HP Windows 8

riclad

AS a last resort try this,


from command prompt,


Type the following command chkdsk c:/ r






eg it trys to repair errors and recover bad sectors on the hardrive.

If you get a "Chkdsk cannot run" error, type Y, ChkDsk will run on your next Windows boot

if theres lots of errors on drive c, it can take an hour or more to finish,
it,ll say 1,3,8 , 60, 90,,,per cent complete,
i think ,long time since i used it.

if i think of a program that runs from usb ,thats easy to use ,ill post here later.

riclad

how to run dban from a usb drive,

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/install-dban-to-a-usb-flash-drive-using-windows/

it would be easier to burn dban to a cdr,using this,
http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download

faster than following the above link,but its up to you.


burn image ,file ,dban at 2x speed,to a cdr disc.
put in the pc ,
Reboot pc,follow menu, to erase drive c;/ partition c;

windows put s on 1 or 2 extra partitions ,on the hardrive, as part of the

normal install process,
leave them there.
they dont take up much space.

SamIsta

Riclad

Finally got DBAN onto a disk using imgburner as you suggested, when I ran i tin my pc i get this message

DBan failed.
The disks have not been wiped.
Error: Disks not found. DBan could need a driver for this computer.

riclad

i cant offer info on dban, i use this,
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/

can you get into safe mode command prompt,
then, use command,

format c;/

if you have given up on getting win7 to load.

try fixboot,
fixmbr, oomands,takes 2minutes,
then reboot pc.


eg try fixboot, fix mbr,reboot,


as a last resort you can format c.

SamIsta

I cant get into safe mode at all......

SamIsta

I live quite near to the canal, i think it needs to go to the bottom, I like the environment as much as the next guy but....

riclad

http://www.pcworld.com/article/261702/how_to_securely_erase_your_hard_drive.html

you can make a gparted livecd,

then, go to menu, format partition c;.

then delete partition c;/


various programs in above link,
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/download.php

Thats all i can think of right now.

or just remove the drive and sell pc on www.adverts,ie,

i never use dban,i use linux,utilitys,
i use my drives until they stop working ,to be honest,
i have 7 year old drives ,60gig.

riclad

you could get this bout 100meg,
mini linux,livecd,
then go to filemanager menu., format c;/

formatting a drive doesnt erase the data,
use one of the programs,listed in my previous post,
eg drive eraser.

its easy to unformatt a drive.

riclad

http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm


OS v.4.1
FREEWARE version
click here, Download Bootable ISO Image

looks good, about 5 meg in size, boot from cd,iso,
set burn cd,options ,2x speed.

thats about all i can think of.

dont use dsl linux, unless you wann see files on drive c.

riclad

http://www.bootdisk.com/popfiles.htm

i think theres cd iso,bootcds,

that give you acess to dos prompt mode.

riclad

SEE http://www.ntfs.com/boot-disk-win.htm


http://www.ntfs.com/bootdisk_erasing.htm
killdisk erase all data on drive c;

I think its about 170meg in size.

its a mini windows os, live cd,
similar to windows ,easy to use,

see http://www.ntfs.com/recovery-toolkit.htm

i think mbr is damaged,

or system files are missing,

PrzemoF

SamIsta, install ubuntu linux. (ubuntu.com) Download the CD, start it, hit "install & replace existing systems" and forget about all windows problems.

SamIsta

I tried killdisk last night a few times but it was stuck at 0, left it for 3 hours and no movement.

This morning i turn on the pc and all I have now is a blank screen saying:

Reboot and Select proper Boot Device or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key

SamIsta

ok, so i am installing ubuntu, so a few last questions.

When its as installing it said the pc had no OS on it, does this mean the killdisk actually worker?

Also, if ubuntu does install correctly does this mean my disk drive isn't banjaxed?

Also how do i now get windows 7 onto my pc? I know ubuntu is cool, but I am starting a new job soon and the college i work for uses windows 7 for everything so i have to get used to it asap, been using xp for years.

riclad

I,ll post back later, mint linux,fits on 1 cdr,66omeg,
is designed for non experts,
Menus, like ,windows 7,
easier to use than ubuntu.
i,ll post back later,
There,s load,sa free programs,
test hd, drive, check bad sectors,
if linux installs ok, its likely the drive is ok.
gparted,can fix and test partitions,
gparted live cd.
you should find out will i need win 7, 64bit,
or win7 32bit,
WIN 7 32bit can only acess 3.4gig ram,
64bit, win 7 can use over 16gig ram.

Most people find 32bit os, to be fine .

UBUNTU takes a bit longet to learn for a average user.
http://www.seagate.com/support/

see seatools, diagnotic program, for seagate hardrives,

right side of support ,webpage.

SamIsta

thanks riclad, my disk drive says 32 bit on it so i assume i should get windows 7 32 bit???

riclad

ANY modern,PC can run 64bit,or 32bit,
THE POINT is win7 32bit can only acess ,3.4gig ram,
if you want to fit ram in future, say 6, or 8gig,
to use 6gig ram needs ubuntu 64bit version,
linux 64bit, or windows 7 64bit version.

Theres no point running win7 ,64bit, if your pc has 4gig,ram,
UNLESS you intend to buy more ram,in future.

I,d say most people buy 32bit os, unless they need it for work, for their job,
OR to run games in hi resolution, mode.
my pc has 4gig ram,i just use it for ,music,the web,
it has win7 premium installed.

Look at your hardrive, is it,wd, or seagate,

You can go to www.seagate.com ,
or westerndigital.com ,

Download free program,s to test the drive.
Your pc bios, may have a diagnostic utility,
BUILT IN to test the pc,
ram and the hardisk.
A full drive test take 40 to 60 minutes ,approx, or more.

ANY hardrive made since 2002 will run a 64bit os.

no point running 64bit ubuntu on a pc with 4gig ram,
get the 32bit version.

my pc came windows 7 64bit,installed ,even though there was only 2gig ram in it.

SamIsta

my disk is western digital.

Ive cancelled ubuntu installation, am putting on linux mint instead, you are right: it look a lot easier to use.

32 bit will do me i reckon...

riclad

i recommend mint 7,easy to use,
very similar to windows 7,menus,layout,
Easier to setup up,re screen layout, icons,
i find IT hardout to remember the menus,layout,
in ubuntu.

see http://www.google.com/search?um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=_YBIUYCYE4SM7QaCyoDIBQ&q=mint%207%20scrren&biw=1

SETUP TIP,
set 6 or 20gig partition, for mint,it,ll scan drive c,
then say,set hd partition size, minimum 6gig,
put in at least 6 or 7 gig .
EG IT PARTITIONS, a link partition, e,or f;/


see here,http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?level1=6&lang=en

should be a free testing program,
put in wd model no,

eh model, FG10345 kt


makes a dualboot menu,
arrow up,down enter,
select win7,or mint,
press enter to load mint.

i,m presuming the hd c; has at least 6gig free space.

DONT make a 150gig partition,
eg get mint setup,say 20gig.

we dont know if drive is working ok, right now.

32 bit mint is grand, very faster,
much faster than winxp, no antivirus needed.

riclad

Ubuntu 4 64 bit is at least 3gig install,
just get mint installed, and see how it go,s.

SamIsta

Linux mint install is taking a long time, 3 hours now and still going, the little green bar under the 'copying files' seems to be still moving, albeit very slow indeed. I am browsing the net on it at present, this is all very confusing.

riclad

WHAT version are you using, ?,8, 10, 12,?
did it complete the partition ,format ,process,
?
did you just click, icon install, mint,
?
How big is the partition ,6gig?
30gig?
i presume you are using the 32bit version.

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=119

this version/ 990 meg.

I Usually get version 7, 660 meg iso.

the 64 version is larger,
i just install version 7,
good for testing a pc.
and make partition 5 - 6meg.

SamIsta

Its the Mate version.

It didnt ask me anything about partitions, i just hit the install button a few hours ago...

SamIsta

Yea 32 bit

SamIsta

Yea thats the one i am using, got it fro that page you posted and downloaded it from HEA Ireland

riclad

ok,watch this video, i installed mint on 10 pcs,
go to time,
1.minute, 9 seconds,
1.09,

use entire disk,

OR you need to click specify partitions manually,

eg it may be partitioning the whole hd,
and formatting it.

i always choose , set partition,
5-6gig ,if im testing a pc.
to format a 500gig drive may take some time.

default mode is use the whole disk, hd, eg 500gig,
depending on size of the hardrive.

riclad

sorry here it is,
see 1.o9 partition setting ,etc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ShbhYytrQ0

riclad

i,m concerned there may be bad sectors, say drive is 500gig,
at 499 gig point,
So i wanted you to make a small partition ,
5-20 gig ,and then see does it work,
bigger partition-= slow install.

the biggest mint partition i made is 30 gig.

if you made a small partition ,bad sectors,on 499 gig point,
Would probably make no difference.
i just use version 7,8,
where it says,
do you wanna use the whole disk,

?
or click,select set partition size,
i click select 6gig usually.

YOUR version may just try to use the whole disk ,
not recommending,
IN THIS case ,where we do,nt know if drive is fully functional.

6gig install OF VERSION 7 MINT, takes ,maybe 20 -40 minutes ,depnds on cpu speed, hardisk speed.

riclad

Rule one on pcs ,is its not good to knock off pc,when disk is being formatted,or partitioned.

Wait an hour see, does it complete copy process.

i never tried a mint install on a disk,
300, or 500 gig partition.
i never use,d the mate version.

riclad

quote,
When you get to the partition screen, be careful as this is the most important step. Here you can completely wipe your hard drive(s) and install Linux Mint on it/them. If you want to keep Windows or any other OS, select 'install side by side' and adjust the slider. Linux Mint only needs 4GB to run, but I recommend giving it at least 10GB so you still have room for extra software and your personal files.
Click next, fill in your user data and finish. Let the installer complete the installation process. This is generally a very quick process. Where Windows can take several hours to install, Linux Mint should only take about 20 minutes. On some fast computers, this can go down to only 5 minutes, but others may take around half an hour. When it finishes, remove the Linux Mint DVD and reboot your computer.


end quote,



ITS possible you may have just pressed, next,ok,next button,
next, eg passed ,on by the select.set partition size ,screen.

instead of selecting ,
set partition size,
so now its trying to use the whole disk ,
maybe 500 gig partition.

if so ,it has to do format disk,make partition,
500gig,
Which may account for the delay.