Multiple errors when formatting, partitioning, installing Windows

[sixcovs]

NEED HELP!!!

I have a Dell Inspiron that came with Vista. I somehow managed to get it to boot up, even connect to my network, but it was so stinkin slow that it wouldn't even completely load Control Panel so I could start uninstalling programs. I tried to boot in safe mode, but then got the blue screen of death and from that point on it wouldn't load. So I went online and read that a Windows 7 boot disc would work on Vista. Since my desktop is Windows 7, and since I ultimately want to put it on the laptop, I went that route. I also downloaded a Vista boot disk at some point.

At some point I had to format the hard drive. I got it started, but then it stuck at 80%. And stupid me, I accidentally turned the computer off. It's been downhill ever since. I am one of those people that knows just enough to pretty much destroy anything.

At this point, I have gone into diskpart. I managed to do a "clean" at some point, but then had to leave to get my son, and ended up getting stranded in a freak snow storm for 2 days. So, I tried to start all over, but now I get the error "diskpart has encountered an error the request could not be performed because of an i/o device error". I can't create a partition, I can't reformat, I can't load windows - NOTHING. I have 2 different partition manager programs I've downloaded.

At this point, how do I start over? I'm fine with formatting, partitioning, wiping out everything, whatever. I just don't know what to do.

 

[theog]

Check the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure

 

[sixcovs]

How do I find the manufacturer?

I figured out my hard drive is a Western Digital. Which download do I use from the list on the page you sent me?

 

[sixcovs]

I went through all the options on the page, and downloaded the Diagnostic tool for DOS (since I don't have Windows installed yet). But I can't even get to the application. I get "No boot sector on internal hard drive; No bootable devices - strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup utility, press F5 to run onboard diagnostics." I've tried the F5 thing and it gets stuck at 0% on one of the tests.

 

[theog]

Unzip the download & copy to a MS-DOS bootable USB drive.

How to make MS-DOS USB drive
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/46707-ms-dos-bootable-flash-drive-create.html?ltr=M

DOS USB boot drive

 

[gregrocker]

I can't get Data Lifeguard to work on CD or flash stick. You can get a diagnostic read on the drive using Seagate Seatools bootable CD or Partition Wizard CD Partition surface test

You might have a bad Win7 installer with the problems you describe. Try another ISO written to flash stick or burned to CD from Steps 1 and 2 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which steps will also assure you get and keep a perfect install.

 

[sixcovs]

Thanks for all the help guys. I was able to format a usb stick and am currently doing a write zero using the Data Lifeguard Diagnostics. So now the question is.... Do I just install Windows 7 after this, or do I need to create a partition? If I need to create a partition, can I use the Windows 7 or Vista boot cd's, or do I need to use a partition manager software (I have 2)? Again, thank ya'll SO much!

 

[gregrocker]

What were the results of Data Lifeguard extended Diagnostics scan, which was the only reason it was needed?

Writing zeroes is unnecessary overkill only used to make data unrecoverable by forensics means. The Quick Wipe function would have been fine to clear the boot sector and partition table which are all that can interfere with install.

 

[sixcovs]

The only reason I did the zero write was to try to start with a clean slate. But here's what happened. It said it would take about 42 hours, so I just let it run all night. When I woke up this morning there was an error, and I can't remember what it said. So I just now ran the "quick test". Here is what it says:

1. Raw Read Error Rate 198 51 198
3. Spin Up Time 190 21 188
4. Start/Stop Count 90 0 98
5. Re-allocated Sector Count 117 140 117 *
7. Seek Error Rate 198 51 197
9. Power-on Hours Count 97 0 97
10. Spin Retry Count 100 51 100
11. Drive Calibration Retry Count 100 51 100
12. Drive Power Cycle Count 98 0 98
192. Emergency Retract Cycle Count 200 0 200
193. Load/Unload Cycle Count 178 0 179
194. HDA Temperature 105 0 90
196. Re-Allocated Sector Event 167 0 167
197. Current Pending Sector Count 200 0 199
198. Offline Uncorrectable Sector Count 100 0 253
199. UltraDMA CRC Error Rate 200 0 200
200. Multi Zone Error Rate 100 51 253
240. Head Flying Hours 96 0 96
241. Total LBAs Written 110 0 110
242. Total LBAs Read 200 0 200

Warning! One or more current or worst-case attributes are below threshold.
Press Any Key to Continue"

I pressed a key, it said "The system must be reset- Hit ctrl-alt-delete or power off..."

I did that and it rebooted to the C prompt, but with the following errors:

"The following file is missing or corrupted: HIMEM.SYS
there is an error in your CONFIG.SYS file on line 6

The following file is missing or corrupted: EMM386.EXE
There is an error in your CONFIG.SYS file on line 7

The following file is missing or corrupted: CDROM/OAKCDROM.SYS
There is an error in your CONFIG. SYS file on line 33

Warning: the high memory area (HMA) is not available.
Additional low memory (below 640k) will be used instead.
Bad command or file name
Bad command or file name

C:\>




I have NO idea what any of this means....SO NOW WHAT??

 

[gregrocker]

It seems to be reading your BIOS SMART data on the HD"s condition, which can be erroneous with false positives. So determine with certainty your HD's condition by booting to do an Extended Scan with the maker's HD Diagnostics.

Then run a full Disk Check from the booted Win7 installation Media Command Line in System Recovery Options.

There would obviously be an error trying to boot into C since you have partly wiped the HD. Once the HD's condition is known you can either replace it or proceed with the booted Clean Install Windows 7 http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

 

[sixcovs]

Okay, so I used my Vista boot cd and was actually able to create a partition, but couldn't go any further. Then I used my Windows 7 boot cd and was able to load all the drivers for Dell from a usb. I tried the Repair function but still got the "no I/o device" error. So I went to diskpart and started from scratch, it showed me both volumes, I chose the new one that I want to install windows on and typed in "clean all". And of course - ERROR!

I really don't know what to do from here. I have about 10 disks I've created with ISO's, boot disks, WD diagnostics, partition managers. Thank goodness I've only spent about $80. But I really can't afford to spend any more, and definitely can't afford to take it to a shop that'll charge me just to look at it. Isn't there ANY way to fix this? I'm sorry I don't speak the language you guys are speaking, but I can figure it out with a little help.

 

[gregrocker]

Start at the top of the thread and complete everything suggested which has been ignored.

Once those are done and HD is finally determined to be good unplug all other HD's and peripherals,

Boot into BIOS setup, reset to defaults, save changes. If an EFI BIOS you'll need to decide if you want UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS. If UEFI follow these special steps for Install, otherwise enable Legacy BIOS or Compatibility Support Module to proceed with normal install:

Set DVD drive first to boot, HD second, set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and Exit.

Then boot into Windows 7 installer DVD or flash stick burned or written using tool and latest ISO for your licensed OS version here. I would use a fresh ISO written with tool in Step 2 as yours is in question.

At first installer screen Press Shift + F10, or enter System Recovery Options to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now, then Custom install to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

After install you can adjust partition size or Create new partitions for data, etc. in Disk Mgmt. You are creating the partition here for the purpose of wiping the HD and marking Active which overcomes certain install failures.

 

[theog]

It seems to be reading your BIOS SMART data on the HD"s condition, which can be erroneous with false positives. So determine with certainty your HD's condition by booting to do an Extended Scan with the maker's HD Diagnostics.

We are waiting your reply.

 

[sixcovs]

I've done everything that was suggested, and even replied with all the error codes I received. I found out what my HD is and downloaded the diagnostics, ran them, and came up with errors - AGAIN. I'm not ignoring anything - I've tried everything you've suggested to no avail. I've gone thru the diskpart process 20 times and get the same stinkin errors. Because this is not my area of expertise I don't KNOW what is irrelevant, which is why I typed in the entire screen that came up after running the Western Digital Diagnostic software - both the Quick Test AND the Extended Test. Same exact response both times. I'm sorry if I'm not understanding everything you're saying, but I really am trying to figure this out. I will go back and start at step one in your post above and let you know what happens in each step.

 

[sixcovs]

Update:

Booted to BIOS setup
There is no master “reset to default” option so I went into each item and checked that every option chosen was the default option. My BIOS version is A13, so all the EFI and UEFI info you gave is irrelevant.

Downloaded a new Windows 7 ISO using the program you suggested to put it on a bootable CD; rebooted computer.

It actually gave me the option of installing windows or repairing. I chose the repair option so I could get to the system recovery option.

Typed in Diskpart
List Disk – only one option, which is the one I need
Selected disk 0
Typed “clean”
Diskpart succeeded in cleaning the disk
Typed “create partition primary”
Diskpart succeeded in creating the specified partition
Typed “format fs=ntfs label=”Windows 7”
0 percent complete


It's been on 0% for several minutes. How long can I expect this to take?

 

[gregrocker]

It may be struggling with bad sectors.

I missed the results on the HD extended scan. Where are they?

 

[sixcovs]

The extended scan gave the exact same response to the quick scan, and in about the same time.

It's now been at 1% for about 45 minutes. But I am NOT interrupting it!

 

[theog]

I would replace the HDD drive.

 

[gregrocker]

All I see is that when you finally ran Data Lifeguard bootable CD you started writing Zeroes when nothing was mentioned about that at all. The only reason we know that you are running the CD scan is because it wouldn't write zeroes on the installed version.

The rest is SMART reading of the HD, which is not the same as Extended Scan by a HD Diagnostics CD. Which Diagnostics are you running? Data Lifeguard would be doing a lot more unless it cannot complete.

 

[sixcovs]

I didn't DO an extended test first, I started with the zero write. I went back and did a quick test AND an extended test. I got the EXACT SAME error code. Some of what you tell me doesn't make sense to me The one thing thus far that has worked - to a point- was to download a different Windows 7, and I used the program you recommended. I had kept trying to use the one I'd already downloaded - never thought it was bad.

The windows formatting has been stuck at 1% now for about 3 1/2 hours. Is it stuck, or should I wait it out?