Help ! C partition keeps vanishing

Blacklight · 04-14-10, 07:53 PM

I'm posting this question all over wherever potential PC help hangs around.

I'm just wondering if anyone has ever run accross this before because I've never encountered anything like it.
My laptop has one hard drive in two partitions. C and D (D is the restore partition).
My laptop was running fine, and then.. blue screen of death out of the blue.
Laptop wouldn't boot. It kept giving me read errors.
I used a diagnostic filled boot disk that I have and the C partition was unrecognized. It read the D partition fine.
I then did a reformat and system restore of the whole thing using the computer's restore disks.
The computer started up fine and everything was wonderful after the restore. Everything worked like a dream.
Then, later on, the same thing happens but with no blue screen. I then get a repeat of the above.
Does this mean that it's time to go shopping for a new hard drive or is there another issue I may be overlooking ?

Arclight · 04-14-10, 08:22 PM

Think it's time for a new drive, yes, though some more experienced members may have a better understanding of your predicament.

Wolfehunter · 04-14-10, 09:10 PM

Check to see if the laptop manufacture has an Update on HDD firmware. If not find out what HDD brand it is and then check there site for any Firmware update.

If there isn't look into the forums and see if there is anyone with similar issues to you.

Lasty if there is warranty then RMA it.

If no warranty. Backup the D:\ partition of your restore files to and external HDD or DVD

Buy a new HDD and make a partition identical to your old one and copy back the backup files.

Then do the restore process.. Goodluck..

Reece · 04-14-10, 11:24 PM

Yes I would say HDD is faulty, sounds like something is damaging the boot sector, would make this a priority!

Blacklight · 04-14-10, 11:37 PM

I think I agree that the hard drive is damaged somehow. I restored it again and this time, I ran CHKDSK on the C partition. It gets to verifying file data and the hard drive stops spinning at 2%.

I also used my Ultimate Boot Disk with diagnostic stuff on it to do a check on the hard drive (because now, after the restore) it was visible. It got to verifying the file data 2% done and now, the hard drive has been spinning for an hour and it's still at 2%.

It's going to be tough to find a hard drive for this thing. It's a lap top from four years ago and it doesn't have a SATA drive.

CaptainHaplo · 04-15-10, 05:25 PM

Its the HD. I have my oldest daughters laptop in pieces right now due to the same issue. Her's didn't blue screen - but the file structure references are gone for the boot sector. Unknown if this is virus related (very possibly) or if its hardware failure.

Given you reformatted yours (I assume you deleted the partition and recreated it) then there is no way its a virus unless you caught the same ugly twice.

Arclight · 04-15-10, 06:35 PM

I'm always more concerned about heat than virals in laptops.

Seen a fair number of laptop HDs die, usually in cheaper models though.

CaptainHaplo · 04-15-10, 06:45 PM

Blacklight - shouldn't be too hard to find a drive for it. All of the laptop drives are the 2.5 inch variety. Post the model and I will help dig up a compatible drive if you need it.

04-14-10, 07:53 PM	#1
Blacklight Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,507 Downloads: 142 Uploads: 0	Help ! C partition keeps vanishing I'm posting this question all over wherever potential PC help hangs around. I'm just wondering if anyone has ever run accross this before because I've never encountered anything like it. My laptop has one hard drive in two partitions. C and D (D is the restore partition). My laptop was running fine, and then.. blue screen of death out of the blue. Laptop wouldn't boot. It kept giving me read errors. I used a diagnostic filled boot disk that I have and the C partition was unrecognized. It read the D partition fine. I then did a reformat and system restore of the whole thing using the computer's restore disks. The computer started up fine and everything was wonderful after the restore. Everything worked like a dream. Then, later on, the same thing happens but with no blue screen. I then get a repeat of the above. Does this mean that it's time to go shopping for a new hard drive or is there another issue I may be overlooking ? __________________ Be my friend or be a mushroom cloud. "I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes !"

04-14-10, 08:22 PM	#2
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	Think it's time for a new drive, yes, though some more experienced members may have a better understanding of your predicament. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

04-14-10, 09:10 PM	#3
Wolfehunter Crusty Capt. Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,752 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 25	Check to see if the laptop manufacture has an Update on HDD firmware. If not find out what HDD brand it is and then check there site for any Firmware update. If there isn't look into the forums and see if there is anyone with similar issues to you. Lasty if there is warranty then RMA it. If no warranty. Backup the D:\ partition of your restore files to and external HDD or DVD Buy a new HDD and make a partition identical to your old one and copy back the backup files. Then do the restore process.. Goodluck.. __________________

04-14-10, 11:24 PM	#4
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 32,756 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Yes I would say HDD is faulty, sounds like something is damaging the boot sector, would make this a priority! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

04-14-10, 11:37 PM	#5
Blacklight Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,507 Downloads: 142 Uploads: 0	I think I agree that the hard drive is damaged somehow. I restored it again and this time, I ran CHKDSK on the C partition. It gets to verifying file data and the hard drive stops spinning at 2%. I also used my Ultimate Boot Disk with diagnostic stuff on it to do a check on the hard drive (because now, after the restore) it was visible. It got to verifying the file data 2% done and now, the hard drive has been spinning for an hour and it's still at 2%. It's going to be tough to find a hard drive for this thing. It's a lap top from four years ago and it doesn't have a SATA drive. __________________ Be my friend or be a mushroom cloud. "I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes !"

04-15-10, 05:25 PM	#6
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Its the HD. I have my oldest daughters laptop in pieces right now due to the same issue. Her's didn't blue screen - but the file structure references are gone for the boot sector. Unknown if this is virus related (very possibly) or if its hardware failure. Given you reformatted yours (I assume you deleted the partition and recreated it) then there is no way its a virus unless you caught the same ugly twice. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

04-15-10, 06:35 PM	#7
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	I'm always more concerned about heat than virals in laptops. Seen a fair number of laptop HDs die, usually in cheaper models though. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

04-15-10, 06:45 PM	#8
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Blacklight - shouldn't be too hard to find a drive for it. All of the laptop drives are the 2.5 inch variety. Post the model and I will help dig up a compatible drive if you need it. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo