at least for the
moment, do so.
I'm sure you really know that you can't go on indefinitely with "loud
clicking noises" emanating from your HD. It's a virtual certainty that you
need a replacement drive - the sooner the better.
Anna
.
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- Re-installing Windows on bad hard drive?
- From: Bobby
- Re-installing Windows on bad hard drive?
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