Compaq Hard Drive Dying?

[faulkner132]

I'm looking a computer for a friend here which wouldn't boot: It gives a drive failure error and the BIOS wouldn't even detect the drive.
So I tried plugging in another hard drive which I boot one of my test machines with. The Compaq's BIOS detected the new drive fine, but would not start to load Windows (I'm wondering if Compaq requires a special boot partition on the hard drive).
I then re-plugged in the original hard drive (the 'dead' one) and the BIOS detected the drive and booted it just fine. I ran the manufacturer's diagnostics on the drive and the SMART test came back OK. When I ran a surface scan, it wouldn't go past 2% (again, special partition on the drive?).

Is this just an anomaly or should the drive be replaced?
If it should be replaced would cloning the drive be the best option considering the hard drive might have a special partition on it?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Computer info:
Compaq Presario S4200NX
Samsung 120 GB HD

[glc]

Use disk management to see if there are special partitions, if that's inconclusive Partition Magic should be able to tell. You can use the Samsung HUTIL to test the drive, it's on the UBCD.

If you replace the hard drive, I'd recommend using the HP/Compaq recovery CD set, it should set things up correctly. Cloning should work if you do it correctly.

I'm thinking there are 3 partitions - diagnostic, main, and recovery.

[faulkner132]

I get several "Ecc error" messages during the HTUTIL scan. This is probably a bad sign.
Additionally, the hard drive occassionally makes a _very_ loud rattling sound (I'm not talking about clicking, but a noise which can be heard in the next room).

Disk Management in Windows shows 2 partitions:
- 4.24 GB FAT32 (Recovery?)
- 107.56 GB NTFS (Primary)

I have True Image 9.1 which does disk cloning, I'm assuming this would be good enough to do the clone.

[glc]

Yes, the drive is shot.

If you clone it, the recovery must be kept the same size and at the end of the drive. TI 9.1 will do it, use the expert options.

If it has problems booting after a clone, you can use a nondestructive recovery using the recovery partition - as long as the recovery partition on the original drive doesn't have errors.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&docname=bph07145

[faulkner132]

I take it any hard drive 120 GB or larger will do.

Thanks for your help G.

[glc]

Yes, and don't get another Samsung.

[faulkner132]

Worked like a charm. For those in the same boat, this is exactly what I did:

1. Got a 500 GB drive to replace the dying 120 GB one.
2. Removed the old drive out of Compaq.
3. Plugged both of the drives into my test machine which has True Image 9.1 loaded.
4. In True Image, I did a drive clone leaving the partitions "As Is". This left 380 GB of unpartitioned space when the process was done.
5. Plugged the 500 GB drive back into the Compaq.
6. Booted the Compaq and made sure the BIOS detected the new drive.
7. Started up Windows and used Disk Management to create a new partition using the available 380 GB of space. The computer now has a C (108 GB), D (4 GB) and K (380 GB) drive.

[glc]

You could have used the expert options to stretch the "C" partition - and left the "D" as is at the end of the drive - as part of the clone process. You also could have done it in place in the Compaq by booting with the TI boot media.

[faulkner132]

I figured you could, but he was happy with the extra partition. He actually liked the fact he would have a separate space to save just his pictures and videos.

Thanks again for your help on this G.