Disk Boot Failure

Hello,

When turned on my PC a few days ago, got this message and my PC was making a clicking sound. I load the system installation CD the clicking stopped and I was able to login.

So now, the clicking does not stop and when I load the installation CD it just freezes.

The Boot Menu and System Recovery do not work and freeze also.

Please help.

Thanks

This sounds like your hard drive is about to die on you. Do you have any valuable data on this computer that is not already backed up ?  If so your immediate priority is to try and back this up. Do you have access to another computer, borrowing time on one if necessary ?

If you have this access use it to download a copy of Linux Mint ( linuxmint.com ) and burn the downloaded ISO file to a USB memory stick using Rufus or similar, and, at the same time, download a copy of Seatools for DOS which you will find here, along with instructions -

https://www.seagate.com/gb/en/support/game-drives/playstation/seatools-dos-master/

This will also need to be burnt to a USB using rufus or similar.

First use the Mint USB, which is self-booting and runs only in RAM, to try to access your hard drive and recover your data. Then use the Seagate USB, also self-booting, to test your hard drive. Run the 'Short generic test' first. If it passes this, run the long one. If it fails the short test then you may as well just go and buy another drive. If it fails the long test then there are other tests on the tools USB to determine just how bad your drive is.

Chris Cosgrove

Edited by Chris Cosgrove, 23 October 2019 - 05:46 PM.

Edited by draven, 24 October 2019 - 10:42 AM.

Since you have a computer running Vista I would choose the XFCE version. That leaves 32 or 64 biit. If you know which your present computer runs choose that one, otherwise choose the 32 bit version as 32 bit will run on a 64 bit system but not the other way around.

And running Mint from a USB stick will not turn your computer into a Linux box as it will run entirely in RAM. So long as you don't click on the icon 'Install Mint' on the desktop when it appears.

Chris Cosgrove

Edited by draven, 24 October 2019 - 02:38 PM.

I knew Mint is a powerful tool but I didn't know it was that powerful !

I would still make a point of keeping my data backed up just in case your HDD decides to die on you.

There are two items which can cause this sort of noise in a computer - the hard drive and the fan(s). Most people describe the noise a worn fan makes as a 'ticking', 'clicking' is more usually how people describe the noise from a failing drive. That, and the other symptoms you described led me to suspect your drive. It would still be worth your while downloading and running the Seagate tools but this time you can download the 'Tools for Windows' since your computer is running again. If you do, at least run the short generic test. Only consider running the log test if it passes the short one.

Chris Cosgrove

When Mint was running i could not access anything, so i'm glad it made the clicking stop.

I will run the Seagate tool and see if it passes.

Thanks for your help.

Hello,

I need help again.

Is there any software i can you burn to a usb to gain access to my old PC's C Drive and safe the data?

Thanks

Hello,

 

I need help again.

 

Is there any software i can you burn to a usb to gain access to my old PC's C Drive and safe the data?

 

Thanks

Sure.....

Install Windows to your brand new drive and access the old drive from the new Windows drive