BSOD-Unmountable & others

"Daave" wrote in message
...
antioch wrote:
"Daave" wrote in message
...
antioch wrote:

Another quick update - I did that old trick - unplug - left it off
for 30 mins - came back - switched on and Windows has fired up in
double quick time.
But I know from previously, if I switch off[not unplug] it will not
start.

What are your power settings set for? Do you use Hiberbnation or
System Standby? Which method do you use to "switch off?"

I do not know what the power settings are - are they in Bios - if so
will get them later.
Never use Hibernation or standby - I exit via Start/Turn off.
I will be away from the computer for a while.

No, not the BIOS settings. I was referring to the Windows XP settings,
accessible by:

(right-clicking on an unused area on the desktop)

Display Properties | Screen Saver | Power

(and then later, the Advanced tab)


Hi Daave
Ah -that power settings - under Advanced tab - Options not ticked: Power
Buttons is When I press the power button shut down. I have never been in
there to change - must be default.
Hibernate is not ticked to enable. Power Schemes - Entry is 'Never' for
turn off monitor, turn off HDDs, and System Standby.

The current situation is this. Having managed to almost always get into
Windows, I have since scanned with HDDScan-3.2 and HDSentinaDos free.
HDDScan reports just one item - UltraDMA CRC Error - Google searching has
differing opinions as to a hardrive failure or missing bits of Windows.
HDSentinal reports that I have a 100% functioning disc and that there are no
problems elsewhere.
For the moment, the jury still seem to out as to who/what is 'guilty'.
I did pick up a little tip which seems to be working - once you have managed
to
get into Windows and the desktop, which has not been impossible with trial
and error in Rec Console, before you switch/turn off the computer, set
chkdsk to initiate with the command chkdsk /r.
It takes a bit of time when you switch on next, or course, to open into
desktop, but it is getting quicker - less and less activity is happening in
the 5 stages - and it boots up every time. On the first runs there was no
end of stuff/files being deleted etc. At the moment the longest stage is 4.
So this is how I am running whilst I look into a suitable replacement HDD.
Its nice to see that this group has not yet had the 'chop'.

Thanks again for your help and interest - yes I will have a look/go with
UBCD4Win.

Rgds
Antioch

"Daave" wrote in message
...
antioch wrote:
"Daave" wrote in message
...
antioch wrote:

Another quick update - I did that old trick - unplug - left it off
for 30 mins - came back - switched on and Windows has fired up in
double quick time.
But I know from previously, if I switch off[not unplug] it will not
start.

What are your power settings set for? Do you use Hiberbnation or
System Standby? Which method do you use to "switch off?"

I do not know what the power settings are - are they in Bios - if so
will get them later.
Never use Hibernation or standby - I exit via Start/Turn off.
I will be away from the computer for a while.

No, not the BIOS settings. I was referring to the Windows XP settings,
accessible by:

(right-clicking on an unused area on the desktop)

Display Properties | Screen Saver | Power

(and then later, the Advanced tab)


Hi Daave
Ah -that power settings - under Advanced tab - Options not ticked: Power
Buttons is When I press the power button shut down. I have never been in
there to change - must be default.
Hibernate is not ticked to enable. Power Schemes - Entry is 'Never' for
turn off monitor, turn off HDDs, and System Standby.

The current situation is this. Having managed to almost always get into
Windows, I have since scanned with HDDScan-3.2 and HDSentinaDos free.
HDDScan reports just one item - UltraDMA CRC Error - Google searching has
differing opinions as to a hardrive failure or missing bits of Windows.
HDSentinal reports that I have a 100% functioning disc and that there are no
problems elsewhere.
For the moment, the jury still seem to out as to who/what is 'guilty'.
I did pick up a little tip which seems to be working - once you have managed
to
get into Windows and the desktop, which has not been impossible with trial
and error in Rec Console, before you switch/turn off the computer, set
chkdsk to initiate with the command chkdsk /r.
It takes a bit of time when you switch on next, or course, to open into
desktop, but it is getting quicker - less and less activity is happening in
the 5 stages - and it boots up every time. On the first runs there was no
end of stuff/files being deleted etc. At the moment the longest stage is 4.
So this is how I am running whilst I look into a suitable replacement HDD.
Its nice to see that this group has not yet had the 'chop'.

Thanks again for your help and interest - yes I will have a look/go with
UBCD4Win.

Rgds
Antioch

Update

The latest is that HDDScan has been running for a few days and the logs have
been sent to them.
They report back that there is nothing at all wrong with the disc itself.
The only concern is - Quote -

"However, there were data transfer errors reported because of the
increasing number of "Ultra ATA CRC Error Count" attribute.
You can examine its value on the S.M.A.R.T. page.

Usually loose or improper SATA cable connections cause this issue.
I recommend to verify both the power and the data cable connected to your
drive.
If you see the plugs do not fit properly, you may change the data cable to a
better one"

I have reseated the cable from power to HDD and from HDD to MB. The cable
has been there since install.

So the only other possible cause is that the OS has some faulty files etc
that cannot be corrected via the RecCons but appear to be solved when chkdsk
/r is performed on startup. Today's run showed no moved/deleted etc
files/folders at all during the scans 1-5.

I will switch off the computer without the chkdsk /r request and see what
happens.

Thanks again for all the help.

Rgds
Antioch

"antioch" wrote in message
...
"Daave" wrote in message
...

Update

The latest is that HDDScan has been running for a few days and the logs have
been sent to them.
They report back that there is nothing at all wrong with the disc itself.
The only concern is - Quote -

"However, there were data transfer errors reported because of the
increasing number of "Ultra ATA CRC Error Count" attribute.
You can examine its value on the S.M.A.R.T. page.

Usually loose or improper SATA cable connections cause this issue.
I recommend to verify both the power and the data cable connected to your
drive.
If you see the plugs do not fit properly, you may change the data cable to a
better one"

I have reseated the cable from power to HDD and from HDD to MB. The cable
has been there since install.

So the only other possible cause is that the OS has some faulty files etc
that cannot be corrected via the RecCons but appear to be solved when chkdsk
/r is performed on startup. Today's run showed no moved/deleted etc
files/folders at all during the scans 1-5.

I will switch off the computer without the chkdsk /r request and see what
happens.

Thanks again for all the help.

Rgds
Antioch

"antioch" wrote in message
...
"Daave" wrote in message
...

When you had reported that SeaTools for DOS indicated your hard drive
was healthy, I assumed the hard drive was healthy. But it seems those
results were very inaccurate! You most likely will need to purchase a
new drive. Sorry that it has to be this way!

You could always use another PC (a healthy one!) to scan the hard drive
if you want to be 100% positive. Or there are certain CDs you can use
(like UBCD4Win) that contain drive diagnostics.