Non-System disk or disk error

[Xander]

Most systems will still boot if the boot device is connected to channel 1, the advantage in connecting to channel 0 is that the system will scan this first thus decreasing the boot time.

I guess my question would be, damage notwithstanding, if you only have one device why wouldn't you connect it to Channel 0? This 'fix' would never have crossed my mind because I'd never not (double negs intentional) use 0 first.

 

[DanielG2112]

DLG Showed some bad sectors. When I tried to repair them it had an error occur. No information was given... :/ I re-installed windows XP on the computer and I'm currently on it.

When Running Crystal Disk Info. The disk has 200 reallocated sectors & a current pending sector count of 1.. I don't fully understand how to interpret this information. Does this mean the HD is going bad and it needs a replacement?

 

[iptech]

DLG Showed some bad sectors. When I tried to repair them it had an error occur. No information was given... :/ I re-installed windows XP on the computer and I'm currently on it.

When Running Crystal Disk Info. The disk has 200 reallocated sectors & a current pending sector count of 1.. I don't fully understand how to interpret this information. Does this mean the HD is going bad and it needs a replacement?

That hard disk is failing and it's this that's caused the problem. The only fix for that machine is to replace the hard disk, if you return it as it is, even though it might appear to be working OK now, it will sure fail again very soon and your reputation will be shot with that customer.

 

[DanielG2112]

Okay, thanks.

Question: Is it because I re-installed windows that it's going to fail now? Or is it inevitable?

 

[Hercomputers]

Okay, thanks.

Question: Is it because I re-installed windows that it's going to fail now? Or is it inevitable?

No, it sounds like there was an issue with the drive prior. That's why I asked you before if you ran hd diagnostics the first time, before the customer told you to just back up his data and install windows.

 

[DanielG2112]

Awesome, thanks. I can't believe I didn't run diagnostics before I did anything.. /facepalm.. At least I still have the backup.

 

[iptech]

Okay, thanks.

Question: Is it because I re-installed windows that it's going to fail now? Or is it inevitable?

It's going to fail because it's beginning to fail as the DLG test has proven. This is almost certainly why it crashed for the customer in the first instance.

When you get a system in in circumstances like this, it's always worthwhile exploring why it failed initially before you reach for the reinstall disks. Testing with DLG before you did the reinstall would have saved you a lot of wasted time as you'll now have to reinstall yet again onto a new hard disk. When the system first came in the was probably a good chance the disk contents could have been imaged and copied onto a new drive and the operating system repaired. Not only would this have saved you a lot of time and effort, the customer would have got his computer and data back much quicker and with all his applications, settings and data exactly as they were before the system first crashed.

 

[Hercomputers]

Awesome, thanks. I can't believe I didn't run diagnostics before I did anything.. /facepalm.. At least I still have the backup.

Yep, and not always good to listen to the customer either. You, being tech should know more than the customer and what needs to be done. Lesson learned, right?--

It's ok...lol

 

[DanielG2112]

Defiantly a good lesson learned. Thank you.

 

[Xander]

Okay, thanks.

Question: Is it because I re-installed windows that it's going to fail now? Or is it inevitable?

It's because you had a system that was giving errors indicative of a bad hard drive and you didn't test it:

So last week a guy brought in this computer with a problem that whenever he started his computer it gave him the error

Non-System disk or disk error
replace and strike any key when ready

I hope you'll not be charging him for labour on this second repair.
It's not his fault you missed it last week.

The best advice I can give you is: Any time there's even a chance that it's the hard drive, test it.

 

[DanielG2112]

No, I will not be charging him for the labor.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[MobileTechie]

it's worth testing the disk on pretty much every PC you get in, even if you're just checking SMART or doing a short test on Seatools. Not only will it identify the cause of a large range of problems but it will increase your revenue through sales of disks and the services related to replacing them.