Help with COmputer Prob - Think it's the HDD

L

LTH80

New Member
I'm trying to fix my moms computer and I think it's the hard drive but i don't know how to find out for sure. My own computer is older so the parts aren't compatible to swap out to test.

Basically the computer started to freeze on the Intel splash screen. I removed all the components except for the PS and powered up the MB. I got a series of beeps (i'm told that is good). Then i added in the ram and monitor and the computer booted up until it said "no bootable device" or something like that. Then when I add in the HDD it freezes again. The odd thing is, if I change the HDD from the SATA0 to SATA 2 input it gets further along in the bootup process - it gets to the screen where it asks if you want to boot up in safe mode or start windows normally etc. Unfortunately if I choose one of those options the computer just reboots over and over and doesn't get anywhere (keeps going back to that safe mode scrn).

The Hard drive does spin up and I can here the head moving around in there.

Any thoughts on what might be going on?
How can I test the HDD and find out if thats the prob? I can't afford to go buy another drive if that's not the problem.

Thanks in advance.
 
Yes if I d/c the HDD it goes past the splash scrn and says 'no bootable disk'.
And the Windows XP disc will start if I boot up with that.

I don't really want to just reinstall or try the recovery option unless I can figure out what the problem is.
In case of a virus or something like that, or hardware failure? I'm not sure what all can cause this.
 
I tried using Seagates diagnostic tool, by creating a bootable CD and using it to check the disk for errors. It found a bunch of errors and supposedly repaired them. I then tried to do an all erase (write 0's to the entire hard drive) but it couldn't do it and it says to check the data and power cable.

Also, why would the bootable CD (winxp and seagate tools) only work if I move the connector from SATA 0 to SATA 1,2, or 3???

This makes me wonder if it's something with the MOBO *?*
 
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