Help Needed ASAP!

[cgrim29588]

When I start up my computer during the BIOS I get the following message:

Primary Master Hard Disk S.M.A.R.T Status: Bad
WARNING: Immediate back-up your data and replace hard disk.

I can login to Windows just fine but this pop up keeps coming up saying:

Windows detected a hardware problem back-up your files immediately to prevent data loss and then contact the computer manufacturer to determine if you need to repair or replace the disk.

When I do a check disk it detects no problems

 

[Jonathan_King]

Chkdsk is not the most accurate tool when it comes to hardware problems.

I suspect the error message is for real. Download one of these tools to get the official report: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

Now just because it reports errors doesn't necessarily mean the drive is failing. It could also be a bad cable.

 

[pebbly]

the warning message states that your hdd is failing , it may be days, weeks or months before it happens , its getting unreliable to store data to , 1tb hdd's a fairly cheap nowadays invest in a new one before you lose your data , backup as much as you can immediately

follow JK's excellent advice first

 

[cgrim29588]

Well bought a new computer yesterday, but I need my current one to stay alive until my new one comes on April 16th and I already have everything back up.

 

[pebbly]

you may be lucky , do as JK suggested and check the cable then download the diagnostic software that JK provided the link for

 

[cgrim29588]

I downloaded diagnostic software that JK provided the link for, but when I try to run it I get this:

Error reading drive. No diskette in drive, or drive failure

 

[pebbly]

I downloaded diagnostic software that JK provided the link for, but when I try to run it I get this:

Error reading drive. No diskette in drive, or drive failure

have you checked the cable , if you do not have a spare one , you can temperaly turn it around see if that makes any diference

 

[cgrim29588]

No I don't know how to check it and I don't have a spare one.

 

[pebbly]

No I don't know how to check it and I don't have a spare one.

take the end of the cable out of the hard drive and follow it down to the motherboard connection remove it from the motherboard and place the end that you took out of the hDD in the motherboard connector ,then place the end from the motherboard onto the hdd , now you have reversed the cable , if you dont get the error message and you can run the diagnostics then your cable is at fault not the hdd

 

[cgrim29588]

I can't get the diagnostic to run, so if I reversed the cables I wouldn't be able to check it.

 

[pebbly]

I can't get the diagnostic to run, so if I reversed the cables I wouldn't be able to check it.

reversing the cable is just a way to check the cable is ok

 

[cgrim29588]

Okay I don't know how to take the casing off my computer.

I even tried doing sfc /scannow and it said

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations

 

[pebbly]

right ok, i think its best if you just leave it has it is for the time being, if you have got everything backedup you should be ok until your new pc arrives , if you do have any problems post back

 

[cgrim29588]

How long do you think it will be until it fails completely? It start failing this morning.

 

[Jonathan_King]

It could fail next time you try to boot, or it may be 6 months. You never know. That's why it's important to backup and don't store anything important on that drive.

 

[pebbly]

How long do you think it will be until it fails completely? It start failing this morning.

it could be any time ,basically what the message tells you is that the drive is getting unreliable for storing data ,so if its not a workhorse pc and you just use it for leisure purposes and dont intend to write alot of data to it then it should at least last you until your new pc arrives

 

[pebbly]

you tpe alot faster than me JK

 

[CommonTater]

How long do you think it will be until it fails completely? It start failing this morning.

The SMART test done automatically on hard drives cannot test the integrity of your filesystem. What it does is check the rotational speed of the drive, how long it takes to spin up and the location accuracy of the drive heads (basically done by reading a special diagnostic track on the disk). If the motor or positioning servos are out of calibration it will warn you of an impending failure...

I've seen drives run for years with this going on. Others have died right then and there. As the others are telling you, this is totally unpredictable, even by the manufacturer.

If you aren't comfortable with taking the computer apart, that's fine. There are lots of computer shops who can do the hardware inspection for you (for a fee, of course)...

But I do have to ask... Are you buying a new computer because of this? Or is this like the excuse you need to buy the new one you've been wanting for a while now?

I ask this because a new hard disk, installed should cost you less than $100 and the OS install probably another 50 or 60 ... It seems a horrible waste to scrap an entire computer for one simple repair job.

 

[cgrim29588]

Thanks for the advice and help everyone.

 

[cgrim29588]

It could fail next time you try to boot, or it may be 6 months. You never know. That's why it's important to backup and don't store anything important on that drive.

How long do you think it will be until it fails completely? It start failing this morning.

it could be any time ,basically what the message tells you is that the drive is getting unreliable for storing data ,so if its not a workhorse pc and you just use it for leisure purposes and dont intend to write alot of data to it then it should at least last you until your new pc arrives

How long do you think it will be until it fails completely? It start failing this morning.

The SMART test done automatically on hard drives cannot test the integrity of your filesystem. What it does is check the rotational speed of the drive, how long it takes to spin up and the location accuracy of the drive heads (basically done by reading a special diagnostic track on the disk). If the motor or positioning servos are out of calibration it will warn you of an impending failure...

I've seen drives run for years with this going on. Others have died right then and there. As the others are telling you, this is totally unpredictable, even by the manufacturer.

If you aren't comfortable with taking the computer apart, that's fine. There are lots of computer shops who can do the hardware inspection for you (for a fee, of course)...

But I do have to ask... Are you buying a new computer because of this? Or is this like the excuse you need to buy the new one you've been wanting for a while now?

I ask this because a new hard disk, installed should cost you less than $100 and the OS install probably another 50 or 60 ... It seems a horrible waste to scrap an entire computer for one simple repair job.

Thanks for the info and I've wanted one for a while now I bought a nice one from Dell.