Computer Help

[Pandabean]

Writting this from a work laptop as my main home computer has an issue, wondering if any techie people out there can help.

Computer was working fine yesterday but when I booted it up this morning it powered up but there was no boot up sequence and not the normal noises coming from the HDD. Instead it just starts up and idles.

I have taken the panels off and tried a couple things, removed the RAM sticks and tried a boot, got the beeps. Did notice red lights showing on the RAM boards though
Took the HDD out and plugged it into an external power sources and connecter and it made the usual noises, however wouldn't let me detect it on the laptop. Dont think this is the issue, booted the main computer up without and got the continuous beep.
Tried removing the CMOS battery for a little while and then putting back in, no luck.

All fans rotate - PSU, Graphics Card, CPU and another one.

Only thing I can think of is the PSU.

Specs: AMD Phenom Triple Core Processer, Gigabyte S Series Motherboard (GA-MA78GM-S2H), 2x 2GB DDR RAM


Anyone any idea? I am reasonable witrh my knowledge of computers but when it gets too technical its starting to go over my head.

 

[markphelan]

I had exactly the same with a friend's computer recently - removed the RAM and it beeped to tell me there was no memory. Replaced it and it did nothing - turned out the stick of RAM was dead. Popped another in from another PC and it worked perfectly. Might be worth a go?

 

[The Big Lebowski]

I would personally go with the PSU.

When the power rails go, the pc will still boot up, to a certain extent. Its the 12v MB that normally fail, so HDD/RAM/GPU 'should' work. Depends on the PSU failure. They can take out the lot

The HD probably wasn't detected on the laptop as its still showing as a C: drive, which the laptop already has...
I'm no expert, but I build the pc in-front of me and I've had PSU's go down and do the same. See if you can get hold of a loaner to rule it out. Its rare that ram chips go down, but possible.

al.

 

[snozz]

Even just reseating the memory or take one out ( then swap with the other to test individually) may help


Sent from my Orange San Francisco

 

[Pandabean]

Took it to a guy who had a look at it, he tested the PSU and it powered up his little device. After testing a few other bits and bobs it turns out it is the HDD that has failed. Luckily I have some old backups but none of my recent photos. He took the HDD out and it booted up to the startup stage but no further. But the RAM was checked and it was fine.
So looks like a new HDD and new windows, was on an old unreliable version of vista so windows 7 may be the next one.

Can anyone recommend a good and reliable interal 3.5" HDD around 250-500GB for under £100?

Not sure if it is worth going for the OEM edition of windows as it is a bit cheaper. Dont really know the difference between that and the full one other than one is for system builders.

 

[roger-uk]

Took it to a guy who had a look at it, he tested the PSU and it powered up his little device. After testing a few other bits and bobs it turns out it is the HDD that has failed. Luckily I have some old backups but none of my recent photos. He took the HDD out and it booted up to the startup stage but no further. But the RAM was checked and it was fine.
So looks like a new HDD and new windows, was on an old unreliable version of vista so windows 7 may be the next one.

Can anyone recommend a good and reliable interal 3.5" HDD around 250-500GB for under £100?

Not sure if it is worth going for the OEM edition of windows as it is a bit cheaper. Dont really know the difference between that and the full one other than one is for system builders.

Have a look on Ebuyer their prices are good and postage is o.k. Hard Drive prices appear to have increased quite a lot due to floods in Thailand. I would go with Win 7 Home premium. Hope it sorts itself out.

 

[Ichneumon]

Before you throw out your old HDD, losing all your stuff and having to re-install, try this suggestion, as you may be suffering from a well know HDD ailment known as stiction - this stops the disc from spinning.

To check for this take out the HDD and with power applied move it at right angles to the plane of the spin. If the disc is turning normally you should be able to feel the drive trying to turn at 90 degrees from the way you're trying to turn it (gyroscopic effect). You may also be able to hear the disc spinning - in which case it's not stiction.

To cure stiction, take out your HDD and spin it (twist it) briskly back and forth with a wrist action. If you can imagine the disc inside what you are trying to do is turn this by inertia. If it is possible to do this with the HDD plugged in and with power applied so much to the good. What you are trying to do is overcome some friction in the bearings that will not free itself from stationery. Once this initial friction is overcome the disc will start to spin normally.

If this cures it, and you are lucky, you may never suffer from this problem again but don't rely on that and do some serious backing up.

Good luck.

Paul

 

[roger-uk]

Before you throw out your old HDD, losing all your stuff and having to re-install, try this suggestion, as you may be suffering from a well know HDD ailment known as stiction - this stops the disc from spinning.

To check for this take out the HDD and with power applied move it at right angles to the plane of the spin. If the disc is turning normally you should be able to feel the drive trying to turn at 90 degrees from the way you're trying to turn it (gyroscopic effect). You may also be able to hear the disc spinning - in which case it's not stiction.

To cure stiction, take out your HDD and spin it (twist it) briskly back and forth with a wrist action. If you can imagine the disc inside what you are trying to do is turn this by inertia. If it is possible to do this with the HDD plugged in and with power applied so much to the good. What you are trying to do is overcome some friction in the bearings that will not free itself from stationery. Once this initial friction is overcome the disc will start to spin normally.

If this cures it, and you are lucky, you may never suffer from this problem again but don't rely on that and do some serious backing up.

Good luck.

Paul

Thats a useful tip - never heard of that before - Thanks

 

[markphelan]

I've not come across an HDD stopping a PC from turning on at all... I have been working in IT for many years (was writing programs when I was 12!), and you learn something new every day. Glad you got to the bottom of it though

SSD disks are coming down in price and don't have any moving parts so "should" be more reliable, but it's still a relatively new technology and are expensive compared to standard disks. Disks are all much the same now really... it's the luck of the draw as to whether they'll stand the test of time!

As a last-ditch attempt to rescue your old disk if all else fails - stick it in the freezer in an airtight bag for a few hours. I've had a few disks that I've been able to resurrect (even only temporarily) using this method to get back some files. Sounds odd but it does work sometimes.

 

[Ichneumon]

You're right markphelan a HDD should not stop a PC from turning on at all, but it will stop the PC from getting any further in its boot than the BIOS. Pandabean used the term 'startup stage', which is not entirely specific, I'd like to know more - but I took a 'punt' about what could be happening.

Both my sons are IT specialists - but they are programmer/software gurus. I'm the PC hardware nerd. Boy! You wanna hear the Sunday lunch arguements!

 

[Pandabean]

Thanks for the tips might try them later if it is well and truley gone, if not it will make a nice paperweight, already got one in the loft when I had a surge due to lightning, burned out the drive.

Ichneumon - When I started up the PC yesterday it just started beeped and sat and did nothing even though every sounds like it is running - just a blank screen. But when I disconnected the HD yesterday it just beeped at me. But this morning I did the disconnection of the HD and then it booted up to the point where it asks for a DVD/CD/Disc for startup. So lukcily I had an old laptop HD lying around which was a 2.5" SATA, plugged it in and guess what??? It booted up as normal straight into vista. So it must have been the Hard Drive. I will try and boot again later to make sure it wasn't a fluke.

Back ups are all well and good, I do have some the most important being the family tree and some old Uni work, and a few photos etc.

 

[dwardo]

Before you throw out your old HDD, losing all your stuff and having to re-install, try this suggestion, as you may be suffering from a well know HDD ailment known as stiction - this stops the disc from spinning.

To check for this take out the HDD and with power applied move it at right angles to the plane of the spin. If the disc is turning normally you should be able to feel the drive trying to turn at 90 degrees from the way you're trying to turn it (gyroscopic effect). You may also be able to hear the disc spinning - in which case it's not stiction.

To cure stiction, take out your HDD and spin it (twist it) briskly back and forth with a wrist action. If you can imagine the disc inside what you are trying to do is turn this by inertia. If it is possible to do this with the HDD plugged in and with power applied so much to the good. What you are trying to do is overcome some friction in the bearings that will not free itself from stationery. Once this initial friction is overcome the disc will start to spin normally.

If this cures it, and you are lucky, you may never suffer from this problem again but don't rely on that and do some serious backing up.

Good luck.

Paul

If the turning at angles doesnt work give it a good slap, this can possibly cause the disk to free but it is guarenteed to make you feel better I am always surprised when this work but it does and often. If your lucky and it does get data off quick and then bin it.

 

[Pandabean]

Ok, finally got a new HD...prices are going up now due to the floods in Thailand. Only managed to get a 320GB off of Amazon.

Can anyone tell me if I need to format it during the windows install? I am not sure whether new Hard Drives come as NTFS or FAT32.
I know I have the option to partition the drive, which is what I was planning to do.

 

[Ichneumon]

Hi Pandabean.

Yes, format the drive. Choose NTFS, it is superior. Unless you have a very good reason for doing so there is no point in partitioning your drive.

ATB

Paul

 

[rik_uk3]

If its a new sata drive it will more than likely be formatted already. When you install click the fast format option and if the disk is pre formatted it will take seconds to fast format it not you will be told it needs to be fully formatted. Windows 7 is far better than Vista, well worth £75@ for a copy.

So many drivers come with 7, my camera and phone(s) were picked up without problem as was my printer although I did install the wireless drivers for it after.

 

[dwardo]

If its a new sata drive it will more than likely be formatted already. When you install click the fast format option and if the disk is pre formatted it will take seconds to fast format it not you will be told it needs to be fully formatted. Windows 7 is far better than Vista, well worth £75@ for a copy.

So many drivers come with 7, my camera and phone(s) were picked up without problem as was my printer although I did install the wireless drivers for it after.

Makes life a lot easier. Vista will have you launching the whole thing out the window before long.