impending HD failure?

[HomeBrewerDude]

I have a 1.2 Mh AMD from Compaq
40 GB
80 GB
Windows XP pro

when booting one of the following will happen:

A) Bios reports that it detects immenent HD failure (message 1720) Sometimes the machine will only see one HD (varies which one) and sometimes it will see both.

OR

B) It won't boot at all because no OS is found on any device.


Okay, so it sounds like a HD is about to go under, BUT...

Why does the 'missing' HD seem to change from time to time.

Furthermore, I can boot from my XP CD and cancel before I do anything other than load all the drivers and what not AND then the computer seems ot function normally.

Is this maybe a IDE controller? motherboard? or is one of my HDs about to crap out?

thanks in advance
Jeff

 

[Souka]

More than likely it's the HD....they are (guessing here) probably 100x less reliable than a HD controler or MB.


What brand HD's are they? Which HD is showing problems?

Go download some HD diagnostics, preferably from the HD manufacturer.....

IBM Drive fitness test (bootable floppy disk)
Segate Seatools (bootable floppy disk and basic on-line test)
WD and Maxtor has some too, but I can't recal the names.

I would run the test, find the drive that is likely causing you probs and replace it. Checkout the HOT DEALS forum here for great deals.....some 160GB drives are going for $60...smaller drives for less.


Good Luck! and post your results!

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

thanks, will look into diagnostics and update when i have more info...

 

[blizz]

I've had pretty good luck with this.