Laptop Hard Disk Problem

[N2NKW]

HI guys. I have a Compaq V2000 laptop (actually a V2508wm) running XP svc pack 2 with all updates. Processoris Mobile AMD Sempron processor 3000+ 1.79 ghz. 512MB ram (384 usable due to 128mb video reserve).

The other day, I tried to do a defrag on the hard drive and I got an error message:


Defragmentation of (C:) has been aborted to inconsistencies that were detected in the filesystem. Please run CHKDSK or SCANDISK on (C:) to repair these inconsistencies, then run Disk Defragmenter again.

I ran CHKDSK on the HD and it told me it couldn't run while windows was active and to schedule it to run at next booting of the system. I figured OK, I will do that and I rebooted the computer. I got a message even before windows started that SMART something or other detected imminent hard disk failure and to back up my hard drive immediately. Press F1 to finish booting windows.

I went ahead with the windows boot and CHKDSK began and ran for an hour or so. It said it replaced some bad sectors and after it finished stage 5 verfication, it appears to have hit an "undocumented error". nothing after that and no further explanation or error codes or anything were given.

Windows finished booting and all seems well except I still can't defrag the laptop. The HD SEEMS to be running OK. I can still access memory and programs and such. I still get the "Hard Disk failure is immanent" msg every time I boot as well

Has anyone ever run across a problem like this before? Is my HD really about to crash? I don't have another HD to back up to but there is nothing extremely important on the HD that can't be replaced.

Any advise or input would be helpful

Thanks

Brian - N2NKW

[M0GLO]

If SMART is telling you of imminent HD failure, take it at its word.
Get a backup ASAP and see what you can do about getting another drive for it.

Norton Ghost is pretty good for making a duplicate of the disk for replacement.

[ad4mg]

I agree ... when you experience bad sectors on an EIDE drive, it's normally in it's death throes! Laptops run so hot that hardware failures are much more likely than in a similarly equipped PC. It's even worse when the manufacturers strive to make them ever smaller and faster, both of which contribute to the heating issue. The processor temperatures in my laptops typically run at or around 125° or higher when sitting idle. In comparison, this machine (1.82 GHz Intel processor) is at a scorching 96°, and never seems to go above 115°, and that's at 100% duty cycle running 3-D applications (like Flight Simulator 2004).

Get that backup as soon as you can!

Good luck!

73 - Luke

[N2NKW]

Ok Thanks guys. I was hoping it might be repairable but I guess not.

I don't have a temp sensor in this laptop so I can't give precise temps but it does run hot. Every laptop I have owned has run very hot with the exception of the Toshiba I just had stolen last week.

This laptop I am on now is my backup. I don't know if it is really worth repairing. I searched around and found some refurbished drives (http://www.getpartsonline.com/hp-compaq-presario-v2000.html) in the $40-$60 range. I don't know if it's worth spending that much on...lol

Thanks for the replies

[M0GLO]

Ok Thanks guys. I was hoping it might be repairable but I guess not.

I don't have a temp sensor in this laptop so I can't give precise temps but it does run hot. Every laptop I have owned has run very hot with the exception of the Toshiba I just had stolen last week.

This laptop I am on now is my backup. I don't know if it is really worth repairing. I searched around and found some refurbished drives (http://www.getpartsonline.com/hp-compaq-presario-v2000.html) in the $40-$60 range. I don't know if it's worth spending that much on...lol

Thanks for the replies

Nope, the SMART output is pretty good at letting you know when your time us up.

http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/asus-eee-laptop-pc.jpg

http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/asus-cheap-linux-laptop.html

My son told me about this Asus PC coming out soon. I will probably latch onto a few of these when they are available. Probably run cooler. Lighter for the road. Faster OS.

Cheap too.

[N2NKW]

Wow. thats a cool laptop idea. I am not familiar at all with linux but at $199 it might be worth exploring. I looked at the specs. This is the first laptop I am aware of that will use flash for the HD. Small HD but it would be good for surfing. I had heard talk about it but this is the first one I have found that actually is in production

I still need something else that has some horsepower though. I had a Toshiba that I bought back in February and it got stolen last week. That one had 1.86ghz core duo chipset in it and it worked great. I have been playing with video rendering for my Youtube videos (http://www.youtube.com/truckerllew) so that Asus would not really work. I plan on getting another Toshiba or maybe an Apple. I haven't decided yet.

It's gonna be a while cuz I am so poor I have to accept donations from church mice at the moment.... :lol: Well maybe not THAT poor but I ain't rollin cash.

Thanks for the link. I have it saved to my del.icio.us bookmarks.

Yeah. This ain't your father's laptop. It does have flash rather than a regular HD. It does not perform as a regular PC. But it does more than what I am looking for on the road to visit customers and check email.

I will be getting some of these.

[N2RJ]

Not bad. I might get one.

[M0GLO]

Looks like just the ticket for logging in through the console port, on my list.

Thanks!

[N2RJ]

That's exactly what I was thinking.
However, on my Treo I do have pssh, so if I need to reboot a server in a hurry, I just log on to the vpn, fire up pssh and away I go!

[N2NKW]

Now you guys are going beyond my understanding. Care to elaborate? Logging in through the console port? pssh? I know what VPN is though but the rest is beyond...

Wow. Do you do VPN on a Palm then?

[kc2orw]

No I believe he means parallel SSH (PSSH) for use on clusters of multiple servers. Never used it myself so I can't tell you more...

[M0GLO]

Now you guys are going beyond my understanding. Care to elaborate? Logging in through the console port? pssh? I know what VPN is though but the rest is beyond...

I work on Sun server hardware and when it hangs on boot or looses network connectivity I can get directly to the hardware level BIOS (known as a PROM on these beasties) or the command prompt if the OE has partialy loaded and force it to bend to my will through...

You guessed it, the console port.

PSSH is Palm OS version of SSH, I use OpenSSH on most of my gear.

[M0GLO]

That's exactly what I was thinking.
However, on my Treo I do have pssh, so if I need to reboot a server in a hurry, I just log on to the vpn, fire up pssh and away I go!

I used to use a Zaurus SL-6000 for emergency carry anywhere access, but I sold it to buy my HP signal generator and frequency counter.

I miss it, but then again when I find myself tuning my gear up or verifying that it actually works like it's supposed to I am glad I made the trade.

[N2RJ]

No I believe he means parallel SSH (PSSH) for use on clusters of multiple servers. Never used it myself so I can't tell you more...
No, I mean SSH on PalmOS - i.e. pssh.

[kc2orw]

That's exactly what I was thinking.
However, on my Treo I do have pssh, so if I need to reboot a server in a hurry, I just log on to the vpn, fire up pssh and away I go!

I used to use a Zaurus SL-6000 for emergency carry anywhere access, but I sold it to buy my HP signal generator and frequency counter.

I miss it, but then again when I find myself tuning my gear up or verifying that it actually works like it's supposed to I am glad I made the trade.

Oops missed the Treo mention before

[N2RJ]

Wow. Do you do VPN on a Palm then?

Yep, you can install quite a few VPN clients on PalmOS.

The tiny keyboard makes it a bit challenging but you get used to it.

It's a lot better than lugging around a laptop bag.

[N2NKW]

I wonder how using a laptop like this would be for HR software. Something like Digipan, Ham Radio Deluxe, MMSSTV or similar programs. APRS would also be something I might consider using it for. I was searching GPS units with USB capability and I found a few cheap ones. Asit is Linux based OS, how hard would it be to run programs like these? if its possible at all?

[M0GLO]

I wonder how using a laptop like this would be for HR software. Something like Digipan, Ham Radio Deluxe, MMSSTV or similar programs. APRS would also be something I might consider using it for. I was searching GPS units with USB capability and I found a few cheap ones. Asit is Linux based OS, how hard would it be to run programs like these? if its possible at all?

That depends on if it is embedded Linux or a real distro.

Real distro, no problem.

Embedded, how good are you with compilers?

[N2NKW]

I can compost quite well given the right materials....err wait. comPILE? never done it before. Never worked with Linux before. Been a PC guy since my first computer in '99.

I have been trying to decide if I want to learn Linux. I am hesitant as I know nothing about writing or using commands. I do have an older PC at home but I don't know if it's powerful enough to run any of the Linux distros.

I would hesitate to try that sort of thing without some help. Thats also the reason why I have never tried Apple/Mac. I don't have any knowledgeable friends who know this stuff IRL.

I gotta learn sometime though.

[M0GLO]

I can compost quite well given the right materials....err wait. comPILE? never done it before. Never worked with Linux before. Been a PC guy since my first computer in '99.

I have been trying to decide if I want to learn Linux. I am hesitant as I know nothing about writing or using commands. I do have an older PC at home but I don't know if it's powerful enough to run any of the Linux distros.

I would hesitate to try that sort of thing without some help. Thats also the reason why I have never tried Apple/Mac. I don't have any knowledgeable friends who know this stuff IRL.

I gotta learn sometime though.

It won't be easy, Unix is tough stuff to learn but you have greater control over it once you learn it.

Pretty much ANY machine still running will run a distribution of Linux, it's pretty easy on the hardware.
The issue becomes you at that point, I would suggest downloading a copy of Knoppix and burning a disk to try.
It boots up on it's own and doesn't require installing to try it out.
Get a beginners book on Linux at the same time and give it a whirl! You might get hooked.

As for compiling, this is how you install software on Unix. Sure, you can find packages all over the place, but if you want to install it on something it wasn't built specifically for (like Embedded Linux) you need to use a program called a compiler to make the binary (that's an exe/com file to you WinDOS peeps). That takes some understading of how the system works and where things go.

Better to stick with something like RedHat or Ubuntu if you really want to move forward after trying it out. That way you get prebuilt packages and easier installation.

[kf6rdn]

It looks like you are covered on the H/D stuff - replace it.

I have to wonder though, why you have 128M reserved for video memory. Unless you are gaming, which I doubt as the memory is too low for hard core games, 128M is overkill. You would probably speed your system up somewhat by using ALOT less for video, and letting the system use it.

It's usually setable in the systems BIOS/settings. But windows, just running even video/graphics stuff should need more then 16M. The rest is usually textures, framebuffers etc.




HI guys. I have a Compaq V2000 laptop (actually a V2508wm) running XP svc pack 2 with all updates. Processoris Mobile AMD Sempron processor 3000+ 1.79 ghz. 512MB ram (384 usable due to 128mb video reserve).

The other day, I tried to do a defrag on the hard drive and I got an error message:


Defragmentation of (C:) has been aborted to inconsistencies that were detected in the filesystem. Please run CHKDSK or SCANDISK on (C:) to repair these inconsistencies, then run Disk Defragmenter again.

I ran CHKDSK on the HD and it told me it couldn't run while windows was active and to schedule it to run at next booting of the system. I figured OK, I will do that and I rebooted the computer. I got a message even before windows started that SMART something or other detected imminent hard disk failure and to back up my hard drive immediately. Press F1 to finish booting windows.

I went ahead with the windows boot and CHKDSK began and ran for an hour or so. It said it replaced some bad sectors and after it finished stage 5 verfication, it appears to have hit an "undocumented error". nothing after that and no further explanation or error codes or anything were given.

Windows finished booting and all seems well except I still can't defrag the laptop. The HD SEEMS to be running OK. I can still access memory and programs and such. I still get the "Hard Disk failure is immanent" msg every time I boot as well

Has anyone ever run across a problem like this before? Is my HD really about to crash? I don't have another HD to back up to but there is nothing extremely important on the HD that can't be replaced.

Any advise or input would be helpful

Thanks

Brian - N2NKW

[N2NKW]

It looks like you are covered on the H/D stuff - replace it.

I have to wonder though, why you have 128M reserved for video memory. Unless you are gaming, which I doubt as the memory is too low for hard core games, 128M is overkill. You would probably speed your system up somewhat by using ALOT less for video, and letting the system use it.

It's usually setable in the systems BIOS/settings. But windows, just running even video/graphics stuff should need more then 16M. The rest is usually textures, framebuffers etc.




I know this is a way old post. I still have that old laptop and SMART hasn't killed it yet. It still seems to be working ok other then the opening error. I was looking for replacement HD's but ended up putting the replacement project on the back burner. I DO need to get a replacement drive for it and I am wondering if anyone has a good resource for drives.

I believe my original drive is a Western Digital but I don't have the specific model number for it at my fingertips. I have looked around several different sites and I can't figure out if any particular drive is a compatible replacement. How would I figure out what kind of drive to get as a compatible replacement? I looked over the HP website using my computer model number and it came up nothing. I tried googling the model and replacement drive...etc and nothing specific came up.

As to the video memory reserve, I have no idea if I can modify the video reserve. I have NO idea how to get into the BIOS or how to make mods to settings there. Kinda like having a drunk performing brain surgury...not too comfortable trying that...lol

[N2RJ]

That's exactly what I was thinking.
However, on my Treo I do have pssh, so if I need to reboot a server in a hurry, I just log on to the vpn, fire up pssh and away I go!

I used to use a Zaurus SL-6000 for emergency carry anywhere access, but I sold it to buy my HP signal generator and frequency counter.

I miss it, but then again when I find myself tuning my gear up or verifying that it actually works like it's supposed to I am glad I made the trade.

fyi I now use MidPSSH on my blackberry. It's a lot better because the BES (blackberry enterprise server) means that it's always on the vpn. It's actually usable because typing on blackberry is actually comfortable.

[KF2M]

I believe my original drive is a Western Digital but I don't have the specific model number for it at my fingertips. I have looked around several different sites and I can't figure out if any particular drive is a compatible replacement. How would I figure out what kind of drive to get as a compatible replacement? I looked over the HP website using my computer model number and it came up nothing. I tried googling the model and replacement drive...etc and nothing specific came up.

As to the video memory reserve, I have no idea if I can modify the video reserve. I have NO idea how to get into the BIOS or how to make mods to settings there. Kinda like having a drunk performing brain surgury...not too comfortable trying that...lol

It's a 40GB 4200RPM EIDE(judging by it's age) HDD. http://www.lapzone.com/servlet/the-3151 ... 000/Detail (http://www.lapzone.com/servlet/the-3151/367787-dsh-0016-Compaq-Presario-V2000/Detail) You should be able to pick up one at http://www.newegg.com though I suggest you get a larger drive. Just found one on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-160GB-hard-driv ... 0275567290 (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-160GB-hard-drive-COMPAQ-Presario-M2000-V2000-X1000_W0QQitemZ150275567290QQcmdZViewItem?hash=ite m150275567290) .

IIRC you cannot change the video reserve on that laptop.