Tina Norris Fields
tinanfields at torchlake.com
Mon Jan 17 20:09:15 CST 2011
How could I have left that out? :-) T Helmut Kotsch wrote: > Better would be: Sie haben immer Recht! > > Helmut ;-) > > -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- > Von: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com > [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]Im Auftrag von Tina Norris > Fields > Gesendet: Montag, 17. Januar 2011 22:47 > An: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues > Betreff: Re: [dba-Tech] Trying to revive a computer - solved for now > > > Helmut, Sie haben Recht! Did I say that correctly? > T > > Helmut Kotsch wrote: > >> Tina, >> you wrote: >> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >> I do believe the hard drive is failing - it's an old machine that gets >> > lots > >> of use and has been moved from one place to another many times in its >> > life - > >> and most of its users are very young. >> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >> >> Having spent my whole life in hard drive engineering I have to tell you >> > that > >> backup is a must regardless how old a drive is. No manufacturer will give >> you a guarantee that a new hard drive will run even more than 10 minutes >> without loosing data. They might advertise an average MTBF of 5 years but >> you could have bought the one in thousands that is bad and dies after >> minutes, a day or a year. I have hard drives running 24/7 365 days since >> more than 10 years without any problems. One reason for this performance >> might be that they are hardly switched off. Start/stop/start is stress to >> hard drives because the heads might stick to the surface and the inrush >> current stresses the electronic components. >> >> Helmut >> >> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- >> Von: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com >> [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]Im Auftrag von Tina Norris >> Fields >> Gesendet: Montag, 17. Januar 2011 16:10 >> An: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues >> Betreff: Re: [dba-Tech] Trying to revive a computer - solved for now >> >> >> Jim, >> Thank you for your response. I, too, think the drive is failing. >> Here are my results so far: Spin-Rite did find and correct some disk >> errors. It also reported at least one uncorrectable error. After I >> looked up how to use the Microsoft Recovery Console, I ran chkdsk /r on >> the drive, which reported finding and correcting some more errors. After >> that, I was able to use the Windows installation CD to repair the >> existing WinXP installation. Got that essentially finished last night, >> so the computer would boot. A couple of files were reported by the >> installation program as not being able to be registered - I made notes >> and will check on them later; it couldn't find a dll that it needed - I >> checked where it was in my computer, which helped me locate it on >> theirs. Then, I reinstalled Vipre and set that up to scan at 1 this >> morning. Then, I started the Defraggler and went to bed. This morning, >> I've re-established the wireless adapter and the Internet connection, >> and I've run 70 some updates to Windows - I will still need to get SP3 - >> since the original install CD is WinXP SP2. But, at least the computer >> is running again, and my son-in-law is serious now about backing it up. >> Good, because, as noted above, I do believe the hard drive is failing - >> it's an old machine that gets lots of use and has been moved from one >> place to another many times in its life - and most of its users are very >> young. >> Best regards, >> T >> Jim Lawrence wrote: >> >> >>> I think your idea of running Spinwrite is a great idea as it sound like >>> >>> >> you >> >> >>> hard drive is failing. >>> >>> I was looking at a discount place and they had Dell computers, 1 GB RAM >>> >>> >> and >> >> >>> XP home...no idea what the hard drive size is but the price was $88. With >>> these sorts of prices around it seems hardly worth wasting time on. >>> >>> OTOH, Tina, your comments suggest a HD failure and if you want to save >>> > the > >>> drive for its contents, run Spinwrite and when the drive is recovered, >>> >>> >> image >> >> >>> the drive with a bootable CD with something like DriveImage XML, install >>> > a > >>> new drive then re-image it back and use EASEUS Partition Master to clean >>> >>> >> up >> >> >>> and re-partition the new drive. Reboot and you're done. >>> >>> It is a little more complex than that of course but if you have the tools >>> >>> >> it >> >> >>> will take about an hours worth of your time but a couple days computer >>> >>> >> time. >> >> >>> Jim >>> >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com >>> [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Gary Kjos >>> Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2011 2:24 PM >>> To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues >>> Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] Trying to revive a computer >>> >>> I've not done any dual booting. John Bartow, Drew and Jim are your >>> best bets for advice on this one. >>> >>> Good luck, sounds like you have done the right stuff so far. If you >>> could run SPinrite from a CD or floppy maybe that would be able to fix >>> the disk problems if there are any. >>> >>> GK >>> >>> On Sun, Jan 16, 2011 at 1:55 PM, Tina Norris Fields >>> <tinanfields at torchlake.com> wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>>> Me again, >>>> Did a little searching and found some information about using the >>>> >>>> >> Recovery >> >> >>>> Console. Started a chkdsk without switches, which got stuck at about >>>> >>>> >> 50%. >> >> >>>> Restarted the whole shebang, and this time when I got to the Recovery >>>> Console, the two installations of Windows were listed - they had not >>>> > been > >>>> listed in any of the previous visits to this console. >>>> I logged in to the first Windows installation and am now running chkdsk >>>> >>>> >> /r >> >> >>> - >>> >>> >>> >>>> we'll see how that goes. Still looking for any great ideas you guys >>>> >>>> >> have. >> >> >>>> T >>>> >>>> Tina Norris Fields wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> Hi Guys, >>>>> >>>>> Maybe you can help me bring a computer back to life. It's a dual boot >>>>> setup – Win 2000 Pro and Win XP Home. It began its life as a Win 2000 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> Pro, >>> >>> >>> >>>>> and was updated with the second operating system added on a couple of >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> years >>> >>> >>> >>>>> later. The Win 2000 Pro was kept because of a game that wouldn't play >>>>> > on > >>>>> >>> Win >>> >>> >>> >>>>> XP. >>>>> >>>>> This computer belongs to our kids, Cheryl Lynn and Brad, and their >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> family. >>> >>> >>> >>>>> It's sitting here in my office until they finish putting together their >>>>> library and study area in their house. The girls often use it to do >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> homework >>> >>> >>> >>>>> and to visit online with their friends. Three days ago, I saw it had >>>>> > the > >>>>> awful blue screen of almost death – the one that says if this is the >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> first >>> >>> >>> >>>>> time you've seen this screen, reboot, otherwise go get professional >>>>> > help > >>>>> >>> or >>> >>> >>> >>>>> call the undertaker because your computer is dead – or something to >>>>> > that > >>>>> effect. >>>>> >>>>> I rebooted. It reached the point where Win XP should start and stopped. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> It >>> >>> >>> >>>>> displayed this message: >>>>> >>>>> "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> corrupt: >>> >>> >>> >>>>> system32\DRIVERS\pci.sys >>>>> You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the >>>>> original Setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair." >>>>> >>>>> I thought I'd try the other operating system. When Win 2000 tried to >>>>> start, it displayed this message: >>>>> >>>>> "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> corrupt: >>> >>> >>> >>>>> <Windows root>\system32\hal.dll >>>>> Please re-install a copy of the above file." >>>>> >>>>> I had to find my way into the BIOS to switch the boot sequence – by >>>>> >>>>> >> guess >> >> >>>>> and by golly to find which function key it needed (I think it ended up >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> being >>> >>> >>> >>>>> F2, but I'm not sure), because it was A:, C:, D: - and I needed D: to >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> come >>> >>> >>> >>>>> before C: Got that done, and put in the Setup CD-ROM and booted. >>>>> >>>>> Setup went through a process of loading lots of files, then came to the >>>>> first screen. I selected the 'r' choice. It brought me to what looked >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> like a >>> >>> >>> >>>>> DOS screen with the following message: >>>>> >>>>> "Microsoft Windows XP(TM) Recovery Console. >>>>> The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality. >>>>> Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer. >>>>> C:>" and a blinking cursor >>>>> >>>>> There were no other instructions on the screen and I am not familiar >>>>> >>>>> >> with >> >> >>>>> this Recovery Console. First, I thought that perhaps some recovery and >>>>> repair functions had happened in the background and it was time to >>>>> > EXIT. > >>>>> >>> So, >>> >>> >>> >>>>> I typed EXIT and pressed ENTER and the machine began trying to >>>>> > restart – > >>>>> >>> of >>> >>> >>> >>>>> course, I still had the CD in, so we went back around. I removed the CD >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> and >>> >>> >>> >>>>> rebooted, with precisely the same results as before. >>>>> >>>>> I have run Spin-Rite on this computer at three different levels, 2, 4, >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> and >>> >>> >>> >>>>> 5. There is a consistent uncorrectable error reported in the same >>>>> >>>>> >> section >> >> >>> of >>> >>> >>> >>>>> the partition. In the technical report screen, it is at the far right >>>>> > of > >>>>> >>> the >>> >>> >>> >>>>> screen, and it says "01." >>>>> >>>>> When the computer goes through the boot sequence, the POST sound is >>>>> >>>>> >> fine, >> >> >>>>> but when the operating system selection is made, there is a sort of >>>>> "squishy" sound that reminds me of the noise made by that failing hard >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> drive >>> >>> >>> >>>>> I worked on last year – a sort of high-pitched little squishy peep. I >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> think >>> >>> >>> >>>>> maybe the drive has a really bad spot right where some critical >>>>> >>>>> >> operating >> >> >>>>> system files are. >>>>> >>>>> I don't know what commands to use in the Recovery Console. If I did, I >>>>> would certainly give that a GO. Does anybody on this list have any good >>>>> advice – in addition to getting a new hard drive, or new computer >>>>> altogether? >>>>> >>>>> I did try to let Windows install itself, but it came back with the >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> message >>> >>> >>> >>>>> that the partition was too full or sick or something and would have to >>>>> >>>>> >> be >> >> >>>>> formatted before installation could proceed. And, no, my kids do not >>>>> >>>>> >> have >> >> >>>>> their stuff backed up from this computer, so I did not move ahead. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks for any ideas, >>>>> >>>>> T >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> dba-Tech mailing list >>>>> dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com >>>>> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech >>>>> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> dba-Tech mailing list >>>> dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com >>>> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech >>>> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> dba-Tech mailing list >> dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com >> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech >> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >> >> _______________________________________________ >> dba-Tech mailing list >> dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com >> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech >> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >> >> >> > _______________________________________________ > dba-Tech mailing list > dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > _______________________________________________ > dba-Tech mailing list > dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > >