[Macboatmaster]

I am now certain that your hard drive is failing.
PLease post the model of HP Pavilion and we will do just one more check.
Do not worry too much as you say there is nothing you are worried too much about losing.

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i am trying to contact her to get the model number.. i assume it will be on the sticker on the back of the tower?
she is just going to bring it to me tonight and i will have it here first hand to relay info ty for your help and patience

Edited by javamama, 22 September 2010 - 12:31 PM.

[javamama]

i am trying to contact her to get the model number.. i assume it will be on the sticker on the back of the tower?
she is just going to bring it to me tonight and i will have it here first hand to relay info ty for your help and patience

Edited by javamama, 22 September 2010 - 12:31 PM.

[Macboatmaster]

My research tells me that it is more than likely a Seagate HDD.
Try this and if it is it will run another check on the drive.
Use SeaTools for windows
http://www.tacktech....tid=287#seagate

[Macboatmaster]

My post 33 is the way to go.
Chkdsk has indicated twice that this HDD is failing ie: it has bad sectors.
The second run of chkdsk showed another bad sector.
If as I suspect the Seatools utility also shows bad sectors, we may presume that the HDD is definitely failing and the ONLY way to go is to recover all the data and reinsatll on a new hard drive.

Edited by Macboatmaster, 24 September 2010 - 06:36 AM.

[javamama]

installed and ran the diagnostic you linked to in post 33 and it says no hba has been detected
sorry this has taken so long to reply and thanks again for your patience


btw.. HP Pavillion 500
serial number :MX23717409
hope that is the info you need

Edited by javamama, 28 September 2010 - 11:04 AM.

[Macboatmaster]

Go back to the link download Seatools for Dos and run that.

[javamama]

ver 1 or 2 text or graphical?


...after giving it a moments thought i figure probably ver 2 as it is the latest version lol :/

Edited by javamama, 28 September 2010 - 12:54 PM.

[javamama]

the computer doesnt know what program to use to run the file i downloaded



...mmmkay i THINK i figured out that i have to burn the ISO image to a disk.. in which case i will have to get to another time as i am running out of time for today.
i will wait for a reply.. if one is even neccesary and then i will log off for the evening
thanks again

Edited by javamama, 28 September 2010 - 01:04 PM.

[Macboatmaster]

Found this on the HP site for your computer try this please. The F9 key for disgnostics is for HP computers built after 2008.

hideF10 SMART Support
If the F9 Diagnostic Tools utility is not available, run the F10 SMART Support test by completing the following steps:

1.
Turn on the computer.
2.
Use one of the following methods to enter the BIOS Setup utility:
*
If your computer was built in 2006 or later (Windows 7 or Vista), immediately press the F10 key. You might need to press the key repeatedly, about once every second, until a BIOS Setup utility screen opens.
*
If your computer was built before 2006 (Windows XP or earlier), press the F1 key . You might need to press the key repeatedly, about once every second, until a BIOS Setup utility screen opens.
3.
Use the arrow keys to select a hard drive in the list, and then press the Enter key.
4.
Select SMART Support , and then press the Enter key.
5.
Select one of the following hard drive device tests:
*
SMART Status Check : Checks the status of the hard drive SMART status. Displays whether SMART support is enabled or disabled.
*
SMART Short Self-Test : Runs a short self-test on the hard drive.
*
SMART Extended Self-Test : Runs an extended self-test on the hard drive. This may take some time.
6.
Press the Enter key to start the test.
7.
The test begins and the test status displays.
8.
Press the Esc key when the test is complete.
NOTE: If the test fails, back up your files, create recovery disks, and then replace the hard drive.

Edited by Macboatmaster, 29 September 2010 - 02:43 PM.

[javamama]

pressing f1 got me to phoenix - awardBIOS CMOS Setup Utility
the only choices i have are
Primary Master [ST380020A]
Primary Slave [ None ]
Secondary Master [CR48XCTE]
Secondary Slave [PIONEER DVD-ROM]

from there no matter which of these i chose my options are
IDE HDD Auto Detection [Press Enter]
IDE Secondary Master [AUTO]
Access Mode [AUTO]


what am i doing wrong?

[Macboatmaster]

You are not doing anything wrong, when you do as below

Use the arrow keys to select a hard drive in the list, and then press the Enter key.

is there NOT an option to select smart support
Choose primary master moving the highlight bar onto that using the keyboard and press enter.
This is where you should be for that

The Main tab of the BIOS Setup shows the following typical items on the screen. (Your system might be different):
Figure 1: Example of Phoenix - Award main screen

Edited by Macboatmaster, 30 September 2010 - 02:27 PM.

[Macboatmaster]

If this does not work, then run chkdsk /r again and if the bad sectors have increased, we can be certain the disk is failing and you should replace it.

[javamama]

i ran chksdsk again .. but i am not sure why i didnt see the results.. we have given in and are looking to get a new hard drive. she wants to go pretty cheap as it is really just a kids computer, and now i was wondering if you can tell me... do we need to get a specific brand.. or size? what do i need to look for to be compatible with her computer?
thanks again for all your help and sorry i have only been able to report back speratically

[Macboatmaster]

Refer to my post 28 for how to view chkdsk results. You did it previously.

You have an 80Gb Seagate Hard drive It is ATA that is a 40pin ribbon cable connector not a SATA drive.
Here is the drive details
http://www.seagate.c...ta/u6pmrevb.pdf

The drive model number is as your post 40. ST380020A

The second listed drive is your CD drive. Mitsumi

There are many places to buy hard drives and this link is NOT in any manner to be taken as advertising or supporting the business in the link. However it will give you an idea of cost and what you ned. These are all ATA drives. I do not know if your motherboard supports SATA, but I think it unlikely. I will send you some images of SATA connections and you will of course see your connection when you take the drive out.
http://www.misco.co.....asp?CatId=3096

On the link there is in fact the present equivalent of your drive 80Gb but you will see below that you can have 160Gb for very little more.

Edited by Macboatmaster, 05 October 2010 - 04:42 AM.

[javamama]

thanks alot for all your help!
guess we are just shopping now :/