Repairing a 250gb HDD in laptop

Thomen · 05-06-12, 02:10 PM

Did you try the old FDisk program?

Did you try a Vista or Win7 setup disk?

Just our of curiosity, did you check (with DFT for example) the drive? Maybe the drive a goner..

Reece · 05-06-12, 05:28 PM

The drive was ok before he tried formatting it, the annoying thing is that it doesn't have a floppy drive for old dos fdisk, but then it probably wouldn't recognize the large drive. He has now removed the HDD and it is a standard SATA so is going to try plugging into his desktop pc to see what he can do!

kiwi_2005 · 05-06-12, 09:06 PM

Linux will fix it. download a copy of any linux distro - eg Linux mint, ubuntu etc. Run linux installation and let it wipe your windows partition to set its own up no matter how screwed the hdd format is linux should fix it no problem. Then uninstall linux and reformat & install windows or leave linux on and add windows to a partition making sure during the linux setup you choose the option to make partitions for windows OSes. Have XP as your second OS.

edit: some linux os to choose from, my favorite is Linux mint. Most are free DL unless you want the boxed versions.
http://www.techradar.com/news/softwa...distros-704584

CaptainHaplo · 05-06-12, 11:19 PM

When you do the windows install - choose custom/advanced and you will be able to delete all existing partitions on the drive. Do this. Then create a small, 100GB partition for the OS and format that one. Do NOT format the whole thing. Install the os.

What is happening is its hosing on a series of bad sectors more than likely. By creating a smaller partition, you keep from reaching those on the initial part.

Once the OS is up and running, go to Run, type MMC, add the disk management snapin and you can then partition the remaining space and do a FULL (not a quick) format of that space.

Reece · 05-07-12, 12:02 AM

Some good ideas there, I will pass the info on and see what develops.

Reece · 05-07-12, 03:32 AM

Worked CaptainHaplo!

Thanks all for the advise, I appreciate it!

CaptainHaplo · 05-07-12, 05:59 PM

Glad to have helped!

05-06-12, 05:28 PM	#2
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,729 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	The drive was ok before he tried formatting it, the annoying thing is that it doesn't have a floppy drive for old dos fdisk, but then it probably wouldn't recognize the large drive. He has now removed the HDD and it is a standard SATA so is going to try plugging into his desktop pc to see what he can do! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

05-06-12, 09:06 PM	#3
kiwi_2005 Eternal Patrol Join Date: May 2004 Location: Aeoteroa Posts: 7,382 Downloads: 223 Uploads: 1	Linux will fix it. download a copy of any linux distro - eg Linux mint, ubuntu etc. Run linux installation and let it wipe your windows partition to set its own up no matter how screwed the hdd format is linux should fix it no problem. Then uninstall linux and reformat & install windows or leave linux on and add windows to a partition making sure during the linux setup you choose the option to make partitions for windows OSes. Have XP as your second OS. edit: some linux os to choose from, my favorite is Linux mint. Most are free DL unless you want the boxed versions. http://www.techradar.com/news/softwa...distros-704584 __________________ RIP kiwi_2005 Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others. Last edited by kiwi_2005; 05-06-12 at 09:18 PM.

05-06-12, 11:19 PM	#4
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	When you do the windows install - choose custom/advanced and you will be able to delete all existing partitions on the drive. Do this. Then create a small, 100GB partition for the OS and format that one. Do NOT format the whole thing. Install the os. What is happening is its hosing on a series of bad sectors more than likely. By creating a smaller partition, you keep from reaching those on the initial part. Once the OS is up and running, go to Run, type MMC, add the disk management snapin and you can then partition the remaining space and do a FULL (not a quick) format of that space. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

05-07-12, 12:02 AM	#5
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,729 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Some good ideas there, I will pass the info on and see what develops. __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

05-07-12, 03:32 AM	#6
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,729 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Worked CaptainHaplo! Thanks all for the advise, I appreciate it! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

05-06-12, 02:10 PM	#1
Thomen Ace of the Deep Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,207 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	Did you try the old FDisk program? Did you try a Vista or Win7 setup disk? Just our of curiosity, did you check (with DFT for example) the drive? Maybe the drive a goner..

05-07-12, 05:59 PM	#7
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Glad to have helped! __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo