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General Hard Drive Test - falcon

Discussion in 'General' started by navyfalcon, Jul 24, 2011.

  1. navyfalcon

    navyfalcon Well-Known Member Verified Member

    I think my hard drive went south.
    1st it will not load an OS
    2nd The OS says they can't find the hard drive
    3rd I can't find the Hard Drive listed in the BIOS
    4th I can't hear the POST when starting
    -
    My system is over 10 years old and does not have a HD sensor
    My system is a Compaq 5000 series with Win XP.
    Anyone have any suggestions of other checks
    I am trying to determine if software or hardware.
    -
    Thank You
    falcon
     
    navyfalcon, Jul 24, 2011
    #1
  2. tomw

    tomw Member

    It might not be your hard drive but your system instead. I would buy a replacement drive since they are so cheap nowadays and see if your system boot up.

    A system 10 years old might as well be 100. I'm guessing all the components in there are now obsolete. :D
     
    tomw, Jul 25, 2011
    #2
  3. Mimoun

    Mimoun Administrator Staff Member Director Verified Member

    10 years, it's amazing your computer didn't break down sooner.
    I hope you have made some backups of your files.
    Take out the hard drive and use a hard drive docking station and connect it to a working computer. If you can still see all the files first thing to do is make an extra backup.
     
    Mimoun, Jul 25, 2011
    #3
  4. navyfalcon

    navyfalcon Well-Known Member Verified Member

    Yes, I do have backups on thumb drives.
    Yes, the system is 10 years old.
    The thermal paste needs to be replaced, so does the CPU fan. It is cheaper to maintain the older system than replace with a newer system, and the computer is adequate for my needs. I am using my laptop now until I can repair my desktop (it is also an old system). It is a learning experience to maintain an older system, to learn diagnostics beyond average (such as the complete check and restoration of the hard drive - including data recovery). I am using some of the tutorials on my site, but this is becoming a computer technicians task as I am going beyond normal.
    The main task now is to determine if software or hardware problem and how to correct. I will be doing a new tutorial on Hard Disk diagnostics, restoration and repair and data recovery (a lot of it will be from this experience).
    -
    Thank You for your suggestions
    falcon
    (BTW - System is a Compaq Presario 5WV295 w/60.0GB Hard Drive (Maxtor 96147H6)). Computer purchased in 2000.
     
    navyfalcon, Jul 26, 2011
    #4