Solving Hard Drive Problems

Table D-4Solving Hard Drive Problems

Hard drive error occurs.

Cause

Solution

 

 

Hard disk has bad sectors or has failed.

1.In Windows XP, right-click Start, click Explore, and select a drive. Select File > Properties > Tools. Under Error-checking, click Check Now.

2.Use a utility to locate and block usage of bad sectors. If necessary, reformat the hard disk.

Disk transaction problem.

Cause

Solution

 

 

Either the directory structure is bad or there is a problem with a file.

In Windows XP, right-click Start, click Explore, and select a drive. Select File > Properties > Tools. Under Error- checking, click Check Now.

Drive not found (identified).

Cause

Solution

 

 

Cable could be loose.

Check cable connections.

 

 

The system may not have automatically recognized a newly

See reconfiguration directions in the Solving Hardware

installed device.

Installation Problems on page 137 section. If the system still

 

does not recognize the new device, check to see if the device

 

is listed within Computer Setup. If it is listed, the probable

 

cause is a driver problem. If it is not listed, the probable cause

 

is a hardware problem.

 

If this is a newly installed drive, run the Computer Setup utility

 

and try adding a POST delay under Advanced > Power-On

 

Options.

 

 

The device is attached to a SATA port that has been disabled

Run the Computer Setup utility and ensure the device's SATA

in Computer Setup.

port is enabled in Storage > Storage Options.

 

 

Drive responds slowly immediately after power-up.

Run Computer Setup and increase the POST Delay in

 

Advanced > Power-On Options.

 

 

Nonsystem disk/NTLDR missing message.

 

 

 

Cause

Solution

 

 

The system is trying to start from a diskette that is not bootable.

Remove the diskette from the diskette drive.

 

 

The system is trying to start from the hard drive but the hard

1. Insert a bootable diskette into the diskette drive and

drive may have been damaged.

restart the computer.

 

2. Check the hard drive format using fdisk: If NTFS

 

formatting, use a third party reader to evaluate the drive.

 

If FAT32 formatting, the hard drive cannot be accessed.

 

 

124 Appendix D Troubleshooting Without Diagnostics

ENWW