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Resolved Message- wanting bootable media inserted

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by Alicia J, 2009/09/14.

  1. 2009/09/14
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member Thread Starter

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    I had the computer up and running about 6 hrs. No problem with initial boot.
    Computer had not been used for about 4 hrs. Computer rebooted on it's own, and I came in to see a black screen, with info that usually flashes by at startup, stuck at a certain point. Reset, same results. Power switch on PC still same message. I crawled under under desk, unplugged it from the wall. I waited and it started up fine. (PC cool to touch). It has now been on for several hours with no problem.

    What do you suggest I put in as bootable media when it requests it? Windows XP disk, slipstream SP3 bootable disk I made, or bootable CD made with Acronis?

    Is my HD failing? What should I check first?
     
    Alicia J,
    #1
  2. 2009/09/14
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Nothing. It shouldn't be asking you, and might very well be an indication of a failing HD. Hope you have a backup routine in place.

    Check out the drive using the manufacturer's disk diagnostics:

    ExcelStore

    Fujitsu

    Hitachi/IBM

    Samsung

    Seagate, Maxtor, Quantum

    Western Digital
     
    Arie,
    #2


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  4. 2009/09/14
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member Thread Starter

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    I have a dumb question. The motherboard is ASUS. The processor is
    Intel Pentium 4. Is it a diagnostic tool for the motherboard I should be looking at?

    I do make regular backups. :)
     
    Alicia J,
    #3
  5. 2009/09/29
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Sorry, I missed your response. No, you should be testing your hard disk, it may be failing.
     
    Arie,
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  6. 2009/09/29
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Arie, your link to Excelstore doesn't work. Neil.
     
    retiredlearner,
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  7. 2009/09/29
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Airie does this mean I have a western digital?
    IDE Disk drive 0 : WDC WD800JB-00ETA0 Size: 80GB
     
    Alicia J,
    #6
  8. 2009/09/30
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Thanks, fixed.
     
    Arie,
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  9. 2009/09/30
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Yes, if you enter WDC WD800JB in Google you'll find out quickly enough... in case you don't know that WDC stands for Western Digital Corp ;)
     
    Arie,
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  10. 2009/09/30
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Alicia J,
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  11. 2009/10/01
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    That's not the link I supplied. You need to go here instead:

    http://support.wdc.com/download/

    You can enter your Model Number WD800JB in the box & it will show you your options.

    Since your drive still works (occasionally) you can use the Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows tools. If it wouldn't boot, you'd either need the Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for DOS (Floppy) or Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for DOS (CD).

    On the download page a full instructions of how to use the software.
     
    Arie,
    #10
  12. 2009/10/02
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks Arie. I will have a go at it next week and report back.
     
    Alicia J,
    #11
  13. 2009/10/07
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Alicia J,
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  14. 2009/10/08
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Well, it should (also) be listed under physical drives, but you only seem to have USB listed there... re-check your connections & make sure the drive is connected properly. This isn't an external drive is it?
     
    Arie,
    #13
  15. 2009/10/09
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member Thread Starter

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    In the device manager C is listed as a disk drive along with the 2 USB card readers. It is an internal drive. Could Acronis or GoBack be messing up the view?

    In SIW it is listed as a logical disk and in System summary as Disk space
    Disk C

    Exactly what connections would I be looking for? Are they connected physically to the Hard drive? Those things that look like ribbons? Can you give me a link or attach a picture of what I'm checking?
     
    Alicia J,
    #14
  16. 2009/10/09
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    No.

    You are looking for the ribbon that runs from the hard drive to the motherboard.

    It should be connected since you are booting off it, I have no idea why it's not showing in the WD software.

    What is listed in your Device Manager under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers?
     
    Arie,
    #15
  17. 2009/10/09
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member Thread Starter

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    This is what's listed Arie

    Device Manager.jpg
     
    Alicia J,
    #16
  18. 2009/10/10
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Sorry, I don't think I can be of any more help. I'll move this to the hardware forum.
     
    Arie,
    #17
  19. 2009/10/10
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Okay, thanks Arie.
     
    Alicia J,
    #18

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