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#1
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Zero Virtual Memory
The mystery has been solved. The HDD is fried. There is a simple diagnostic
test which would have told me this on 8/14 if I had known of it's existence. The good news is I learned a lot about software that may be useful in the future. -- Al W |
#2
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Hi AlW
Details of the "simple diagnostic test" please. -- Delboy A common mistake that people made when trying to design something completely foolproof was to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. Douglas Adams "Al W" wrote in message ... The mystery has been solved. The HDD is fried. There is a simple diagnostic test which would have told me this on 8/14 if I had known of it's existence. The good news is I learned a lot about software that may be useful in the future. -- Al W |
#3
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On my Dell Dimension 2100 it was accomplished by pressing Ctrl + Alt +
D keys at the same time at the Dell BIOS splash screen. This initiates the hard drive diagnostics which may take up to 3 minutes to complete. In my case it came up with a "fail" result. I had started to suspect that it might be a hardware problem, because I had pretty well exhausted all of the possible software solutions. I do not know if other manufacturers have such built in tests, but if they don't they should. In future, it will be one of the first tests I do before I start screwing around with the software. I was pleased when a Dell representative lead me in this direction. I take back everything I said about them previously. Hope this helps you. -- Al W "Delboy" wrote: Hi AlW Details of the "simple diagnostic test" please. -- Delboy A common mistake that people made when trying to design something completely foolproof was to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. Douglas Adams "Al W" wrote in message ... The mystery has been solved. The HDD is fried. There is a simple diagnostic test which would have told me this on 8/14 if I had known of it's existence. The good news is I learned a lot about software that may be useful in the future. -- Al W |
#4
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Thanks AlW. I have a Time (now defunct) box so probably won't work. Will
try, however and see what happens. -- Delboy A common mistake that people made when trying to design something completely foolproof was to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. Douglas Adams "Al W" wrote in message ... On my Dell Dimension 2100 it was accomplished by pressing Ctrl + Alt + D keys at the same time at the Dell BIOS splash screen. This initiates the hard drive diagnostics which may take up to 3 minutes to complete. In my case it came up with a "fail" result. I had started to suspect that it might be a hardware problem, because I had pretty well exhausted all of the possible software solutions. I do not know if other manufacturers have such built in tests, but if they don't they should. In future, it will be one of the first tests I do before I start screwing around with the software. I was pleased when a Dell representative lead me in this direction. I take back everything I said about them previously. Hope this helps you. -- Al W "Delboy" wrote: Hi AlW Details of the "simple diagnostic test" please. -- Delboy A common mistake that people made when trying to design something completely foolproof was to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. Douglas Adams "Al W" wrote in message ... The mystery has been solved. The HDD is fried. There is a simple diagnostic test which would have told me this on 8/14 if I had known of it's existence. The good news is I learned a lot about software that may be useful in the future. -- Al W |
#5
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Delboy
If you suspect your HD, find out its make (use either Belarc or Everest), and go to the manufacturer's website - you can download the testing program from there. -- Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's "Delboy" wrote in message news Thanks AlW. I have a Time (now defunct) box so probably won't work. Will try, however and see what happens. -- Delboy A common mistake that people made when trying to design something completely foolproof was to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. Douglas Adams "Al W" wrote in message ... On my Dell Dimension 2100 it was accomplished by pressing Ctrl + Alt + D keys at the same time at the Dell BIOS splash screen. This initiates the hard drive diagnostics which may take up to 3 minutes to complete. In my case it came up with a "fail" result. I had started to suspect that it might be a hardware problem, because I had pretty well exhausted all of the possible software solutions. I do not know if other manufacturers have such built in tests, but if they don't they should. In future, it will be one of the first tests I do before I start screwing around with the software. I was pleased when a Dell representative lead me in this direction. I take back everything I said about them previously. Hope this helps you. -- Al W "Delboy" wrote: Hi AlW Details of the "simple diagnostic test" please. -- Delboy A common mistake that people made when trying to design something completely foolproof was to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. Douglas Adams "Al W" wrote in message ... The mystery has been solved. The HDD is fried. There is a simple diagnostic test which would have told me this on 8/14 if I had known of it's existence. The good news is I learned a lot about software that may be useful in the future. -- Al W |
#6
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Glad to hear you found the source - although it still doesn't sound like the
sort of error that an HD failure usually gives! Good Luck. -- Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's "Al W" wrote in message ... The mystery has been solved. The HDD is fried. There is a simple diagnostic test which would have told me this on 8/14 if I had known of it's existence. The good news is I learned a lot about software that may be useful in the future. -- Al W |
#7
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Noel,
You have sown the seeds of doubt in my mind. I have followed up on your note to Delboy. It is an IBM HDD and I have visited their website and downloaded their diagnostic tool to a cd via my notebook. (IBM make a strong case for not jumping to a conclusion that it is a HDD failure too soon, they imply that this is often done erroneously.) Unfortunately, I cannot find the CD drive on the troublesome desktop! The Dell diagnosis did not indicate any problem with the CD drive. When I use the startup disk and get the A: prompt it will go to C: but no other. I do know that at one time I could find the CD at E:. Ah well, I will perservere for a little while longer. Thanks for your continuous support. -- Al W "Noel Paton" wrote: Glad to hear you found the source - although it still doesn't sound like the sort of error that an HD failure usually gives! Good Luck. -- Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's "Al W" wrote in message ... The mystery has been solved. The HDD is fried. There is a simple diagnostic test which would have told me this on 8/14 if I had known of it's existence. The good news is I learned a lot about software that may be useful in the future. -- Al W |
#8
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Oh - it's an IBM Deathstar, is it?? - chances are that it could well be the
problem (they are known for it!!), but best of luck getting a replacement out of them, since they sold the business on, years ago!!. To run the utility, you have to run the downloaded file to create a FLOPPY disk (usually the only option) - copying it to a CD is a waste of a perfectly good CD. Sometimes it is possible to create a CD using the downloaded tool - but often to do that you need to use third-party CD-writing software (Nero/EZCD/Sonic) - what are you using? Most disk test software boots direct to the test interface (I admit to never having seen the IBM one though)., and you should be able to take it from there.... -- Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's "Al W" wrote in message ... Noel, You have sown the seeds of doubt in my mind. I have followed up on your note to Delboy. It is an IBM HDD and I have visited their website and downloaded their diagnostic tool to a cd via my notebook. (IBM make a strong case for not jumping to a conclusion that it is a HDD failure too soon, they imply that this is often done erroneously.) Unfortunately, I cannot find the CD drive on the troublesome desktop! The Dell diagnosis did not indicate any problem with the CD drive. When I use the startup disk and get the A: prompt it will go to C: but no other. I do know that at one time I could find the CD at E:. Ah well, I will perservere for a little while longer. Thanks for your continuous support. -- Al W "Noel Paton" wrote: Glad to hear you found the source - although it still doesn't sound like the sort of error that an HD failure usually gives! Good Luck. -- Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's "Al W" wrote in message ... The mystery has been solved. The HDD is fried. There is a simple diagnostic test which would have told me this on 8/14 if I had known of it's existence. The good news is I learned a lot about software that may be useful in the future. -- Al W |
#9
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Noel,
You are right about the cd problems. Unfortunately I don't have a floppy drive on my notebook (it was a gift). Downloading direct to the desktop is out of the question, so I am between a rock and a hard place. You are probably right about it being fried. I probably should choose a more durable HDD for a replacement, or, I May end up just getting a new "box". Thanks again for your input. -- Al W "Noel Paton" wrote: Oh - it's an IBM Deathstar, is it?? - chances are that it could well be the problem (they are known for it!!), but best of luck getting a replacement out of them, since they sold the business on, years ago!!. To run the utility, you have to run the downloaded file to create a FLOPPY disk (usually the only option) - copying it to a CD is a waste of a perfectly good CD. Sometimes it is possible to create a CD using the downloaded tool - but often to do that you need to use third-party CD-writing software (Nero/EZCD/Sonic) - what are you using? Most disk test software boots direct to the test interface (I admit to never having seen the IBM one though)., and you should be able to take it from there.... -- Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's "Al W" wrote in message ... Noel, You have sown the seeds of doubt in my mind. I have followed up on your note to Delboy. It is an IBM HDD and I have visited their website and downloaded their diagnostic tool to a cd via my notebook. (IBM make a strong case for not jumping to a conclusion that it is a HDD failure too soon, they imply that this is often done erroneously.) Unfortunately, I cannot find the CD drive on the troublesome desktop! The Dell diagnosis did not indicate any problem with the CD drive. When I use the startup disk and get the A: prompt it will go to C: but no other. I do know that at one time I could find the CD at E:. Ah well, I will perservere for a little while longer. Thanks for your continuous support. -- Al W "Noel Paton" wrote: Glad to hear you found the source - although it still doesn't sound like the sort of error that an HD failure usually gives! Good Luck. -- Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's "Al W" wrote in message ... The mystery has been solved. The HDD is fried. There is a simple diagnostic test which would have told me this on 8/14 if I had known of it's existence. The good news is I learned a lot about software that may be useful in the future. -- Al W |
#10
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Delboy,
I would be interested in knowing how you fared with trying to obtain the HDD diagnostics. There maybe something contained in the original disks and or cd's that came with your computer. It might be worth looking into. The Dell Knowledge Article that I was guided to is: http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/doc...p?DN=HO1030780 While this will not be a direct help it may help you to search in the right places. Good luck. -- Al W "Delboy" wrote: Thanks AlW. I have a Time (now defunct) box so probably won't work. Will try, however and see what happens. -- Delboy A common mistake that people made when trying to design something completely foolproof was to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. Douglas Adams "Al W" wrote in message ... On my Dell Dimension 2100 it was accomplished by pressing Ctrl + Alt + D keys at the same time at the Dell BIOS splash screen. This initiates the hard drive diagnostics which may take up to 3 minutes to complete. In my case it came up with a "fail" result. I had started to suspect that it might be a hardware problem, because I had pretty well exhausted all of the possible software solutions. I do not know if other manufacturers have such built in tests, but if they don't they should. In future, it will be one of the first tests I do before I start screwing around with the software. I was pleased when a Dell representative lead me in this direction. I take back everything I said about them previously. Hope this helps you. -- Al W "Delboy" wrote: Hi AlW Details of the "simple diagnostic test" please. -- Delboy A common mistake that people made when trying to design something completely foolproof was to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. Douglas Adams "Al W" wrote in message ... The mystery has been solved. The HDD is fried. There is a simple diagnostic test which would have told me this on 8/14 if I had known of it's existence. The good news is I learned a lot about software that may be useful in the future. -- Al W |
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