Startup Repair Loop. HDD Bad?

[Gorrillasnot]

I am working on a friends laptop (windows 7)
When trying to boot up it launches repair which fails.
I booted to a hirens boot disc and ran HDtune and when running error scan it passes the quick scan, but shows some damaged block when running the regular scan.
Also when running the regular scan the HDD temp went up into the 60c range and the laptop shut down.
I then pulled the drive and hooked it to a USB thing from a external enclosure and hooked it to a desktop PC and ran error checking with the box checked for attempt recovery of bad sectors. the scan finished and didn't find any bad sectors.

On the health tab in hd tune it shows a warning for "current pending sectors"

I'm thinking the hard drive is bad..what do you all think?

thanks

 

[Burpo]

Yes, hard drive has seen better days. He may even have dropped it. I suggest an SSD for a laptop. Faster & more durable..

 

[Gorrillasnot]

It's an older core2duo laptop.
I told him for what it would cost to buy another hard drive and pay me to install it ($100ish total) he could probably find a second gen i3 for not much more on the local classifieds.

would that be a good way to go or do you think a core2 could be decent for another year or so with a cheap SSD?

thanks

 

[denis280]

it depend what is doing with it.and how old is the laptop.if no gaming is involve i replace the hdd with a ssd like Burpo told you.

 

[PliotronX]

it depend what is doing with it.and how old is the laptop.if no gaming is involve i replace the hdd with a ssd like Burpo told you.

Agreed, if it is based on the 45nm Penryn (E7, E8, E9) I'd totally stick with it but C2D's generally still do well for software use. An SSD would likely be a lot more noticeable of an upgrade.

 

[Smoove910]

I told him for what it would cost to buy another hard drive and pay me to install it ($100ish total) he could probably find a second gen i3 for not much more on the local classifieds.

Wow, what kind of 'friend' are you? I wouldn't charge my friends for services. 🙂

 

[inachu]

Lets just role play this as the following: The hard drive is good,no bad tracks or sectors and no virus but the OS keeps booting into wanting to do CHKDSK.

First thing to do is to run chkdsk 3 times in a row after each reboot. I know that a combined chkdsk of 3 times may eat up to 3 hours depending on the size of the hard drive.

To get around the 3 reboot trick is to buy a SATA/IDE to USB converter.
Slaving the hard drive as an external drive and then downloading either a seagate or western digital hard drive tool(comes free usually on HD purchase)

Those hard drive tools many times go up and beyond a normal chkdsk but also slaving a hard drive means files are not in use on it so that ALL files truly gets checked and fixed.

Also slaving a drive gives a better chance to find free space that was marked as used.

While the drive is slaved and you are in windows then you can also clean it up and delete the trash in the temp folders.


Also those hard drive tool programs by seagate or western digital also has their own S.M.A.R.T. tests and will tell you how much life is left in the hard drive.

If your friend MUST get broken data off the drive then use SPINRITE. It lifts up the data and formats the area below and will either lay it back down in same spot or place it in a known good area.

 

[Charlie98]

Just something to check... I had the very same thing happen the other day (repair boot loop/BSOD) after I updated the mobo BIOS.... It reset the SATA mode to IDE.

Have you reset the BIOS or anything like that?

 

[Matt1970]

This is the time of year to get laptops cheap. That being said a decent laptop drive on eBay can be had for $25 http://www.ebay.com/itm//161480152869 What you chose to charge him to install it is up to you.

 

[Gorrillasnot]

thanks for the info guys.

The drive failed WD lifeguard tests and hd tune error scans. I am pretty sire its a hardware issue, but what gives me some doubt is when hooked to a usb adapter I can fully access the hard drive.

Anyway I ordered a used HDD on ebay since it was so cheap.

And to address the charging a friend deal there are different levels of friends.
He is more like an acquaintance that I've known for years, but only contacts me when he needs computer work done.
I am charging him $40 for labor which includes backing up files from his old drive, ordering (and paying for upfront) a used HDD, installing the HDD, installing windows, software, updates etc which can easily take 6 hours or so etc all for $40
Try to get all that done at a shop for $40..I'd say I am being a great friend.

 

[Matt1970]

That's about were I am with friends and family discount. You are giving your friend a great deal and putting a little cash in your pocket at the same time. And you can rest assured that drive is failing and seeing all those test results. Being able too see all the data on the drive is one thing, being able to read and write to the entire drive on a daily basis without errors is another and the tests are telling you there will be problems doing that.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Anyway I ordered a used HDD on ebay since it was so cheap.

I am charging him $40 for labor

If you are charging $40 for labor, why not get them a new HDD or better yet, an SSD? If they are so strapped for cash all that they can afford is a used HDD, well, I'm not sure what to say.

 

[Gorrillasnot]

He didn't want to have that much invested in the repair. His parents are giving him their older desktop so he plans to use the laptop as a backup.
BTW I have also upgraded the RAM, CPU, and reinstalled windows on the desktop all for the same $40 labor.

I don't understand why people seem to have a problem with me charging $40 for labor.
If he were a true friend I would have charged him 0. He doesn't do anything for me for free nor do we hand out. I should have referred to him as a person I know instead of friend...sorry if I have offended

thanks