Error at boot

[Guest]

Not sure if this is a windows issue or another source, but could use some
advice. Some time ago installed a new western digital 80GB hard drive with
windos xp home installed. Don't recall when it started, but at boot, before
windows, receive message stating hard drive is imminent. Have the option to
select F1 to continue and machine boots rest of way. Never receive any other
error messages and all works fine. Any ideas as to the source of this
message or solution would be tremendously appreciated. Thanks

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Not sure if this is a windows issue or another source, but could use some
advice. Some time ago installed a new western digital 80GB hard drive with
windos xp home installed. Don't recall when it started, but at boot, before
windows, receive message stating hard drive is imminent. Have the option to
select F1 to continue and machine boots rest of way. Never receive any other
error messages and all works fine. Any ideas as to the source of this
message or solution would be tremendously appreciated. Thanks

No, it's not a Windows issue; it's a hardware problem.

For the background on S.M.A.R.T., start here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-Monitoring,_Analysis,_and_Reporting_Technology

Having seen the same error, I can only say: "Back up your data
daily until you replace that drive."

On those machines I on which I've seen those S.M.A.R.T. warnings,
catastrophic hard drive failures invariably followed. Some hard drives
lasted for a few days after the warnings first appeared, one lasted
months, and some lasted only minutes. I suppose the one that lasted
months could be considered a false alarm, as months hardly translate to
"imminent," but, on the whole, I'd suggest you take the warnings seriously.


--

Bruce Chambers

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