IT/Computer freaks

[pervert]

Did your laptop come with a recovery CD? That could be worth a go...

Other than that you'd probably need to try a new HDD and see if that fixes it.

[Sniper]

Did your laptop come with a recovery CD? That could be worth a go...

Other than that you'd probably need to try a new HDD and see if that fixes it.

The recovery CD is what caused this in the first place. Worked great the first time I used and the second time it gave me a damn Glue 2 error which I have found out means a faulty CD

[jrandom]

The recovery CD is what caused this in the first place. Worked great the first time I used and the second time it gave me a damn Glue 2 error which I have found out means a faulty CD

Then I can't help but think that correct application of the XP install CD would fix it, although the error you experienced when you tried that indicates that the standard XPsp2 CD (it is an SP2 CD, right, not an older XP one?) might be missing a crucial driver for your laptop. Laptop vendors get you coming and going. Motherfuckers. Took me a whole two days at one point last year to get a friend's inherited Vaio properly up and running.

[Sniper]

Then I can't help but think that correct application of the XP install CD would fix it, although the error you experienced when you tried that indicates that the standard XPsp2 CD (it is an SP2 CD, right, not an older XP one?) might be missing a crucial driver for your laptop. Laptop vendors get you coming and going. Motherfuckers. Took me a whole two days at one point last year to get a friend's inherited Vaio properly up and running.

Good point, I havent actually checked if the CD is XPsp2, but Im damn sure it is.

Does anyone in CHCH have a XPsp2 Disk I can try? I have my own key, so its not like Im pirating it....

[jrandom]

Does anyone in CHCH have a XPsp2 Disk I can try? I have my own key, so its not like Im pirating it....

Don't pretend to care, dude, we DGAF about that.

I'm sure someone has the right CD. If they don't, I can post you a proper copy of a legit SP2 install CD. Let me know if it's required.

[Drunken Monkey]

Surely if I type "format c:" it should erase anything and everything on the harddrive including the /mbr shouldnt it?

Of course not, if the drive was partitioned you wouldn't necessarily want to format all the drives at once. "Format c:" will only format c: !

Try a low level format, that will properly blank the disk, it will destroy all partition information, etc...You don't even need to llf the whole thing, as the records are only at the start of the drive.

[avgas]

hehe glue error, i think its broken.....got glue?

[Sniper]

Don't pretend to care, dude, we DGAF about that.

I'm sure someone has the right CD. If they don't, I can post you a proper copy of a legit SP2 install CD. Let me know if it's required.

Cheers, I'll yell out if I cant find something soon

Of course not, if the drive was partitioned you wouldn't necessarily want to format all the drives at once. "Format c:" will only format c: !

Try a low level format, that will properly blank the disk, it will destroy all partition information, etc...You don't even need to llf the whole thing, as the records are only at the start of the drive.

I keep reading that a low level format is not recommended because of secor datat ect ect on it and I need manufacturers (of the HDD) tools to do it. Why and how do I just do it anyway?

[jrandom]

Try a low level format, that will properly blank the disk, it will destroy all partition information, etc...You don't even need to llf the whole thing, as the records are only at the start of the drive.

Nah, no need. I think we've zeroed in on the situation here.

Sniper's original laptop-model-specific CD is fucked, resulting in his computer being eaten by a GLUE, but he can't sort himself out with a standard XP CD because he has a wack-arse old laptop that won't even do a minimal OS boot without some driver that's only on its vendor-provided OS CD, unless we're lucky and he has an out-of-date XP CD, meaning that all he needs is a proper XPsp2 CD.

Best option if XP SP2 still doesn't work is to poke around online and figure out if there's a workaround to get XP going on that laptop without the vendor CD. If not, order a new original CD for that model from NEC.

There's bound to be a way through this maze, but I guarantee that it will cost someone their sanity.

[Sniper]

Sniper's original laptop-model-specific CD is fucked, resulting in his computer being eaten by a GLUE, but he can't sort himself out with a standard XP CD because he has a wack-arse old laptop that won't even do a minimal OS boot without some driver that's only on its vendor-provided OS CD, unless we're lucky and he has an out-of-date XP CD, meaning that all he needs is a proper XPsp2 CD.

It has not been eaten, just dribbled on

Best option if XP SP2 still doesn't work is to poke around online and figure out if there's a workaround to get XP going on that laptop without the vendor CD. If not, order a new original CD for that model from NEC.

Bastards always want money, I bet they planned this!!

There's bound to be a way through this maze, but I guarantee that it will cost someone their sanity.

Too late

[Sniper]

Oh yes, beer involved for the loan of a XPsp2 CD

[Sniper]

Also, ideas on a LLF tool when Im not sure of what make of HDD I have or someway to find out what make of HDD I have (without taking the laptop apart) so I can get the right tool from the manufacturer

[WRT]

Alright, I've only just stumbled across this thread but going to add my 2c FWIW.

You can use IBM/Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test to check what model HDD you have - download the disk creator from here:

http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/download.htm#DFT

Meanwhile, just off on a tangent here - what was the original reason for the rebuild? Everyones been quick to pin point faulty CD's etc, but is there a chance that there was a hardware fault that caused your original problems as well? While you are running that DFT util, it might pay to do a check on the HDD to make sure it's not faulty. The DFT will only work on IBM or Hitachi drives I think, but most of the manufacturers do a similar util that you can download for free.

Also, FWIW, when you run fdisk /mbr, it does just return you to a command prompt after a second or two. This is normal behavour and means that fdisk has finished rebuilding your master boot record. I take it you have tried installing again after rebuilding the MBR?

[Sniper]

Alright, I've only just stumbled across this thread but going to add my 2c FWIW.

You can use IBM/Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test to check what model HDD you have - download the disk creator from here:

http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/download.htm#DFT

I had a look at that, but before I can download it, I need the HDD model number. Might try make one up, or use the example

Meanwhile, just off on a tangent here - what was the original reason for the rebuild? Everyones been quick to pin point faulty CD's etc, but is there a chance that there was a hardware fault that caused your original problems as well? While you are running that DFT util, it might pay to do a check on the HDD to make sure it's not faulty. The DFT will only work on IBM or Hitachi drives I think, but most of the manufacturers do a similar util that you can download for free.

Couple of reasons, first was I usually do a format and complete reinstall of things every new year to clean up the computer (or any of the others Ive owned) But it has been doing odd things like returning errors while trying trying to burn CD's or DVD's on the same type and make of disk that work perfectly the past few times. Random restarts and not shutting down were another couple of faults.

Also, FWIW, when you run fdisk /mbr, it does just return you to a command prompt after a second or two. This is normal behavour and means that fdisk has finished rebuilding your master boot record. I take it you have tried installing again after rebuilding the MBR?

Yep, thats exactly what it does. I had never done FDSIK /mbr before, so I thought it was being a prick. And XP still didnt want to install afterwards. I might try another XP installation disk and then try to install Linux (Gulp) and see if that works. If not, I'll try a new HDD and then it comes with me to the range.

[WRT]

Those could all be symptoms of a faulty drive. I'd definately run a drive test on it before trying anything else, followed closely by a RAM check.

You should be able to download the CD ISO image from that link I posted, then boot from the CD (nobody uses floppys any more, do they?) and run the DFT. If the drive is from another manufacturer it will still tell you the model, but I think the drive check wont work. Let us know the manufacturer and I'll track down the appropriate util for you.

Also run a RAM checker, you can get one here:
http://www.simmtester.com/page/produ...c/download.asp

Oh dear God, I spoke too soon - there's a use for a floppy disk. I seem to recall I tried once making a boot CD for this util and it didnt work.

If you get prompted for a username and password on that site, use bugmenot@mailinator.com/bugmenot

HTH