You haven't yet really made a case for suspecting the HDD. You have only
mentioned that it is a particular Access 2003 .mdb file which is slow - and
other (unspecified) small problems. Is the PC running slow with ALL
programs? Is it slow to boot? How about scandisk (or 'Error checking' if
you are running XP)? Does that tell you anything?
What happens if you just open Access alone (no data) - is that slow too?
Why not try Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del) and see if you can identify any
'extra' overheads when opening or rather executing queries in Access.
However, if I ... install it (the database?) on a PC with much lower
capabilities, it functions just fine!
'Install'? - I assume you mean 'open' the same .mdb file on another PC
running Access 2003
Have you tried running the Northwind Sample Database? - Is that slow too?
Perhaps the re-install is not equivalent to a reformat, and I should first
try the Maxtor utility (for my XP system) for a low level format, and not
worry about a full disc cleaning.
I think you'll find that a Low Level Format is effectively 'a full disk
clean'. It's not exactly 'selective' - it'll wipe the lot, requiring a full
install etc.
Mart
"atlantis43 via WindowsKB.com" u24690@uwe wrote in message
news:70cd53b662c76@uwe...
Mike;
Your comments sound convincing, but I remain confused. My particular
problem
arose on my PC (the one running XP) with very slow functioning of
Access2003
Db, which started running queries slowly, opening forms slowly, and
opening
my modules OH SO SLOWLY! My OS and MSOFFICE were re-installed, but this
barely improved the problem.
However, if I take the same Db and install it on a PC with much lower
capabilities, it functions just fine!
Clearly, something is corrupting my system, and persisting after re-
installation. Perhaps this is 'one of those things'.
Perhaps the re-install is not equivalent to a reformat, and I should first
try the Maxtor utility (for my XP system) for a low level format, and not
worry about a full disc cleaning.
Richard
Mike M wrote:
Source for above statement (for RE-INSTALLING an OS) can be seen on
WD KB msg #1211, virtually verbatim!
"Western Digital provides software utilities that can erase all the data
on a hard drive. Writing zeros to a drive is recommended any time an
operating system is to be reinstalled on a boot drive or whenever a blank
drive is desired. "
Recommended maybe but by no means required. I have never had to write
zeroes to a hard drive before either first use or installing an operating
system and I've been working with PCs now for the best part of twenty five
years. Since I have never experienced problems that might require a low
level format I don't intend doing so now. g
Seagate in contrast say "Perform this "low-level-format" only if all other
POWERMAX tests have passed (or by direction of Seagate Technical Support)
and the hard drive is still not performing correctly."
Also, a top level IT acquaintance tells me (as I, with my limited PC
knowledge understand it) that there can frequently be 'duplicate'
files that are corrupted (perhaps due to malware, improper uninstall
procedures, etc.) that can be causing system malfunctions, and the
only way to solve the problem is to truly 'eliminate' all such files.
I'm sorry but for the greater part your friend is incorrect. Formatting a
hard disk is all that is required to remove a previous operating system.
It is very rarely necessary to write zeroes, this is normally only
required, and multiple times, when disposing of hard drives that
previously contained sensitive material so as to prevent its recovery
using specialist tools.
The only other time that I would contemplate performing a low level format
is if I was experiencing major read or write problems on a hard drive and
I had run the manufacturer's test utility such as Maxtor's PowerMax or
Seagate's SeaTools and the utility had made this recommendation.
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