System only works on Saturdays - after installing SP2

[Guest]

Hello.

It seems that after installing SP2, I am only able to successfully turn my
computer on on Saturdays! Every other day of the week I receive the error:
Operating System Not Found. (Then when I try to load the recovery disks, the
Hard Drive cannot be located...)

I had written a post earlier (26Sep) and was given response to view this link:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;321626&Product=winxp

Curious if that (meaning the BIOS option on the above page) is my only
solution (this would require Sony Help - and frankly, I don't like them), or
if I should just Restore my system to a date previous to downloading SP2? And
then get my nerve up and try it again?

If you are agreed to the Restore System Option (or, I guess I could even
uninstall SP2?) ..... any tips on what I should do next time I load SP2 to
avoid this problem?

Thank you!
Carol

 

[David H. Lipman]

Go to the hard disk manufacturer's web site and download their diagnostic software
respective to your hard disk. After the test, you will know if the hard disk is bad or
not..

Quantum/Maxtor - PowerMax
http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/downloads/powermax.htm

Western Digital - Data LifeGuard Tools (DLGDiag)
http://support.wdc.com/download/

Hitachi/IBM - Drive Fitness Test (DFT)
http://www.hgst.com/hdd/support/download.htm

Seagate - SeaTools
http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/

Fujitsu - Diagnostic Tool
http://www.fcpa.com/download/hard-drives/

Samsung - Disk manager
http://www.samsung.com/Products/HardDiskDrive/utilities/

Dave





| Hello.
|
| It seems that after installing SP2, I am only able to successfully turn my
| computer on on Saturdays! Every other day of the week I receive the error:
| Operating System Not Found. (Then when I try to load the recovery disks, the
| Hard Drive cannot be located...)
|
| I had written a post earlier (26Sep) and was given response to view this link:
| http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;321626&Product=winxp
|
| Curious if that (meaning the BIOS option on the above page) is my only
| solution (this would require Sony Help - and frankly, I don't like them), or
| if I should just Restore my system to a date previous to downloading SP2? And
| then get my nerve up and try it again?
|
| If you are agreed to the Restore System Option (or, I guess I could even
| uninstall SP2?) ..... any tips on what I should do next time I load SP2 to
| avoid this problem?
|
| Thank you!
| Carol
| --
| Carol

 

[Guest]

Well this is a stupid question, I know - but, How do I find out who
manufactured the hard disk? System Information states: Standard Disk Drives
after Manufacturer... It's a Sony system - but they are not on your list....
I've used the Device Manager - it doesn't list a name of the manufacturer
either (only a part number it appears) - and it says it is operating
normally!

(Which it is at the moment.)
??

 

[David H. Lipman]

The model number of the drive would be shown in Device Manager for the hard drives.

Post the model number and we can determine the manufacturer.

The other way is to open the chassis.

Dave




| Well this is a stupid question, I know - but, How do I find out who
| manufactured the hard disk? System Information states: Standard Disk Drives
| after Manufacturer... It's a Sony system - but they are not on your list....
| I've used the Device Manager - it doesn't list a name of the manufacturer
| either (only a part number it appears) - and it says it is operating
| normally!
|
| (Which it is at the moment.)
| ??
|
| "David H. Lipman" wrote:
|
| > Go to the hard disk manufacturer's web site and download their diagnostic software
| > respective to your hard disk. After the test, you will know if the hard disk is bad or
| > not..
| >
| > Quantum/Maxtor - PowerMax
| > http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/downloads/powermax.htm
| >
| > Western Digital - Data LifeGuard Tools (DLGDiag)
| > http://support.wdc.com/download/
| >
| > Hitachi/IBM - Drive Fitness Test (DFT)
| > http://www.hgst.com/hdd/support/download.htm
| >
| > Seagate - SeaTools
| > http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/
| >
| > Fujitsu - Diagnostic Tool
| > http://www.fcpa.com/download/hard-drives/
| >
| > Samsung - Disk manager
| > http://www.samsung.com/Products/HardDiskDrive/utilities/
| >
| > Dave
| >
| >
| >
| >
| >
| > | > | Hello.
| > |
| > | It seems that after installing SP2, I am only able to successfully turn my
| > | computer on on Saturdays! Every other day of the week I receive the error:
| > | Operating System Not Found. (Then when I try to load the recovery disks, the
| > | Hard Drive cannot be located...)
| > |
| > | I had written a post earlier (26Sep) and was given response to view this link:
| > | http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;321626&Product=winxp
| > |
| > | Curious if that (meaning the BIOS option on the above page) is my only
| > | solution (this would require Sony Help - and frankly, I don't like them), or
| > | if I should just Restore my system to a date previous to downloading SP2? And
| > | then get my nerve up and try it again?
| > |
| > | If you are agreed to the Restore System Option (or, I guess I could even
| > | uninstall SP2?) ..... any tips on what I should do next time I load SP2 to
| > | avoid this problem?
| > |
| > | Thank you!
| > | Carol
| > | --
| > | Carol
| >
| >
| >

 

[Guest]

It's model number IC25N030ATCS04-0.

(Thank you for your help David!)

 

[Guest]

David - it's Hitachi (I googled it...) Let me try your link below - I'll let
you know the result!

 

[David H. Lipman]

It's a 30GB Hitachi/IBM hard disk so use the Hitachi/IBM Drive Fitness Test (DFT)

Dave




| It's model number IC25N030ATCS04-0.
|
| (Thank you for your help David!)

 

[Guest]

Hello again. Okay. I ran the Fitness Test. Quick Test came back fine, the
advanced test said there were bad sectors. I chose to have those fixed.
When done, rebooted system - now I'm back to Operating System Not Found.

Put the DFT floppy in again - now it can't find the hard drive! I don't
know if I have ATA or SCSI .... egad... Not really sure what to do now.

(My Sony documentation told me to run the BIOS Set-Up menu - so I did what
it said, but still no luck.)

Can you help?

 

[David H. Lipman]

You have ATA.

I have a feeling that the drive is in the process of failing. I hope you have taken the
time to back up critical data files when the PC was up and running.

What platform is it ?

Is the platform within warranty ?

Completely turn off the PC, unplug it. Wait a an hour so the drive cools off to room
temperature then reboot the PC off the floppy and run the DFT utility again. If it
recognizes the drive then run the diagnostics again. If it doesn't recognize the drive you
have a bad hard disk and the action to take will be based upon if it is in-warranty or
out-of-warranty.

Dave



| Hello again. Okay. I ran the Fitness Test. Quick Test came back fine, the
| advanced test said there were bad sectors. I chose to have those fixed.
| When done, rebooted system - now I'm back to Operating System Not Found.
|
| Put the DFT floppy in again - now it can't find the hard drive! I don't
| know if I have ATA or SCSI .... egad... Not really sure what to do now.
|
| (My Sony documentation told me to run the BIOS Set-Up menu - so I did what
| it said, but still no luck.)
|
| Can you help?
|
| "David H. Lipman" wrote:
|
| > It's a 30GB Hitachi/IBM hard disk so use the Hitachi/IBM Drive Fitness Test (DFT)
| >
| > Dave
| >
| >
| >
| >
| > | > | It's model number IC25N030ATCS04-0.
| > |
| > | (Thank you for your help David!)
| >
| >
| >

 

[Guest]

I have most items backed up... Not sure what you mean by platform - It's
Windows XP Home- and a Sony Vaio notebook. We do have a Warranty through
Fry's - good for one more year - hard drive failure is included. (As long as
not caused by any software.) So! That's a good thing. I was just
starting to try to get to the hard-drive so I could find the serial number
(to see if DFT could find it with that ) when you message arrived. Thanks
for saving me from myself! (My husband thanks you too, as he was freaking
out that I would try to get to the innards of this computer!) I am
letting the PC rest - and will try it again in a few hours - but overall,
sounds like back to Fry's I go!

Thanks so much for all your help!

Carol

 

[David H. Lipman]

The "platform" is the Sony notebook. Call "platform" jargon for a PC. The term "platform"
is generic for both desktops and notebooks.

Yes, please do go to Fry's for the warranty service. If at all possible suggest a drive
other than Hitachi/IBM.

You don't need to get the serial number of the hard disk for warranty service. Just bring
in the notebook.

Dave




| I have most items backed up... Not sure what you mean by platform - It's
| Windows XP Home- and a Sony Vaio notebook. We do have a Warranty through
| Fry's - good for one more year - hard drive failure is included. (As long as
| not caused by any software.) So! That's a good thing. I was just
| starting to try to get to the hard-drive so I could find the serial number
| (to see if DFT could find it with that ) when you message arrived. Thanks
| for saving me from myself! (My husband thanks you too, as he was freaking
| out that I would try to get to the innards of this computer!) I am
| letting the PC rest - and will try it again in a few hours - but overall,
| sounds like back to Fry's I go!
|
| Thanks so much for all your help!
|
| Carol
|
| "David H. Lipman" wrote:
|
| > You have ATA.
| >
| > I have a feeling that the drive is in the process of failing. I hope you have taken the
| > time to back up critical data files when the PC was up and running.
| >
| > What platform is it ?
| >
| > Is the platform within warranty ?
| >
| > Completely turn off the PC, unplug it. Wait a an hour so the drive cools off to room
| > temperature then reboot the PC off the floppy and run the DFT utility again. If it
| > recognizes the drive then run the diagnostics again. If it doesn't recognize the drive
you
| > have a bad hard disk and the action to take will be based upon if it is in-warranty or
| > out-of-warranty.
| >
| > Dave
| >
| >
| >
| > | > | Hello again. Okay. I ran the Fitness Test. Quick Test came back fine, the
| > | advanced test said there were bad sectors. I chose to have those fixed.
| > | When done, rebooted system - now I'm back to Operating System Not Found.
| > |
| > | Put the DFT floppy in again - now it can't find the hard drive! I don't
| > | know if I have ATA or SCSI .... egad... Not really sure what to do now.
| > |
| > | (My Sony documentation told me to run the BIOS Set-Up menu - so I did what
| > | it said, but still no luck.)
| > |
| > | Can you help?
| > |
| > | "David H. Lipman" wrote:
| > |
| > | > It's a 30GB Hitachi/IBM hard disk so use the Hitachi/IBM Drive Fitness Test (DFT)
| > | >
| > | > Dave
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > | > | > | It's model number IC25N030ATCS04-0.
| > | > |
| > | > | (Thank you for your help David!)
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| >
| >
| >

 

[Guest]

I seem to recall that IBM's Deskstar hard drive line had some serious
reliability issues--two of my friends have lost data under high use due to
broken interrupt logic. IBM sold the deskstar (a somewhat ill-portending
moniker) to Hitachi, and as far as I know the drives are still unreliable.

 

[David H. Lipman]

Yes. I am seeing a high failure rate (20GB) on these drives in Dell platforms.

Dave




| I seem to recall that IBM's Deskstar hard drive line had some serious
| reliability issues--two of my friends have lost data under high use due to
| broken interrupt logic. IBM sold the deskstar (a somewhat ill-portending
| moniker) to Hitachi, and as far as I know the drives are still unreliable.