Constant Reformatting!

[Random Hero]

Im sick of reformatting my pc, im computer literate, but sometime last month it went down, good and proper, iwasnt using it at the time so i dont know how, but i lost everything. It's a good pc, 6 months ago it was a top notch gaming rig. Since it went down ive had constant problems, every so often it randomly blue screens, which is never usually a problem, but after one, windows loading screen never stops, the bar just keeps sliding and never actually loads the OS, and the rare occasion it does, it freezes totally after i enter my user password. I'm thinking it might be my hard drives, as i can hear them working lately and never recalled it before.... any ideas from anyone?

[The Builder]

..sounds like classic HD failure..they either go in the first few months, or they last for years...........

[cazzzz1975]

If you boot up in safe mode you can check your hard drive (using my computer/hhd/properties/tools/scandisk

If you are going to reinstall from scratch, make sure you fully reformat the hard drive, not quick format as some virus's can live in your boot sectors. a full reinstall will get rid of any lurking virus

[Random Hero]

i also noticed that a lot of times when i know its gonna go down soon, the scan disk program starts and checks for consistency, thats what led me to assume it was my HD.

Anyone else to confirm HD failure? cos if its probable then i will probably go for a new HD. Thanks in advance

[peanut]

For what it's worth, I had the same problem with my laptop. It was not loading Windows. I reformatted and reinstalled. It then loaded the OS on startup but would randomly freeze up and go to blue screen saying windows has encountered an error and needs to close. I put the hard drive through several tests and it failed every one of them with a read element error. Long story short, I replaced the HDD and have had no trouble since.

[peanut]

Cazzzz1975,

What you say is partially true. A full format may get rid of a virus in your boot sector but will not get rid of a virus or a trojan in your BIOS known as a root kit. Only a flash of your BIOS or a good root kit detector will take care of that.

[Buenchico]

Like others, I agree that the noise from your hard drive suggests that it's 'on the way out'.

However, I'm curious as to why you choose to reformat your drive whenever you get the problems you refer to. Doing so deletes all of your data but it's usually possible to reinstall Windows on top of itself without losing any data (or installed software) at all.

To do an 'on top' installation of Windows, use a boot floppy to start your PC without Windows. Choose 'start with CD support'. Note the letter assigned to your CD drive. (It may well be different from normal. In most cases, it will be 'E'). Insert your Windows CD. Type E:setup, hit 'Return' and follow the instructions.

I've reinstalled Windows many times, using the 'on top' method. It almost invariably fixes any problems, while retaining all of the installed programs and data. (The only thing I usually need to do is to reinstall, or update, my anti-virus program).

Chris

[ACtheTROLL]

probably the others are right .... but a problem that is growing quite rapidly is the original sata1 connecting cables. (if you have IDE discs stop reading here!!;-)

if you read the iso on these things you'll see that the reuse life is approx 7 insertions ..... they are ridiculously rigid and springy .... and case mfrs insist on putting disc mountings too close to the case cover to be able to get a decent bend away from the connector. So the first symptoms are often intermittent or short disconnections (which cause noise, and scandisc)

the newer cables come with a 90 degree option .... and have a clippy thing which holds a little better.

a new cable will only cost �5 ... and if the HDD is on the way out ... will still come in handy

[cazzzz1975]

Peanut

because he stated that his computer was less than 4 years old, he will find that BIOS protection comes as standard.

My comments are not an absolute fix, as the computer would have to be in front of me for that.... :D

it was merely a likely possibility