Random BSODs, problem with minidump file but not with kernel mem dump

Centaur

Okay, tell me if this seems right to you. My setup is one disk (C: and D: ) that is a problem, while the other disk (E: and F: ) are good.

1. I plan to install Win 7 on E: because I want to do a low level format on the other damaged disk. I am assuming this is possible, that in the Win7 Setup I can select the E: drive as my destination for the install. I guess I then have to boot from that drive. I would hope to be able to remap it as the C drive. Do you know if this is possible? (Of course, if I could do the low level format during the Win installation, that would be easier, but I have no idea if it formats in this way.)

2. I'll then use HDD Guru to do a low level format on the damaged disk. Theoretically, I'd then use the old C: and D: (hopefully remapped to different letters) for my media.

How does this sound?

Red

let me put it this way.....

Disk1 => contains C: and D: => Problem
Disk2 => contains E: and F: => Good.

Next step ... make sure you dont have anything on E partition because you are going to install Windows 7 ... while installation.. this would format the partition. The partition that windows install is automatically taken as C: ... the rest of the letters goes from there... so in ur case.. the E: and F: will change to C: and D: ( all the files remain in F: and only the drive letter changes to D: )

HDD guru or any other software will most probably do the low level formats by booting from a usb or cd/dvd because low level format cannot be done while windows in working.... Low level format now means more like writing zero filling the sectors

Hope its clear now...

Centaur

Here's the update: I ended up doing the reinstall on the working drive. Spent all day tweaking the OS and installing apps. I also ran HDD Guru's low level format on the damaged drive. And, when it was done: success! Everything was blue. Both drives were showing good health.

Here's the problem

So, at the end of the night, I do a restart because I've added drivers and updated Windows and all that.

I got a boot error. So I went into the usb install, tried to repair. That didn't work. I read some tutorials on how to use the cmd prompt in the repair program to select the proper volume. I think I made it worse. I am now getting a

BOOTMGR is missing Press Ctrl Alt Delete

error every time I start. No matter how I set the BIOS it won't read my USB. If I had Win 7 on a DVD I could probably get back into the repair. Since all my other machines are OS X (none with an optical drive!), I am going to bend the knee and take it to a technician. I only had yesterday to work on it, anyway.

But, in the end, the disks both looked good, so that's a success. I just have to get the darn thing to boot now!

Thanks

redcloud111 said:

Centaur

Here's the update: I ended up doing the reinstall on the working drive. Spent all day tweaking the OS and installing apps. I also ran HDD Guru's low level format on the damaged drive. And, when it was done: success! Everything was blue. Both drives were showing good health.

Here's the problem

So, at the end of the night, I do a restart because I've added drivers and updated Windows and all that.

I got a boot error. So I went into the usb install, tried to repair. That didn't work. I read some tutorials on how to use the cmd prompt in the repair program to select the proper volume. I think I made it worse. I am now getting a

BOOTMGR is missing Press Ctrl Alt Delete

error every time I start. No matter how I set the BIOS it won't read my USB. If I had Win 7 on a DVD I could probably get back into the repair. Since all my other machines are OS X (none with an optical drive!), I am going to bend the knee and take it to a technician. I only had yesterday to work on it, anyway.

But, in the end, the disks both looked good, so that's a success. I just have to get the darn thing to boot now!

Thanks

Good to hear that red.... but i would still tell you to be careful and keep my sole eye on that drive...You never know when the whole thing would come down...

You can use partition magic and set the partition where windows is installed to boot flag.. that should solve the problem.... It would be much easier if you had a windows 7 disc though!

anyway keep me posted... and if its resolved.. do close the thread .. and rep those helped.

Centaur

I took it to a technician, who installed the proper boot file for me. Got it running quickly.

I've attached the crystaldiskinfo for my two disks. If you could be so gracious as to explain what C5 and C6 mean, I'd appreciate it. As you can see, I have 100s in both rows , as well as in both Best and Worst columns. In the other disk the properties are 100 and 93. What do these mean? I realize they are reading healthy. I just would like some clarification as to what each row means, as well as best and worst.

Again, thanks for all the help. You were very clear and thorough and gave me great direction. We can consider this thread closed.

Red