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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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