Hard Drive Diagnostic Help

Necrosis · Nov 28, 2004, 05:31 PM

Hey folks,

I'm working on an older computer, and here at the specs.

Athlon Thunderbird 1.2GHz
640 meg of PC133
ECS K7S5A
5200
NEC 3500A
Memorex 52x CDRW
Zip 100
Maxtor 40 Gig

The problem I'm having is it keeps locking up when I install windows at the "Starting Windows" in XP setup. I've tried another failed drive I have, and it gets a little past that to the partition setup. I've run Memtest on it but every diagnostic program I've tried to use so far will not boot.

Powermax from Maxtor, and another program from Hitachi.

I know some of these programs don't like off brand chipsets, and I don't have another HD laying around to try out. Does anyone know of a good bootable HD diagnostic utility that will work? I'm not 100% sure the problem is with the HD but I want to be sure before I order a new motherboard/ram.

P.S. the computer already has a XP installed on it, and I can get into the safe mode most of the time. However, in safe mode it still will freeze. I did find out the rear exhaust fan wasn't working on the PSU so I purchased a new case (Antec case /w a 350) for the setup. I'm wondering if the hokey PSU didn't mess up the motherboard.

Necrosis · Nov 29, 2004, 01:12 AM

I could never get Powermax to boot from floopy or cd. So I had to test the drive on my setup; the drive turned out okay. Now I'm trying to decide what to do.

1. Get them a new motherboard /w some DDR

2. Switch back to AMD 64 myself, and give them a deal on my setup?

Decisions...decisions.

PangingJr · Nov 29, 2004, 03:10 AM

try disconnecting/removing the Zip drive from the PC before starting win XP setup. also try using other CD drive during the setup. if you have not tried this.

swimtech · Nov 29, 2004, 03:24 AM

That's right...

My unit did something like that a couple years ago due to a defective optical drive.

Necrosis · Nov 29, 2004, 03:39 AM

Thanks for the replies. Prior to having the dvd burner (Christmas present from myself to them) installed there was an older DVD Rom in it's place. I had the same problem with that drive. I've also tried removing the zip drive since it was/is in line with the hard drive. The motherboard seems to also come up with a checksum cmos error once in awhile too.

PangingJr · Nov 29, 2004, 03:46 AM

that's all i like to say, i'll let others help you with the decisions. hope all things comes out well at the end.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Nov 29, 2004, 04:56 AM

Check your CPu temps!

Check your voltages! manually prefured

try reseating everything

try different memory

try a diffrent windows CD

Try a diffrent CD rom drive

Try new IDE cabels

Update Bios / or @ least try to reset your bios and load defaults

ETC

pr0digal jenius · Nov 29, 2004, 05:18 AM

perhaps try a new BIOS chip too...if that isn't it, you've tried one last thign and are onyl out $15...if ti works..you saved yoursefl a wad of cash.

Necrosis · Nov 29, 2004, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Check your CPu temps!

41c idle 50c load

Quote:

Check your voltages! manually prefured

Verifed in bios and /w calibrated fluke meter. Bran new Antec Case /w 350 previous PSU in old case was dying. Old case was damaged in shipping, and the cost was 10 bucks for the new Antec case. I'm wondering if the PSU issue didn't some how damage the motherboard.

Quote:

try reseating everything

Yup

Quote:

try different memory

Ran MemTest for 12 hours /w no errors, and tried swapping out modules.

Quote:

try a diffrent windows CD

Yup

Quote:

Try a diffrent CD rom drive

Yup

Quote:

Try new IDE cabels

Yup

Quote:

Update Bios / or @ least try to reset your bios and load defaults

The board has the latest bios already installed. I've replaced the CMOS battery /w the same resets after a reset.

Like I said previous I've finally run the diagnostic tool from Maxtor on the drive. PowerMAX did find some errors but corrected them.

I do want to thank you guys for your input. I've actually went back to check a few things if I couldn't remember doing them. I think this setup has just about had it, so I'm seriously thinking about doing the upgrade for them and letting them have a vast upgrade as well.

Vampyromaniac · Nov 30, 2004, 02:52 AM

Have you tried taking their drive out and trying with a known good drive instead?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Necrosis

The motherboard seems to also come up with a checksum cmos error once in awhile too.

That motherboard is known to do that, trust me

Nov 28, 2004, 05:31 PM	#1
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Hard Drive Diagnostic Help Hey folks, I'm working on an older computer, and here at the specs. Athlon Thunderbird 1.2GHz 640 meg of PC133 ECS K7S5A 5200 NEC 3500A Memorex 52x CDRW Zip 100 Maxtor 40 Gig The problem I'm having is it keeps locking up when I install windows at the "Starting Windows" in XP setup. I've tried another failed drive I have, and it gets a little past that to the partition setup. I've run Memtest on it but every diagnostic program I've tried to use so far will not boot. Powermax from Maxtor, and another program from Hitachi. I know some of these programs don't like off brand chipsets, and I don't have another HD laying around to try out. Does anyone know of a good bootable HD diagnostic utility that will work? I'm not 100% sure the problem is with the HD but I want to be sure before I order a new motherboard/ram. P.S. the computer already has a XP installed on it, and I can get into the safe mode most of the time. However, in safe mode it still will freeze. I did find out the rear exhaust fan wasn't working on the PSU so I purchased a new case (Antec case /w a 350) for the setup. I'm wondering if the hokey PSU didn't mess up the motherboard.

Nov 29, 2004, 03:24 AM	#4
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	That's right... My unit did something like that a couple years ago due to a defective optical drive. __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Nov 29, 2004, 04:56 AM	#7
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	Check your CPu temps! Check your voltages! manually prefured try reseating everything try different memory try a diffrent windows CD Try a diffrent CD rom drive Try new IDE cabels Update Bios / or @ least try to reset your bios and load defaults ETC __________________

Nov 29, 2004, 01:12 AM	Thread Starter #2
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	I could never get Powermax to boot from floopy or cd. So I had to test the drive on my setup; the drive turned out okay. Now I'm trying to decide what to do. 1. Get them a new motherboard /w some DDR 2. Switch back to AMD 64 myself, and give them a deal on my setup? Decisions...decisions.

Nov 29, 2004, 03:10 AM	#3
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	try disconnecting/removing the Zip drive from the PC before starting win XP setup. also try using other CD drive during the setup. if you have not tried this.

Nov 29, 2004, 03:39 AM	Thread Starter #5
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Thanks for the replies. Prior to having the dvd burner (Christmas present from myself to them) installed there was an older DVD Rom in it's place. I had the same problem with that drive. I've also tried removing the zip drive since it was/is in line with the hard drive. The motherboard seems to also come up with a checksum cmos error once in awhile too.

Nov 29, 2004, 03:46 AM	#6
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	that's all i like to say, i'll let others help you with the decisions. hope all things comes out well at the end.

Nov 29, 2004, 05:18 AM	#8
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	perhaps try a new BIOS chip too...if that isn't it, you've tried one last thign and are onyl out $15...if ti works..you saved yoursefl a wad of cash.