I haven't been around in a while but last time I hung out here, there were several computer gurus that walked me through a couple computer issues. Since I can't find a straight answer doing Google searches, let me try here again.


I have a two year old HP computer that I had custom built. It was built for gaming so lots of upgrades from the off the shelf version. Envy Phoenix is the base model. Running Windows 7.


Last week I couldn't get it to boot into Windows. I did all the normal stuff - rolling back to restore points from the recovery program, then tried reinstalling the OS from the Recovery Disks and nothing worked. Broke down and called HP tech support and bought a new OS thumb drive. It didn't work either. It would do a partial install and just hang up. From my experience it seemed like a hard drive.


Bought an identical 2TB Seagate SATA drive, installed it and the OS installed fine. Went to restore my backed up files from Carbonite and walked away. Next morning it shows an imminent hard drive failure warning and won't boot again. It appears the HDD is crashed. I was able to get it running again but crashed again overnight.


What are the odds that the new hard drive crashed within a day? What else could cause a failure like this? I bought a new HDD again (WD this time) but I am hesitant to install it if there is something that could be trashing the drives.


Hopefully someone sees this who bothers to read it all the way through and has some ideas. I need to get this machine running again.


Thanks in advance.


Ray

 

Ray...good to see you around. Send donjamer a PM...he'll help you out with your issues. He lives near you in Methuen...perhaps a phone call would be beneficial. You met him in Worcester when you stopped by for one of our GTGs.

 

Thanks Ken...I have forgotten all the names and faces around here. Completely forgot that he is a computer guy. :-)

 

Ray, not sure why a brand new drive crashed, but I guess it could happen..

I have never had an issue with Seagate or Western Digital drives..

That being said.. The original issue could be a Microsoft update.. I would have to check it out to be sure..

What could also cause issues is something in the BIOS

You could try seeing if there is an update on HP's website

You can try installing the Western Digital drive and see if that works before chasing other things... The seagate one might have been a return they repackaged

If that dies also then it might be a power or motherboard issue

If you want me to check it out PM me and we can arrange something

 

Thanks Don. I am pretty tempted to just throw the WD HDD in and see how it goes. It would be just my luck to get a defective one right out of the box. I've changed many hard drives and have never had an issue with one going bad. And this one was so easy it is hard to imagine I did something wrong. It installed the OS and did the Windows updates but crashed while Carbonite was reinstalling files. I wouldn't think that would cause it either.


If this next drive crashes, I will certainly be giving you a call to have you fix it.


Hope you are doing well. It's been a long time....

 

It could be a virus in one of your carbonite file that activated after reinstalling it..

I doubt it, but maybe run the new drive for a while before installing the backup

I am doing good thanks..

How is your wife doing?? I haven't heard anything

 

I will give that a try - I was thinking it had something to do with the backup but I will couldn't imagine how. Never considered a virus. I'll let you know how that goes. At least hard drives are cheap...$80 for a 2TB.


Wife is doing okay, thanks. She has been on a clinical trial for just about two years now. Saved her life....again. The doctors can't figure out how she is still alive. It will be six years next month. She wasn't supposed to last a year. Thanks again for asking. And even remembering.

 

That is good news.. Hopefully she continues to have good results..

 

Good news on your bride Ray...I'll continue to have good thoughts for her...and...you!!!

 

So, after a little bit of poking around the internet and some more time on the phone with HP tech support, it appears there is an overheating issue with a component on the MB. I'm sending it back for a replacement. Out of warranty and it is going to cost me a few bucks but they are working with me some.


The WD HDD wouldn't even install. Instant crash to the "imminent hard drive failure" blue screen. Hopefully have it back in a couple weeks. Lap-topping it until then.


Thanks Don.


Hopefully be around more often than I have been. As long as things stay quiet at the homefront.


Ray

 

That is good you found the issue Ray..

I would hang on to your original drive if you can..

HP will just wipe it out

 

Issues such as these are why one shouldd have a Linux LiveCD in their desk drawer. It's increddibly useful for diagnosing hardware issues without swapping parts

 

Tell me more about this if you would.


Thanks

 

So, finally got the computer back from HP. They changed the "Solid State Driver" which I am assuming is a chip on the motherboard. I haven't opened it up to see what looks new.


They also put a yellow plug onto something on the back that says "Port Disabled Do Not Remove". I have no idea what was there but I wasn't using it anyway so I don't care.


The other thing I noticed is that the machine boots much faster than it used to. Maybe a BIOS upgrade or something.


Now, I have two perfectly good 2TB HDD drives. I'm thinking of installing the OS on both of them and having a ready backup if this one ever crashes.


Or, can someone recommend an easy way to set one up to be a real-time copy/backup?


Thanks again for the help.

 

A Linux LiveCD is what you get when you download & burn any Linux OS onto a disc. Ubuntu is the most common, but there are others available too. It's basically like the Windows 98/XP install disc, but bootable from the CD too so you can try it out before you install. Comes in VERY handy that way