|
|
daren_1971
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 71
|
|
Hi,
I have a home PC which is about 3 years old now. It has recently become very slow and has started making a awful clicking noise. The noise appears to be coming from the Hard Drive. Is the Hard Drive on its way out, I have a number of questions -
1. Is it easy to replace (dont need anything fancy 40-60GB would suffice).
2. Would this explain the PC slowing down?
If in an attempt to help if you need any further questions answered please ask - I cannot afford a new PC and just kinda hope this problem can be resolved!!
Thanks,
Daren
|
|
greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17967
Loc: Colchester
|
|
Yes your hard disk is on it's last legs. Get some backups done quickly whilst it's still working. New hard disks are easy to install and quite cheap. Have a look at this as an example.
Do you have a Windows CD and all the software for your other programmes?
--------------------
Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
|
daren_1971
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 71
|
|
Hi,
thanks for the reply.
I use the PC for very little - browsing the net more than anything else but will back up what little I have on it.
Dont think I have the discs for it - unless they're in the loft somewhere!
If I install a new hard drive is it a case of old one out and new one it, switch on the PC and bobs your uncle?? (I've opened the case and can see it looks fairly easy to remove/replace (may also add another 256MB Ram whilst I'm in there - would that be worthwhile??))
Thanks again,
Daren
|
greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17967
Loc: Colchester
|
|
No, I'm afraid Robert won't be your mother's brother straight away. You need to re-install Windows as your first step so you need either an original Windows CD or a Restore CD. One or other of those should have been given to you when you bought the PC. When you find it (or not) come back to us.
Extra memory is always worth having. Do you know what the specification is of your PC, hard disk size, memory, processor etc. If not go to this page and download SIW. That will tell you more things than you thought possible about your PC. Give us a bit of info about the hardware and we'll come back with some ideas.
--------------------
Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
|
daren_1971
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 71
|
|
Hi,
thanks again for the prompt reply.
Im sure the CD will be in the box in the loft.
From memory its a intel pentium 4, 1.8GHZ. The Hard drive in is 40GB and there's 256MB PC133 ram installed. The graphics card is a GeForce2.
Will download the program in a mo - did you need any further details?
Appreciate your help with this.
Daren
|
daren_1971
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 71
|
|
Now in possession of my windows XP disc....
|
greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17967
Loc: Colchester
|
|
Excellent. First step is to decide which hard disk to buy. They are remarkably cheap these days. Have a look at the selection here for something that suits your pocket.
Next go to this site and either go through the route of selecting your PC or let Crucial do the scan for you.
When you've bought your goodies and installed them you need to start the Windows install. You may need to change the way in which your PC boots up but to save a bit of time, put your Windows CD in the drive then reboot the PC. If you get a message about pressing any key to boot from the CD we don't need to change anything in the BIOS.
We'll go to the next stage when you are ready.
--------------------
Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
|
daren_1971
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 71
|
|
Ok thanks.
Have ordered a new harddrive and an extra 256mb ram from Ebuyer.
Just waiting for them to arrive!
Just a thought, would a new graphics card help? The one installed is a Nvidea GeForce 2 MX 400 (I think!).
As soon as the parts appear I'll add another reply.
Thanks once again,
Daren
|
greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17967
Loc: Colchester
|
|
Graphics I know very little about. I don't do gaming so as long my two screens show me what I want I'm happy. What sort of stuff do you use your PC for?
--------------------
Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
|
daren_1971
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 71
|
|
Quote:
Excellent. First step is to decide which hard disk to buy. They are remarkably cheap these days. Have a look at the selection here for something that suits your pocket.
Next go to this site and either go through the route of selecting your PC or let Crucial do the scan for you.
When you've bought your goodies and installed them you need to start the Windows install. You may need to change the way in which your PC boots up but to save a bit of time, put your Windows CD in the drive then reboot the PC. If you get a message about pressing any key to boot from the CD we don't need to change anything in the BIOS.
We'll go to the next stage when you are ready.
Hi,
ok, bits arrived from this morning.
1. Western Digital WD800JB Cavier SE 80Gb 7200RPM 8MB Cache - OEM
2. Ebuyer 256MB PC133 168pin Extra Value SDRAM
Opened up the side of the PC (wearing my recently purchased anti static strap - I can't be careful enough!!). Switched socket off at the wall. Located hard drive - removed the IDE cable and the power cable, all appeared to go well. Removed the 2 screws holding the hard drive in place. Test removal - fan in the way so undid the 2 retaining clips and moved it to the side. Old drive out. New drive in. Did the 2 screw up. Connected both cables. Replaced fan.
Switched it on. Something whirrs away in the computer. Monitor not coming alive - checked cables, all ok. Tried it with CD in each CD drive. No joy.
Went over what I'd done, dont think I've done anything heavy handed, all the cables in the case appear ok, none hanging loose, disconnected etc.
Stuck.
Could any one please help?
Thanks in anticipation.
Daren
|
daren_1971
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 71
|
|
Removed the new RAM in case of any compatibility problems and still no joy when trying to boot the pc..
|
greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17967
Loc: Colchester
|
|
Before you put your new stuff in, did you do this? Quote:
You may need to change the way in which your PC boots up but to save a bit of time, put your Windows CD in the drive then reboot the PC. If you get a message about pressing any key to boot from the CD we don't need to change anything in the BIOS.
If you did, what was the result? If you didn't, can you do it now and tell me if you see a message about pressing any key to boot from the CD?
--------------------
Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
|
daren_1971
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 71
|
|
Ah, no I didnt do it before. Argggh.
When I switch the PC on now, it whirrs away but doesnt seem to start up - in that its obviously on but nothing appears on the screen. I've switched it on with the CD in one drive then the other and then none at all - same result every time.
Any ideas what I've done?
The PC has a 3.5" floppy drive but I havent got a Recovery disc.
Argggh.
Thanks for the help so far, what should I do?
Daren
|
bobnemesis
regular
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 363
Loc: North Wales
|
|
You need to get into BIOS to change the boot order so that it boots from CD first.
Is there nothing on the screen at all when you switch it on?
--------------------
As I lay in bed gazing at the night sky, dumbstruck by the awesome beauty of the heavens. I couldn't help but ask myself.....Where the hell has my tent gone ??
|
greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17967
Loc: Colchester
|
|
To get into the BIOS setup on most PCs you need to keep pressing either the Del key or the F8 key as soon as you switch on the PC. Once in setup you need to look for something called the Boot Sequence (or Order) and change it so that the CD drive is first, the floppy drive second and the hard disk third. Save your changes then exit and reboot. Hopefully the PC will then boot from the CD.
--------------------
Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
|
daren_1971
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 71
|
|
Hi,
thanks for the replies so far...
When I installed the hard drive I thought I'd done everything right. The PC appears to be working ok (albeit very slowly with the clicking noise). I've done some digging and found a website that gives the correct "jumper" settings for installing one hard drive - the block was on 1 and 2 when supplied so I've moved it to 4 and 6 as suggested. Still no joy.
When I switch the PC on now, the 2 CD drives lights come on briefly, the PC whirrs away but I'm not sure if the hard drive spins or not. Nothing comes on the screen at all - within seconds it flicks onto standby mode.
I've forgotten to adjust the BIOS settings before installing the hard drive but I'm becoming increasingly concerned I've done more that that!
Daren
|
bobnemesis
regular
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 363
Loc: North Wales
|
|
Id start again from scratch. If your old hard drive was still working Id take out your new one and put your old one back and see if it will boot up.
If it will, go into BIOS and change the boot order as Greysts tells you so it boots from CD first.
Then close down and replace your old hard drive with your new one. Insert your XP disc and it should boot from that and install Windows.
--------------------
As I lay in bed gazing at the night sky, dumbstruck by the awesome beauty of the heavens. I couldn't help but ask myself.....Where the hell has my tent gone ??
|
greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17967
Loc: Colchester
|
|
On most new hard disks the jumper setting for a master is to remove the jumper completely but having said that the advice from the last poster is sound, go back to the beginning and start over.
--------------------
Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
