Can anyone reccommend any software to test?

Cheers

The ultimate boot disk found here. Ultimate Boot CD - Overview has disk tools, but you need to burn the image, is the computer still working???

The ultimate boot disk found here. Ultimate Boot CD - Overview has disk tools, but you need to burn the image, is the computer still working???

thanks - yes still working, but slowly

so what are you symptons?

so what are you symptons?

XP is very slow to load, before it gets to the GUI, and when you shut it down after using it, it runs a checkdisk. No unusual noises though, the drive sounds sweet.

sounds like it could be the drive

sounds like it could be the drive

I am wondering if it is conflicting hardware. I might try disabling the onboard lan - audio etc and see how I get on from there.

XP is very slow to load, before it gets to the GUI, and when you shut it down after using it, it runs a checkdisk. No unusual noises though, the drive sounds sweet.

No it just sounds like you have a load of dead sectors and your drive is remapping them on the fly, but not getting them quickly enough or running out of allocated spares to replace them with.

For the sake of a pittance for a new drive I wouldn't take the chance with your data. Back it up, and get a new drive in asap

In my experience failing hard disks usually make nasty noises, clicking, grinding etc.

I managed to recover data from a failing hard disk once by sealing it in a bag and sticking it in a freezer for a while. Gave me just enough time to copy the data over before it started going iffy again. Suppose it's amazing they last so long when you think these things spin at 72,000 RPM (1,200 rotations per second?)

. Suppose it's amazing they last so long when you think these things spin at 72,000 RPM (1,200 rotations per second?)

Do they...... more like 7,200 rpm

Ooops, I fail still quite fast though

Have a look at the disk itself to see who made it and then visit their website. They all make free diagnostic software.

BUT first things first do as the Monkhai says and back everything up. AND check the backup is ok.

In my experience failing hard disks usually make nasty noises, clicking, grinding etc.

I managed to recover data from a failing hard disk once by sealing it in a bag and sticking it in a freezer for a while. Gave me just enough time to copy the data over before it started going iffy again. Suppose it's amazing they last so long when you think these things spin at 72,000 RPM (1,200 rotations per second?)

You're quite wrong about failing disks making noise. That is only from a catastrophic failure of the mechanism. Many things such as age or temperature can cuase bad sectors and once the limit of these is reached things go down hill quickly.

Have a look at the disk itself to see who made it and then visit their website. They all make free diagnostic software.

BUT first things first do as the Monkhai says and back everything up. AND check the backup is ok.

Seconded. Failing disks quite often go silently these days. Use the PC as little as possible until you have a good backup of your data.

You're quite wrong about failing disks making noise. That is only from a catastrophic failure of the mechanism. Many things such as age or temperature can cuase bad sectors and once the limit of these is reached things go down hill quickly.

And the higher density of data these days means that once things start to fail they can go badly wrong quickly.

Might be an idea when you get the new disc to get hold of drive imaging/cloning software and do a straight copy from old to new.

But do a backup asap - just in case!

thanks all - managed to get the data off using xcopy. I imaged the computer when I first built it, now time to get a new hdd, and test the restore.