[dba-Tech] Trying to revive a computer - solved for now

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
>
>   



More information about the dba-Tech mailing list