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Is my hard drive failing?

By 2of3 on March 6, 2012 8:09:42 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

2of3

Join Date 10/2006
+626

I've had a problem off and on with my laptop crashing/BSOD when playing flash based content (like youtube videos).

 

It's been good for about 6 months now so I was surprised when it again happened today. I restarted the computer and was confronted with another bluescreen. After several tries at rebooting and system repairs (failed......."windows could not repair"), I decided to reinstall the OS......clean slate, ya know.

All was fine after everything was installed (drivers, etc) but the computer crashed again when I tried to do the windows rating index (no bsod, just a sudden dump). I tried it twice to make sure it wasn't a fluke.

 

Did a windows update and the thing crapped out again after the reboot to install. I managed to get the lappy to start again and scheduled a chkdsk. Rebooted.

Waiting for CHKDSK to finish.....

 

Earlier, I have only had crashes when playing flash based video and I've read online about problems with adobe flash and ATI cards. But this seems different to me.

126 Replies
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Reply #51
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
+626
March 7, 2012 4:12:34 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting yrag,
reply 49
I'm not convinced it's the CPU or GPU. The CPU has overheat protection....it would simply shutdown. The graphic card on the other hand has no such protection, but as far as I can tell, there's no distortions, resolution fallbacks or blackouts. That leaves memory, drivers and voltage (the latter more likely than the 2 former).

What I really need to see is the BSOD info.....

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html

 

Download, install, run it and post the results.........

 

I'll do that, but it hasn't blue screened since I reinstalled the OS. The reason I reformatted was because after the first BSOD, I couldn't get the thing to boot up at all and the system repair couldn't fix it.

The only thing guaranteed to crash the system is running the WEI. The lappy shuts down, but if I choose "start windows normally" afterwords, it boots up fine.

One thing I could add: after a system crash, I'm unable to start the machine on the first try with the power button. I hit the button and the light comes on for a split second then goes out. I have to wait a couple of minutes and try again.

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Reply #52
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
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March 7, 2012 4:20:01 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting yrag,
reply 47
How old is this thing

Bought it in March 2010

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Reply #53
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
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March 7, 2012 4:28:12 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting 2of3,
reply 51
I'll do that, but it hasn't blue screened since I reinstalled the OS. The reason I reformatted was because after the first BSOD, I couldn't get the thing to boot up at all and the system repair couldn't fix it.

Looks like there was one event listed there. What info is relevant?

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Reply #54
Jafo
Join Date 03/2001
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Stardock
March 7, 2012 6:51:18 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting 2of3,
reply 51
I'm unable to start the machine on the first try with the power button. I hit the button and the light comes on for a split second then goes out. I have to wait a couple of minutes and try again.

CMOS battery?

Just thinkin' ....leave it for yrag .... he'll know when it's time for it to be 'put down'...

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Reply #55
roflmfaoo
Join Date 12/2009
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March 7, 2012 7:25:39 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Yes, BSoD's are typically caused by bad drivers and faulty memory. Sometimes when a Windows installation corrupts also. But I think in this case it's pointing to a driver problem as the BSoD hasn't occured since you re-installed. Either way yrag will give you the advice you need.

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Reply #56
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
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March 7, 2012 4:29:02 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting roflmfaoo,
reply 55
I think in this case it's pointing to a driver problem as the BSoD hasn't occured since you re-installed.

It actually did once.

This happened after the first windows update. I rebooted to install the updates and it started installing them at the boot screen (not the welcome/login screen). After it was "finished", it didn't continue to the login screen, the system shut down. I don't think it rebooted by itself, I had to hit the power button. It blue screened after the boot and the system auto rebooted. I chose "start windows normally" from the list and it booted up and continued to install the updates (this time from the login screen).

Here's the report:

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Reply #57
yrag
Join Date 08/2001
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March 7, 2012 9:19:51 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Run chkdsk C: /F /R in Safe Mode

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Reply #58
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
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March 8, 2012 4:10:05 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

System crashes in safe mode

 

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Reply #59
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
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March 8, 2012 4:24:36 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Could this be failing memory (RAM)?

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Reply #60
DrJBHL
Join Date 04/2002
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March 8, 2012 4:38:17 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Since you have NirSoft's BlueScreenView, maybe you can show the latest ones? Or send them to yrag... Have you scanned your system for malware? Also, did you pick up any of the diagnostic software?

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Reply #61
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
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March 8, 2012 4:48:49 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting DrJBHL,
reply 60
Since you have NirSoft's BlueScreenView, maybe you can show the latest ones?

The one in reply #56 is the only one. All crashes recently have not resulted in a BSOD.

Quoting DrJBHL,
reply 60
Have you scanned your system for malware?

I have reformated (reinstalled the OS) doubtful that there would be any malware.

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Reply #62
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
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March 8, 2012 4:50:28 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Also the system just shut down while running the chkdsk.........it got as far as stage 4 of 5.

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Reply #63
DrJBHL
Join Date 04/2002
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March 8, 2012 4:54:12 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Tim, did you get and fix that thermal paste stuff?

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Reply #64
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
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March 8, 2012 5:01:04 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting DrJBHL,
reply 63
Tim, did you get and fix that thermal paste stuff?

still waiting on delivery

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Reply #65
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
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March 8, 2012 5:09:55 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Restarted and chkdsk ran again. Same as last time.....system shut down before the process was finished.

 

Gonna let the poor fellow rest until I hear more from yrag.

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Reply #66
roflmfaoo
Join Date 12/2009
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March 8, 2012 5:14:21 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Have you by any chance removed and re-seated the RAM ? Also have you run memtest86 ?

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Reply #67
Uvah
Join Date 05/2006
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March 8, 2012 6:46:38 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Could be it shuts down when the cpu heats up. Stays running for so long then boom.

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Reply #68
Wizard1956
Join Date 01/2008
+1851
March 8, 2012 9:16:15 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting Uvah,
reply 67
Could be it shuts down when the cpu heats up. Stays running for so long then boom.

This would also explain why the machine has to "rest" after a shutdown before it will restart.

At the risk of sounding a bit dense here but I fail to see how a bad HDD or RAM would cause an overheating problem with the CPU and GPU.

Maybe yrag can enlighten me. ( or call me an idiot, whichever applies)

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Reply #69
Jafo
Join Date 03/2001
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Stardock
March 8, 2012 9:29:45 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

I kinda think #2 was on the right track..... maybe not dust...but still a heat issue all the same - thermal paste  problem .... same thing...

Heat.

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Reply #70
RedneckDude
Join Date 04/2009
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March 8, 2012 10:01:11 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting Jafo,
reply 69
I kinda think #2 was on the right track..... maybe not dust...but still a heat issue all the same - thermal paste  problem .... same thing...

Heat.

Totaally in agreement. Tim, leave the thing turned off until you get the thermal paste. I suspect that to be the culprit and if you keep trying to run it at those temps you're gonna fry it for good and have an expensive door stop.

 

At the temps you have reported, you'll be lucky if you havent melted some solder on the mobo by now.

 

Quit messing with it.

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Reply #71
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
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March 8, 2012 10:29:01 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Going to pick up the thermal paste later today. Boy, am I looking forward to opening this thing up again!

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Reply #72
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
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March 8, 2012 10:30:34 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

BTW, I'm not using my lappy to post here......got the wifey's Eee PC here

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Reply #73
yrag
Join Date 08/2001
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March 8, 2012 3:53:11 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Check the heatsink on the processor. If it's hot, it's not the paste. Cold/cool, it's not transferring heat. That would be the paste.

Quoting yrag,
reply 49
I'm not convinced it's the CPU or GPU. The CPU has overheat protection....it would simply shutdown. The graphic card on the other hand has no such protection, but as far as I can tell, there's no distortions, resolution fallbacks or blackouts. That leaves memory, drivers and voltage (the latter more likely than the 2 former).

I think, since everything is heating up, voltage is your problem (an overclock produces the same symptoms you have) . If the battery only holds a charge for a short time, it's your motherboard.

 

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Reply #74
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
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March 8, 2012 4:25:04 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting yrag,
reply 73
If the battery only holds a charge for a short time, it's your motherboard.

And then my lappy's fucked, right?

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Reply #75
yrag
Join Date 08/2001
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March 8, 2012 4:25:59 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting 2of3,
reply 74
And then my lappy's fucked, right?

yup

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