Solved Can't access repair options so tried fresh install but dvd drive hangs

[Gimel]

Acer 4820T
Was working fine one day, then the next...

1) Win 7 won't boot
2) Can't access any mode listed in F8 or repair - each mode goes to a black screen
3) Tried fresh install dvd drive begins fine and proceeds to repair or install dialogue
4) Repair begins to load but then drive cuts out
5) After waiting 20 minutes box eventually appears listing win 7 but 0 partition size - then hangs
6) Installation option starts fine and shows select language and keyboard - which I do.
7) Click to proceed and dvd drive turns off and load icon onscreen just keeps circling
8) After 30 minutes the next option appears (can't remember its name)
9) Then just hangs.

Help!

(there are no different options in bios: uefi csm legacy etc)

 

[Gimel]

Same happens when attempting to install from USB

 

[SIW2]

Sounds like it might be the disk. Do you have another disk you can put in instead?

 

[Megahertz07]

Sounds like it might be the disk.

Yes, it seems it is time to buy a SSD to replace the HDD.
Hope you have your data backed up.

 

[Gimel]

Thanks.
As it happens I backed up all of my data a couple of days ago.

The only other disc I have is in another old Acer - the 4830T, the subsequent model of this one. The screen, keyboard have virtually had it but the disk is O'k. Before I open it up do you think it would be compatible?


I had a final shot at repair from the installation disk and after 3 hours eventually got to the startup error display - I've cooked a stew and we've eaten it while this was going on - came back and now it claims to be repairing disk errors. I don't know if there were any intervening messages.

So I'll see how this goes first.

 

[SIW2]

Might as well let it do its thing. Depends if it is filesystem or physical errors.

 

[Gimel]

Well... that was a dead loss, I left it for 7 hrs - it was just stuck in a visual scrolling for errors loop.

The other HDD has an identical size and connector configuration, but a different Amp value, 700mA instead of 0.55A can I safely try it?

 

[Megahertz07]

The two computers has Intel hardware so it should be no problem. The current is almost the same, no problem.

 

[Gimel]

Thanks, I'll give it go.

 

[Gimel]

Found another old HDD I'd forgotten about and Win 7 installed fine. Couldn't make an installation on the corrupted HDD on the other laptop. Thanks for your help I'll buy a new drive.

 

[Megahertz07]

Don't buy a HDD. It's dead tech.

A SSD is 6 times faster. Computer will boot ins seconds rather than in minutes.
It doesn't have moving parts so it's shock prof .

I have installed Crucial BX500. So far so good.

 

[Gimel]

Thanks, I've already taken note your advice and ordered an ssd.