bad clusters/sectors on new laptop, chkdsk gets stuck trying to repair

[Guest techman41973@yahoo.com]

I recently bought a new HP laptop with an extended warrantee.

In the past few weeks, often I would get the blue screen of death and

the system will just spontaneously crash and then I have to reboot. I

ran chkdsk and it says there are errors on the drive (no specifics).

It then tells me it couldn't repair the problems because the drive was

locked by other processes. I then entered in the command prompt

chkdsk /F/R and answered Yes for to authorize CHKDSK to run on reboot.

When CHKDSK runs on reboot everything is fine until stage 4/5 where I

get a ton of error messages, all the same

"the disk does not have enough space to replace bad clusters"

I then went into windows and noticed I have only 26GB filled with 74GB

free on a 100GB hard drive. There are no other partitions. So I don't

understand why I am getting this error.

I wonder if there is something seriously wrong with the hard disk

drive.

I want to avoid sending it in to HP as I don't want to be without a

laptop for a few weeks.

Is there anything I can do to fix this problem or diagnose it further.

Thanks

[Guest GreenieLeBrun]

Re: bad clusters/sectors on new laptop, chkdsk gets stuck trying to repair

 

techman41973@yahoo.com wrote:

> I recently bought a new HP laptop with an extended warrantee.

> In the past few weeks, often I would get the blue screen of death and

> the system will just spontaneously crash and then I have to reboot. I

> ran chkdsk and it says there are errors on the drive (no specifics).

> It then tells me it couldn't repair the problems because the drive was

> locked by other processes. I then entered in the command prompt

> chkdsk /F/R and answered Yes for to authorize CHKDSK to run on reboot.

> When CHKDSK runs on reboot everything is fine until stage 4/5 where I

> get a ton of error messages, all the same

> "the disk does not have enough space to replace bad clusters"

> I then went into windows and noticed I have only 26GB filled with 74GB

> free on a 100GB hard drive. There are no other partitions. So I don't

> understand why I am getting this error.

> I wonder if there is something seriously wrong with the hard disk

> drive.

> I want to avoid sending it in to HP as I don't want to be without a

> laptop for a few weeks.

> Is there anything I can do to fix this problem or diagnose it further.

> Thanks

 

Back up your data NOW. The disk is doomed and there is nothing you can do

about it but send the machine back to HP to get the HDD replaced.

[Guest Mike Easter]

Re: bad clusters/sectors on new laptop, chkdsk gets stuck trying to repair

 

techman41973@yahoo.com wrote:

> I recently bought a new HP laptop with an extended warrantee.

> I want to avoid sending it in to HP as I don't want to be without a

> laptop for a few weeks.

 

And there's the rub -- what is the value of an extended warrantee for

someone who can't be without the (concept of) a 'spare' computer?

 

If you have to do all of the troubleshooting and dirty work, what is the

value of the extra $$ for the extra warantee? If you don't already have

a spare one, then you could go buy another computer, and send your LT

off to HP for an indeterminate period. And forget about any data you

haven't recovered/ backed up/ somehow.

 

Who wants to be without any computer for 'a while'?

> Is there anything I can do to fix this problem or diagnose it further.

 

I would be very very worried about the integrity of my drive; and this

is one of the times, new, these problems show up.

 

I'm concerned that it took you a little thinking to realize that you

weren't going to get good chkdisk while running in gear, but at least

you worked your way to the appropriate scary result.

 

--

Mike Easter

[Guest JANA]

Re: bad clusters/sectors on new laptop, chkdsk gets stuck trying to repair

 

It sounds like a failing hard drive. Back up the data, and send the computer

to have it serviced.

 

--

 

JANA

_____

 

 

<techman41973@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:1185857013.219447.187450@19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...

I recently bought a new HP laptop with an extended warrantee.

In the past few weeks, often I would get the blue screen of death and

the system will just spontaneously crash and then I have to reboot. I

ran chkdsk and it says there are errors on the drive (no specifics).

It then tells me it couldn't repair the problems because the drive was

locked by other processes. I then entered in the command prompt

chkdsk /F/R and answered Yes for to authorize CHKDSK to run on reboot.

When CHKDSK runs on reboot everything is fine until stage 4/5 where I

get a ton of error messages, all the same

"the disk does not have enough space to replace bad clusters"

I then went into windows and noticed I have only 26GB filled with 74GB

free on a 100GB hard drive. There are no other partitions. So I don't

understand why I am getting this error.

I wonder if there is something seriously wrong with the hard disk

drive.

I want to avoid sending it in to HP as I don't want to be without a

laptop for a few weeks.

Is there anything I can do to fix this problem or diagnose it further.

Thanks

[Guest Keme]

Re: bad clusters/sectors on new laptop, chkdsk gets stuck tryingto repair

 

Re: bad clusters/sectors on new laptop, chkdsk gets stuck tryingto repair

 

techman41973@yahoo.com skrev:

> I recently bought a new HP laptop with an extended warrantee.

> In the past few weeks, often I would get the blue screen of death and

> the system will just spontaneously crash and then I have to reboot. I

> ran chkdsk and it says there are errors on the drive (no specifics).

> It then tells me it couldn't repair the problems because the drive was

> locked by other processes. I then entered in the command prompt

> chkdsk /F/R and answered Yes for to authorize CHKDSK to run on reboot.

> When CHKDSK runs on reboot everything is fine until stage 4/5 where I

> get a ton of error messages, all the same

> "the disk does not have enough space to replace bad clusters"

> I then went into windows and noticed I have only 26GB filled with 74GB

> free on a 100GB hard drive. There are no other partitions. So I don't

> understand why I am getting this error.

> I wonder if there is something seriously wrong with the hard disk

> drive.

> I want to avoid sending it in to HP as I don't want to be without a

> laptop for a few weeks.

> Is there anything I can do to fix this problem or diagnose it further.

> Thanks

>

 

 

Talk to HP and explain your situation. They may accept your diagnose and

allow you to change the HDD yourself, sending you a replacement and

requiring the faulty one to be returned.

 

Not likely, but it happens...

[Guest M.I.5¾]

Re: bad clusters/sectors on new laptop, chkdsk gets stuck trying to repair

 

 

<techman41973@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:1185857013.219447.187450@19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...

>I recently bought a new HP laptop with an extended warrantee.

> In the past few weeks, often I would get the blue screen of death and

> the system will just spontaneously crash and then I have to reboot. I

> ran chkdsk and it says there are errors on the drive (no specifics).

> It then tells me it couldn't repair the problems because the drive was

> locked by other processes. I then entered in the command prompt

> chkdsk /F/R and answered Yes for to authorize CHKDSK to run on reboot.

> When CHKDSK runs on reboot everything is fine until stage 4/5 where I

> get a ton of error messages, all the same

> "the disk does not have enough space to replace bad clusters"

> I then went into windows and noticed I have only 26GB filled with 74GB

> free on a 100GB hard drive. There are no other partitions. So I don't

> understand why I am getting this error.

> I wonder if there is something seriously wrong with the hard disk

> drive.

> I want to avoid sending it in to HP as I don't want to be without a

> laptop for a few weeks.

> Is there anything I can do to fix this problem or diagnose it further.

> Thanks

>

 

The disk has had it.

 

The type of disks fitted to PCs theses days have a number of spare clusters

on them that are not normally used. When the disk firmware detects a

cluster that is less than reliable, it copies the cluster to one of the

spares; marks the original as bad and then remaps its intenal cluster table

to point to the new one (this is somewhat simplified, but nevertheless is

essentially what happens). Eventually, it uses up the supply of spare

clusters and can't go any further. That's when you start getting the error

messages that you are getting.

 

Unfortunately, you are going to have to return the thing to HP to get the

disk changed, but make sure that you copy off any files that you don't want

to lose first.

[Guest Cub]

Re: bad clusters/sectors on new laptop, chkdsk gets stuck trying to repair

 

 

<techman41973@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:1185857013.219447.187450@19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...

>I recently bought a new HP laptop with an extended warrantee.

> In the past few weeks, often I would get the blue screen of death and

> the system will just spontaneously crash and then I have to reboot. I

> ran chkdsk and it says there are errors on the drive (no specifics).

> It then tells me it couldn't repair the problems because the drive was

> locked by other processes. I then entered in the command prompt

> chkdsk /F/R and answered Yes for to authorize CHKDSK to run on reboot.

> When CHKDSK runs on reboot everything is fine until stage 4/5 where I

> get a ton of error messages, all the same

> "the disk does not have enough space to replace bad clusters"

> I then went into windows and noticed I have only 26GB filled with 74GB

> free on a 100GB hard drive. There are no other partitions. So I don't

> understand why I am getting this error.

> I wonder if there is something seriously wrong with the hard disk

> drive.

> I want to avoid sending it in to HP as I don't want to be without a

> laptop for a few weeks.

> Is there anything I can do to fix this problem or diagnose it further.

> Thanks

>

 

You and your laptop should qualify for a home/office repair typically next

business day. go to the HP warranty checker and put the product code and

serial in to the checker. don't even think of a chkdsk fix , thats what

warranty is for (back up your data quick)

 

 

Cub

[Guest Chris Allen]

Re: bad clusters/sectors on new laptop, chkdsk gets stuck trying to repair

 

On Jul 30, 9:43 pm, techman41...@yahoo.com wrote:

> I recently bought a new HP laptop with an extended warrantee.

> In the past few weeks, often I would get the blue screen of death and

> the system will just spontaneously crash and then I have to reboot. I

> ran chkdsk and it says there are errors on the drive (no specifics).

> It then tells me it couldn't repair the problems because the drive was

> locked by other processes. I then entered in the command prompt

> chkdsk /F/R and answered Yes for to authorize CHKDSK to run on reboot.

> When CHKDSK runs on reboot everything is fine until stage 4/5 where I

> get a ton of error messages, all the same

> "the disk does not have enough space to replace bad clusters"

> I then went into windows and noticed I have only 26GB filled with 74GB

> free on a 100GB hard drive. There are no other partitions. So I don't

> understand why I am getting this error.

> I wonder if there is something seriously wrong with the hard disk

> drive.

> I want to avoid sending it in to HP as I don't want to be without a

> laptop for a few weeks.

> Is there anything I can do to fix this problem or diagnose it further.

> Thanks

 

Steps I'd take:

 

1. Remove the HDD

This may void your warranty, I'd check before doing this

the reason I'd remove the HDD first is because if the disk really

is failing then the longer it spins the more likely it is to go out

totally

2. Download MemTest86+ boot cd, and boot it.

This will check to see if your memory is okay. Disk corruption

issues are sometimes linked to bad memory. check your memory first

before

using the computer to rescue your data. If the computer's memory

is shot, do not try to rescue your data with it.

here's the link to MemTest86+ http://www.memtest.org

3. If mem is good, then download Knoppix Boot CD

link = http://www.knoppix.org

4. get yourself a usb external hdd that is as large as or larger than

the laptops internal HDD

5. Reinstall the HDD, and boot Knoppix CD

Open command prompt, run ddrescue and copy what you can to the new

HDD

6. Get a copy of SpinRite by GRC

http://www.grc.com/spinrite.htm

Note: this program is not free, but is worth the money.

Alternatively you can download ultimate boot cd and check out what

freeware utils it has to check the physical sectors on your disk

7. If SpinRite makes corrections, repeat step 5 on another external

HDD if possible

8. if HDD is messed up, replace it and copy back data from external

HDD

[Guest Anna]

Re: bad clusters/sectors on new laptop, chkdsk gets stuck trying to repair

 

> On Jul 30, 9:43 pm, techman41...@yahoo.com wrote:

>> I recently bought a new HP laptop with an extended warrantee.

>> In the past few weeks, often I would get the blue screen of death and

>> the system will just spontaneously crash and then I have to reboot. I

>> ran chkdsk and it says there are errors on the drive (no specifics).

>> It then tells me it couldn't repair the problems because the drive was

>> locked by other processes. I then entered in the command prompt

>> chkdsk /F/R and answered Yes for to authorize CHKDSK to run on reboot.

>> When CHKDSK runs on reboot everything is fine until stage 4/5 where I

>> get a ton of error messages, all the same

>> "the disk does not have enough space to replace bad clusters"

>> I then went into windows and noticed I have only 26GB filled with 74GB

>> free on a 100GB hard drive. There are no other partitions. So I don't

>> understand why I am getting this error.

>> I wonder if there is something seriously wrong with the hard disk

>> drive.

>> I want to avoid sending it in to HP as I don't want to be without a

>> laptop for a few weeks.

>> Is there anything I can do to fix this problem or diagnose it further.

>> Thanks

 

 

"Chris Allen" <ca.allen@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:1186176193.661656.53080@x35g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

> Steps I'd take:

>

> 1. Remove the HDD

> This may void your warranty, I'd check before doing this

> the reason I'd remove the HDD first is because if the disk really

> is failing then the longer it spins the more likely it is to go out

> totally

> 2. Download MemTest86+ boot cd, and boot it.

> This will check to see if your memory is okay. Disk corruption

> issues are sometimes linked to bad memory. check your memory first

> before

> using the computer to rescue your data. If the computer's memory

> is shot, do not try to rescue your data with it.

> here's the link to MemTest86+ http://www.memtest.org

> 3. If mem is good, then download Knoppix Boot CD

> link = http://www.knoppix.org

> 4. get yourself a usb external hdd that is as large as or larger than

> the laptops internal HDD

> 5. Reinstall the HDD, and boot Knoppix CD

> Open command prompt, run ddrescue and copy what you can to the new

> HDD

> 6. Get a copy of SpinRite by GRC

> http://www.grc.com/spinrite.htm

> Note: this program is not free, but is worth the money.

> Alternatively you can download ultimate boot cd and check out what

> freeware utils it has to check the physical sectors on your disk

> 7. If SpinRite makes corrections, repeat step 5 on another external

> HDD if possible

> 8. if HDD is messed up, replace it and copy back data from external

> HDD

 

 

techman:

I have the feeling I really don't have to advise you *not* to follow Chris's

advice - that you realize the danger in doing so - but just in case...

 

Removing the HDD from your laptop and attempting some sort of "fix" that way

is a virtual certainty that your HP/Compaq warranty will be voided. I'm sure

you probably know this. Are you really ready to undertake that risk,

especially knowing that you may well be dealing with a defective drive?

 

While I understand your reluctance to return the laptop to HP for whatever

repairs are necessary under your warranty, it may very well be the only

practical course of action.

 

Now there are most likely self-diagnostic tools built into your laptop's

system and perhaps they can be employed to resolve the problem in the event

the problem is not hardware-related (although it certainly sounds from your

description of the problem that it *is* hardware-related). So read your

manual or whatever help screens are available on this.

 

You should be in touch with HP re this problem. They do have this "Active

chat" online program that could be of help to you in this situation. See...

http://h50203.www5.hp.com/hpisweb/customer/HPInstantsupport.aspx?&cc=us&lang=en

And their HP "online diagnostic tools" are also available through this link.

 

Also,

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/siteHome?dlc=en&lc=en&cc=us

 

At least give those sources a try before you start fiddling around with this

or that component in your machine.

Anna