The point of our recommendations to run diagnostics is that if the hard drive is
failing, doing most anything else in software (factory restore, etc) is likely
to muck up the drive contents even more. Or, at minimum, you will spin your
wheels and waste time trying to fix a hardware problem with software.

To state it differently, and to paraphrase Davy Crockett, make sure the hardware
is right, then go ahead. Whenever a computer is flaky, if you do not have the
assurance that the hardware is in 100% operational condition, then anything else
may be futile.

I could think up other ways of stating this important point about hardware
reliability, but you should get my drift by now. Now run hard drive
diagnostics, please, and let us know the results... Ben Myers

On Tue, 8 Jan 2008 08:36:26 -0500, "- Bobb -" wrote:


Thanks guys, but my question isn't hardware/ disk-test related. The price
of a new hard drive is immaterial. I'm just trying to see if I can "fix
his drive" without wiping/reinstalling XP.
And then about Quickrestore CD - if I boot it on his PC ( his restore
partition is fine), will I see menu showing his backup points/dates or
just "return his pc to factory software " ?
Thanks


Two parts :
1 - anyone know what is happening in XP Home when you see "Windows is
starting ... " [ JUST before the user logon icons appear ( 2 users - no
pwds)], and
2. Restore CD - " Last saved" profile? or just Factory restore ? to fix a
windows system file .
snipped

"Ben Myers" wrote in message
.. .
Download HDAT2 and run it. You will find out a lot about the health of
your
hard drive. http://www.hdat2.com/

... Ben Myers

On Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:12:15 GMT, Postman Delivers

wrote:

SNIP

* * *
Bobb,

I would do a hard drive test, I like the one in speedfan, it provides
raw
information locally, and then does a comparison test on-line - Use the
S.M.A.R.T. tab... ignore the fans speed hot rodding...

I also like the idea of participation of adding more Hard Drives
performance figures to to his growing database...

Bobb, if anything looks a bit odd then I would go get the Hard drive
manufactures diagnostic software...

Ben, also had a different Hard Drive testing application that read the
S.M.A.R.T. info... But that would be my next check, remember drives are
reasonablly priced today...

JR the postman