Do I need a new hard drive?

Question

I re-formatted my pc and it took over 24hrs to reload xp home edtion back on I know this is not right so wondered if I should get a new hard drive :)

Prior to re-formatting (have done it a few times b4) windows was frezzing up on boot and if it loaded onto windows would freeze, no virus detected so formatted but did seem to pause at times on reloading and progress bar was slow I know it should take aprox hour to formatt and load,never had this problem before, at present comp seems ok

have checked my ramm and all is ok with them :)

Answer 1

In your computer BIOS, enable S.M.A.R.T. - this will enable your Hard drive to report any fault - check your Motherboard manual for instructions as each Motherboard is different.


Activate Check Disk in Windows XP for next boot, Check Disk scan will take anything from 40mins onwards...
1. Double Click "My Computer"
2. Right mouse "Click Local Disk (C:)"
3. Click "Properties"
4. Click "Tools"
5. Click "Check Now" in the Error-checking
6. Tick "Automatically fix file system errors"
7. Tick "San for and attempt recovery of bad sectors"
8. Click "Start"
9. Click "Yes" to schedule the Disk Check.

This will check your disk drive and files for any problems.


I am assuming you was using a CD-Rom to install Windows XP...
1. Check the Windows XP CD-Rom for any scratch.
2. Your CD Drive maybe too old/slow.


Personally I believe your CD-Rom is scratched.
I have re-installed Windows XP (Home and Professional) loads of time in different computers, all within 4 hour (including other programs).

Check out my sources for more info.

Answer 2

over 24hrs to reload xp? woah thats..long and weird. I formatted my pc and installed new a new xp within an hour (took long because my boot disks were acting up). There's no reason for it to load that long. It can be because of your xp disc? Either than or your RAM are not processing the info to their potential. Maybe one of your RAMs, if you have multiple RAMs, gave up. Motherboard is slow? More details about whats happening in that 24 installation can help and I highly think installing XP does not take that long.

The size of the hard drive also does not matter just to comment on what someone said. So what if you have a big hard drive?...Mine is 250gb.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

no I'd say not, Depending on how big of hard drive it is, mine took over 18 hrs for only a 40 gig hard drive, so the big the longer, and also reloading the software is very time consuming, so I don't think you need one unless you keep having reoccuring problems that you had prior to reformatting it. been down that road before also...good luck

Answer 5

i think that the only explanation for this (if your cd is not scratched) is that you have disk geometry errors on it.what to do:
install Powerquest Partition Magic.it should detect an error if so and attempt recovery.
install norton utilities and run norton disk doctor.
delete all the partitions, issue fdisk /mbr of a w98 boot disk and make a new partition.
if all this fails....mail me
hope this helps

Answer 6

buddy first you check for any bad sectors in the hard disk by checking the chkdisk in windows.
if any thing is there then give it for some one who servises the harddisk ( if it is samsung or anything go them and ask them to clean it).
and check for ur RAM ,MOTHERBOARD for ur slow ness of xphome. because u need bit high configurations for that.
try to check for updates for ur hardware parts and make them updated if still it is slow.

very rarely u need to go for the new harddisks. so better try all possibles and then choose for this option to buy new one

Answer 7

Do a Check Disk (CHKDSK) and then reformat and reinstall. If it takes that long next time you need a new hard drive.

Answer 8

if you do want to get a new hard drive here is a very good deal on a 250Ghz 16M cashe SATA western digital http://cm.ebay.com/cm/ck/1065-29296-2357-0?uid=138905479&site=0&ver=LCA080805&item=300001318593&lk=URL

Answer 9

it might even be your boot disc... if its scratched then your disc drive will keep it spinning trying to read it!