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Home: Video University Forums: Tech Q & A:
Is my C:Drive Dead?

videowoman1
Novice

Feb 28, 2006, 2:01 PM

Post #1 of 5 (821 views)
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Is my C:Drive Dead?	Can't Post

HELP - I am having serious problems with my editing computer. It keeps crashing and I am wondering if my c:drive is just dead and needs to be buried. About 3 months ago my system crashed during a routine edit - no big deal didn't really loose that much stuff due to back up. When I say crashed - I mean when I went to turn it back on it wouldn't boot - no message nothing - just black screen. So I reloaded all my software and had no problems. Then last weekend - same thing - I had turned my computer off for the night, next morning went to turn it on and got a bunch of computer talk saying no system components found or something like that. Reloaded all my software again - this time couldn't get the configuration of the monitor correct - the system would only read 16 bit color and I had no sound. So I worked for about 4 hours reloading everything got it to work. Did some stuff on the system and then logged off for the night. Came back in the next morning and system will not boot again. Keep in mind I was rebooting several times throughout all the installs.
I think its got to be a bad hard drive. I wanted to check with someone else before I just threw it in the trash. Luckily I have another drive that I think I can format as a hard drive.

Any advise/help is appreciated. THANKS

AndrewMSV
Veteran

Mar 1, 2006, 12:37 AM

Post #2 of 5 (808 views)
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Re: [videowoman1] Is my C:Drive Dead? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Here are some things to consider:

- When you reloaded your software the last couple of times, did you reformat your hard drive?
- Are your NLE software drivers up to date?
- Are your video card drivers up to date?
- Did you do contract a virus?
- Did you recently install new hardware?
- Have you performed a disk defrag recently?
- Have you run a check disk for bad sectors?
- If your machine is a Dell, did you put your own RAM in it?

Cheers.
Crazy

Good luck.

Andrew
m o r n i n g__s t a r__v i d e o g r a p h y
sf chapter, vu california crew
I think we should turn that whole region into one shiny piece of radioactive glass. - CartoonChris

(This post was edited by AndrewMSV on Mar 1, 2006, 12:39 AM)

ssvp
User

Mar 1, 2006, 1:15 AM

Post #3 of 5 (799 views)
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Re: [AndrewMSV] Is my C:Drive Dead? [In reply to]	Can't Post

If could be your drive, however it could also be your powersupply is crapping out and not supplying the proper juice.. Especially with that video issue your having.. One way is to indentify the brand of Hard Drive and download that manfacturer's drive fitness ISO and boot off that and test the drive.. if it passes, then it's not the drive.. More likely culprit motherboard or PS..

videobear
Veteran

Mar 1, 2006, 10:01 AM

Post #4 of 5 (793 views)
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Re: [videowoman1] Is my C:Drive Dead? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Could be several things:

1. Bad power supply.
2. Bad motherboard...or maybe just a dead lithium battery on the board that's causing it to lose its settings when power's off.
3. Bad hard drive.

Substitute components until you find the culprit.

Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions

videowoman1
Novice

Mar 1, 2006, 3:01 PM

Post #5 of 5 (790 views)
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Re: [AndrewMSV] Is my C:Drive Dead? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks for the list of items.
Can't be a virus - I took out the modem on this system (its a Dell). I only use it as an editing system and didn't want to take the chance of a virus. I have a laptop I do all my internet stuff on.
- haven't installed any new hardware
- haven't defraged it since it crashed last time (about 3 months ago)
- I will run a check disk for bad sectors and see what it says.
- did not add any RAM to system

Never thought about it being the power supply either.
It had better not be the motherboard. The computer is only - well - yea - its 5 years old. AND its been moved 3 times - across the country.
Well sounds like I have more work to do.

Thanks Again!!