Hard drive failing?

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

When I tried reformatting my computer after a failed Vista install, I tried installing XP from my Dell DVD. Turns out that didn't work because it created an error. I was forced to install XP from my "special" CD.

To cut to the chase, I looked up that error on Dell and apparently it means my hard drive is failing. Great huh?

Also, my computer has been locking up majorly and is slowing up and the CPU is taking up a lot a resources from random processes (rundll32 for example). It's not memory, but just CPU usage. I wonder if that has anything to do with a hard drive failing. To be fair though, I got major lockups on my past XP install and Vista solved it all. I need to reinstall Vista when I get a chance.

So, I need opinions, ideas, and recommendations on a new drive. I currently have a 160GB Samsung HD160JJ SATA3.0 HD. :)

[Panda Man]

Just to make sure, run hddh to ensure that the drive really is failing.

http://panterasoft.com/download/hddh.exe

If so, I would grab a Maxtor 300GB SATA150 16MB cache like the one in my sig, its teh greatness! Don't worry about the fact that its only SATAI, you won't be able to use all that bandwidth anyways

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Originally Posted by Panda Man

Just to make sure, run hddh to ensure that the drive really is failing.

http://panterasoft.com/download/hddh.exe

If so, I would grab a Maxtor 300GB SATA150 16MB cache like the one in my sig, its teh greatness! Don't worry about the fact that its only SATAI, you won't be able to use all that bandwidth anyways

I was actually thinking about a Seagate 250GB SATA3.0 drive... 7200.10 and perpendicular recording... Nice feature set.

I'm running that app right now, let's see.

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

OK, it says it's fine, but it says its 25% accurate... Doesn't sound too sure to me.

Either way, I need more HD space. Haha, I might as well.

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

OK, I'm getting errors rapidly about attributes changing... this is scaring me...

So far, it's Raw Read Error Rate, unknown attribute, and Write Error Rate.... they're just fluctuating...

Gah... what does this mean?

[Jokerswild]

Originally Posted by wtcnbrwndo4u

I was actually thinking about a Seagate 250GB SATA3.0 drive... 7200.10 and perpendicular recording... Nice feature set.

I'm running that app right now, let's see.

I have the Seagate 320 gig HDD and it runs flawless.

[whitecree]

Sounds a lot like what happened to me recently with my last HDD biting the dust. RAW read/write errors, problems formatting (and sssslllllloooooowwwww format times), random errors, etc.

Try clearing CMOS, maybe even replace that coin battery. Cheap enough to do, and sometimes it is just a corrupt CMOS that will do this to you. But if that doesn't clear it up, I'd say your HDD is getting ready to croak. Backup immediately and start looking for another drive.

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Originally Posted by whitecree

Sounds a lot like what happened to me recently with my last HDD biting the dust. RAW read/write errors, problems formatting (and sssslllllloooooowwwww format times), random errors, etc.

Try clearing CMOS, maybe even replace that coin battery. Cheap enough to do, and sometimes it is just a corrupt CMOS that will do this to you. But if that doesn't clear it up, I'd say your HDD is getting ready to croak. Backup immediately and start looking for another drive.

Will do that soon. I've already backed up some stuff on my iPod.