Mystery Laptop Problem, Compaq Presario 1060

Hi,

Sorry I forgot to mention that I thoroughly cleaned both drives and
I do not smoke (very bad for your health).

INTERESTING FLOPPY DRIVE TEST:

I used a program called "Sector Access" and read a string (100) of sectors
starting at sector 00000000 (boot sector) into a file called "100.SEC". This
has to be done in Dos mode (Windows shut down).

Then I used a program called "Proof", with the command:
"PROOF 100.SEC /512". The switch "/512" tells proof to read the file in 512
byte amounts. A sector is 512 bytes. Note: I did this test on the same
floppy disk on another computer and wrote down the checksums for each
512 byte amounts (they accumulate). The first sector (boot sector) was fine,
but the second sector miss-matched.

Remember, I had used a Compaq diagnostic tool on the floppy drive and all
tests passed (rotation speed, etc.) except the "Write/Read/Compare".

Brad


On Tue, 19 Sep 2006 18:01:04 GMT, (Brad) wrote:

Hi,

Mystery problem with Compaq Presario 1060 Laptop.

Note: I service TVs, etc., rarely service a computer.

PROBLEM (Hard Disk Drive is fine):

On the same day (no storm and it wasn't dropped) this laptop
started to have read/write problems with the floppy disk drive
(several disks tried). Also, the CD rom drive no longer could read home
"burned" CDs, which it never had trouble reading before. However,
the CD rom drive has no trouble reading commercial CDs ("stronger
impressions").

Using a software diagnostic tool on the floppy disk drive, a series of
tests were performed and the only test that failed (error # 603-08) was
the Write/Read/Compare test.

Note: Sometimes a floppy disk can be read in part, then everything
"freezes" to the point that I have to turn off the computer (Ctrl, Alt, & Del
doesn't work). There never is a "Abort/Retry...." message as happens when you
have a faulty disk or no disk in the drive.

It's as though the read/write heads in the floppy drive and the read
"head" in the CD rom drive lost "sensitivity" at the same time!!
What do you think is causing this problem?

Thanks in advance, Brad

Before you type your password, credit card number, etc.,
be sure there is no active keystroke logger (spyware) in your PC.

It's as though the read/write heads in the floppy drive and the read
"head" in the CD rom drive lost "sensitivity" at the same time!!
What do you think is causing this problem?


The only common factor is age or evniromental issues, I know you don't
smoke, but do you have pets, live near a dirt road, or have a dusty
workshop?. The CD problem is either a dirty lens or a failing laser.
The reason it can still see "factory" cds is that they are more
reflective, and a weaker laser still works. CDRWs are the least
reflective. Since you have a laptop, it's easy to clean the lens with a
NEW ultrafine paintbrush, or a q-tip and isopropyl alchohol.


If cleaning the lens is no good, it's a bad laser.

It's as though the read/write heads in the floppy drive and the read
"head" in the CD rom drive lost "sensitivity" at the same time!!
What do you think is causing this problem?


The only common factor is age or evniromental issues, I know you don't
smoke, but do you have pets, live near a dirt road, or have a dusty
workshop?. The CD problem is either a dirty lens or a failing laser.
The reason it can still see "factory" cds is that they are more
reflective, and a weaker laser still works. CDRWs are the least
reflective. Since you have a laptop, it's easy to clean the lens with a
NEW ultrafine paintbrush, or a q-tip and isopropyl alchohol.


If cleaning the lens is no good, it's a bad laser.