computer problem - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Eddie Bronze · 01-09-2005, 07:30 PM

Got this "error report" window when I went to defragment the hard drive.

If anyone can help me out with what I should do to fix this, I would really appreciate it.

AC · 01-09-2005, 07:33 PM

I would assume you should run CHKDSK or SCANDISK.

Eddie Bronze · 01-09-2005, 07:34 PM

I kinda gathered that but is one preferable over the other?

Eddie Bronze · 01-09-2005, 07:48 PM

I tried to run SCANDISK, it won't let me.
I ran CHKDSK and the DOS window came up, but it only appeared to do stage 1 of 3.
I went back in to try the defragmentation again and got the same window. :/

ricosuave · 01-09-2005, 07:55 PM

are you using ntfs or fat32?

maybe try it in safe mode?

you could also try to power off the comp while windows is running, that usually instigates a scandisk on the next reboot.

rico

Eddie Bronze · 01-09-2005, 08:01 PM

NTFS

In the CHKDSK window, right under where it says the file system, this line:

WARNING! F parameter not specified.

HelloHockeyFans · 01-09-2005, 08:05 PM

Do you hear "clicking" noises coming from your computer?

Eddie Bronze · 01-09-2005, 08:08 PM

Why yes I do.

KevanGuy · 01-09-2005, 08:12 PM

Open nearest window.

Disconnect computer.

Drop computer out window.

Eddie Bronze · 01-09-2005, 08:14 PM

HelloHockeyFans · 01-09-2005, 08:23 PM

Not a bad proposal from KevanGuy!!

Seriously though, when your harddrive makes clicking noises, that usually means it's damaged physically.

Eddie Bronze · 01-09-2005, 08:25 PM

How often are you talking with the clicking noises? I only heard a noise probably twice all weekend. :/

KevanGuy · 01-09-2005, 08:28 PM

In all seriousness, I had a similar problem with the physical integrity of my HD last summer or something. I suggest you backup stuff you need or want before its too late. I got burned when half the music/pics on my comp were corrupted and/or destroyed.

Oh, and if you have SystemWorks by Norton it can help you figure out the problem.

HelloHockeyFans · 01-09-2005, 08:31 PM

The clicking noises will only occur everytime your computer tries to access the portion of memory which is physically damaged.

When your harddrive is physically damaged, it's not repairable. My suggestion for you is to start making copies of everything which is important on your computer on to a CD.

Once you've done that you COULD try and reformat your whole computer and partition it into a few drives. Experiment with each drive and see how much actual usable space you have without actually saving stuff on to the damaged portion.

This is only a suggestion though!

InTheSlot · 01-09-2005, 08:33 PM

Running chkdsk will not repair or fix any issues you might have. It only
"checks" it. To repair any issues you need to use the switch (space) /f,

where "f" represents fixing any found problems.

If that doesn't take care of it you might try a 3rd party utility called "TuneUp 2004", available at http://www.tweakxp.com.

I think they offer a free 15 day trial. Run every module in it and you should be taken care of. You could also try a much smaller diag program called "1clickfix"....you might get lucky there, and it's available at the same site.

InTheSlot · 01-09-2005, 08:38 PM

Also, @HelloHockeyFans:

It's impossible to "pick and choose" where you want to save information on your HardDisk. I don't mean in Windows, because obviously you can decide what folders you want to save things onto, but on the actual HardDisk inside your computer tower, you can't make the computer save information to a particular sector. Windows automatically (and pretty much randomly) divides up the HardDisk and saves information in certain spots. (It tries hard to organize the HD so it can access information easily and quickly, but as you may know, it seldom does).

So there's no guarantee that Windows won't try and save information on the damaged portion of the HD again. (This of course, assuming that there is a damaged sector -- to find out if there is, use my options provided above)

Eddie Bronze · 01-09-2005, 08:41 PM

What exactly do you mean when you say:

To repair any issues you need to use the switch (space) /f

I assume I'm still going to go START>RUN, but what will I actually be typing in that window?

Also note that I'm not sure that the clicking sound physically came from the hard drive. I thought it sounded like it came from the back of the computer, but obviously can't be sure.

InTheSlot · 01-09-2005, 09:01 PM

chkdsk /f

If it says the volume is in use by another process, Press "Y" and hit enter and let it run the next time your PC reboots (You should probably restart it after you do that)

HelloHockeyFans · 01-09-2005, 09:03 PM

Hmm... yeah I know what you're saying InTheSlot... but say he had a 30G HD and he partitioned it into two halves of 15G each. If the damaged portion lied in Partition B, couldn't he run Windows off of partition A and just use partition A without any further issues with his HD?

InTheSlot · 01-09-2005, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HelloHockeyFans@Jan 9 2005, 09:03 PM
Hmm... yeah I know what you're saying InTheSlot... but say he had a 30G HD and he partitioned it into two halves of 15G each. If the damaged portion lied in Partition B, couldn't he run Windows off of partition A and just use partition A without any further issues with his HD?

Yes, most definitely, but that'd be a huge chunk of space he'd be wasting (1/2 of it actually, if you divide it into A and B).

Plus, there's no real way of knowing though which sector is damaged.