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Is my hard drive really failing ... ?
Washbush:
--- Quote from: Shane on March 11, 2014, 02:13:34 pm ---That error is from Windows and it is reporting that the smart status on the drive is reporting it is in bad shape. The hard drive does need to be replaced. :wink:
Shane
--- End quote ---
Problem seems to be the drive is running hot. Any chance that the fan has failed and caused the drive to overheat?
Washbush:
--- Quote from: Washbush on March 11, 2014, 03:26:56 pm ---Oh, nuts ........... !
--- End quote ---
A quick question ... the drive seems to be working error free but its operating temperature is elevated. Since I an almost deaf, I can't tell if the fan is working or not. Could this be a fan failure?
Shane:
Heat is a computers #2 enemy. Electric shock is #1 lol
So yes a drive running hot will shorten its life and even cause it to malfunction. It is also possible the Smart Status is reporting the high heat as well. You need to use a smart status viewer tool to see exactly what smart status is complaining about.
Here is a list of some
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_S.M.A.R.T._tools
Looks like this one should be free
http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/smartmontools/wiki
Shane
Washbush:
Hi Shane ...
I did install a SMART reporter. As near as I can tell, everything is OK and well within limits, including drive functionion, EXCEPT for the fact that the temp goes up. Drive performance is at 98%, everthing else is OK, the drive is 47% empty, but the temperature is going up. It did the same yesterday until it reached the max. Last night I took the computer apart, took the drive out, the keyboard out, and blew out the case. I was surprised at how clean it was inside.
Later today I will take a small fan and blow it into the air intake port on the bottom and see what happens. I have no way to telling if the computer's fan is running or not.
One FINAL question, I promise. The computer came with XP installed. I upgraded to VISTA and than upgraded again to Windows 7. Since my copy of Win 7 is an upgrade, can I just install it again right over the existing Win 7? Will that correct any repairs that are needed? And, will that reinstall the "AUTOCHECK" that seems to be missing?
What is the worst thing that can happen if I try that?
John
Shane:
The upgrade key wont work on a fresh install of 7 BUT during the install you can tell the setup you will put in a key later. Then once Windows is installed you can go and activate it, change the cd key to the upgrade one and it will take it :-)
As for the laptop fan, you would hear it when the fan runs and the fan is more for the CPU, sometimes they do have small pathways for the air to help pull heat from the other hardware. A hard drive running real hot could be a sign the drive is working at its max non stop. Which of course makes heat. Keep a fan blowing on the bottom of the laptop where the drive is and see if it helps. It is also possible the old drive simply isnt reporting the correct temp or something inside of it that helps keeps temp down is no longer working.
Old drive, warn out parts. :wink:
Shane
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