[barrage]

Alright, I'll run that when I get home later, thanks for your help so far.

[Advertisements]

No problem and goodluck with that test.
If after that test nothing shows with errors then here are the instructions for the next diagnostics I would like to see ran.

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, try the Hitachi DFT CD Image version of the software

Thanks to Broni for the instructions

[rshaffer61]

No problem and goodluck with that test.
If after that test nothing shows with errors then here are the instructions for the next diagnostics I would like to see ran.

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, try the Hitachi DFT CD Image version of the software

Thanks to Broni for the instructions

[barrage]

The extended memory check took a really long time to finish, but it found no errors, I'll have to wait until tomorrow to do the last check told me to do, I'll let you know when it's done.

[rshaffer61]

OK no problem and I'm glad the memory shows as good. I will await your results on the hd test.

[barrage]

It's crashed about 5 more times since last night... (blue screen every time)...it fails to do an update for windows...just sits there at 0% downloaded then blue screens on me. I tried the work around given by sony but that did nothing...

Also no store near me atm sells blank cds...surprisingly...is there another way to check the HD?

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 for x64-based Systems (KB976932)

Installation date: ‎3/‎11/‎2011 2:54 AM

Installation status: Failed

Error details: Code 800B0100

Update type: Important

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is a recommended collection of updates and improvements to Windows that are combined into a single installable update. The service pack can help make your computer safer and more reliable. A typical installation will take about 30 minutes to complete, and you will have to restart your computer about halfway through the process.

More information:
http://go.microsoft..../?LinkId=206783

Help and Support:
http://go.microsoft..../?LinkId=206784

Was the error and their solution didn't work...

[rshaffer61]

If your system is capable of booting to a usb device like a flash drive you could possibly try it that way.
OK the issue seems to be the Win 7 OS itself that is causing your problem so lets do a Repair Installation by following the steps HERE.
Please read and follow all instructions carefully.

[barrage]

I was also wondering...at this point do you think the issue will be fixed with a repair install or would it be better to get a different brand of laptop? Also how do I burn the image of the OS onto a disc (I'll run out later on to find a place that can sell me blank discs), since sony doesn't give us the actual discs but allows us to use the image they created to burn it to a disc...

[rshaffer61]

If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

[barrage]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I tried running the OS repair install from a Windows 7 64 bit version I ordered a while ago, but while trying to install ...another blue screen, does this mean it's an issue with the HD or something?. So I went back and tried to burn the samsung HD tool to run the tests but after burning it to a DvD-R cd it said that the version is incompatible with my version of Windows 7, so before wasting another cd I figured I should ask you again.

[rshaffer61]

So I went back and tried to burn the samsung HD tool to run the tests but after burning it to a DvD-R cd it said that the version is incompatible with my version of Windows 7, so before wasting another cd I figured I should ask you again.

It would be better to run the DOS based version so that windows is not running at all.
There should be a version that says something like DOS cd iso

[barrage]

I don't see any, this is what I see:

ES-Tool (The Drive Diagnostic Utility) v2.12a (03.12.2009)
ES Tool (The Drive Diagnostic Utility) is made with the aim of testing a Samsung hard disk drive while it is installed inside a PC, regardless of the status of user's operating system. In fact of the drives returned to Samsung, a large percentage are NTF("No Trouble Found") after testing. So it is strongly recommended to test the drive if it is truly defective by a few fundamental troubleshooting of ES Tool first, to avoid user's unnecessary effort and inconvenience of replacing a good drive.

- Download ES-Tool for FDD (Direct Link)
- Download ES-Tool Bootable CD ISO (Direct Link)
- View Additional Information

Unless I'm not looking at the proper thing, I clicked the second link for CD ISO and it still gave me the error when I tried to run the disc? Am I supposed to restart the computer and do the boot from disc option? I tried doing it while I was logged into Windows...

Edited by barrage, 12 March 2011 - 10:17 PM.

[rshaffer61]

Download ES-Tool Bootable CD ISO (Direct Link)

This is the one you want and then you follow the instructions in post 23 to burn the file to a cd.

[barrage]

It's already on the CD am I supposed to run it after restarting or when logged onto windows?

[rshaffer61]

Put the cd in the cdrom and then reboot the system with the cd in.
If the cd is done right then the system should boot to it.
If not then you may need to change the boot sequence in the bios so that the cdrom is the first boot device.

[barrage]

I get this error when trying to run the cd after rebooting:

Can't open CD driver CD001. SHSUCDX can't install. Then has a blue box with info that says:

TURBODSK 2.42 Drive C: Sector size: 512
Size: 4096 Kbytes Root entries: 384
Memory: Extended (XMS) Sectors/cluster: 4
2040 clusters (FAT12)

then under that it says:

your ram drive is loaded at C:
Out of memory error.
Bad command or filename.

Edited by barrage, 12 March 2011 - 11:01 PM.