[Phantom010]

When you choose to run a regular format on a volume, files are removed from the volume that you are formatting and the hard disk is scanned for bad sectors. The scan for bad sectors is responsible for the majority of the time that it takes to format a volume.

With a "quick" format, some files are not renewed by the process, so the reason that provoked the reinstall didn't go away... not until you do a normal format.

[MagicalSwordsman]

Hmm. ok. I don't mind to go back and do it again. But it only took about ten minutes or so for it to get to 7% and then it stopped at 7 for like 35-45 minutes and I didn't wait past that. Do you think I should go back and let it run its course overnight or something?

[Phantom010]

You may in fact have bad sectors on your hard disk. A chkdsk can take a while when a lot of errors are found. Sometimes, unfortunately, they cannot be fixed and the hard drive has to be changed.

Try letting it run longer.

[MagicalSwordsman]

OK. Be back again....lol.

[Phantom010]

Good luck... again!

[MagicalSwordsman]

OK.........finally back. Well the regular installation was taking a long time. but after it got to about 30% it went pretty fast (comparatively) and completed. I then got this error message (I wrote it down):

SMART Failure Predicted on Hard Disk 0: Hitachi HTS723232L9A360-(PM)

Warning: Immediately Back-Up your data and replace your hard disk drive (this part made me sad...lol. Havent had this for that long). Failure may be imminent.

Press F1 to continue.


So I pressed F1 and it started a loading bar at the bottom I guess. Where there were segments of white and it started slowly filling more white to create a bar. Anyways once that was finished it proceeded normally to the last part of windows setup. I got another error message partway through this but it didnt show long enough for me to think to write it down. It said something about error:0x000000FD (if i remember correctly but I'm sure that this is probably not the right amount of zero's or the "FD" part could be wrong).

But after that it finally got done and rebooted I think. It then showed the first error message again - "SMART Failure Predicted....".
I pushed F1 to continue again and it loaded windows finally. I tried to install the internet driver, the NVidia driver, and the Realtek 4.06 Audio. When I installed the video (Nvidia) and the Audio drivers I got an error message both times saying that something could not be copied to "C:/Windows/system32". The video one still got completed, but the Audio one (go figure) froze when it said "Installing/updating Realtek Driver" so I Ctrl+Alt+Del and ended the task.

I rebooted for the video driver to take effect and I got the error message again - "SMART Failure Predicted...", so I guess it's now gonna come up every time I start my computer.

I hope that I do not need a new hard drive and just a new windows CD or something. Hope you guys can make something of this....Sorry It is being so complicated but I appreciate the help so far and any more help you guys can give.

[Blackmirror]

Souds like your hard drive is dying

[MagicalSwordsman]

How would that happen? I've only had this computer for like 8-10 months.

[Phantom010]

Originally Posted by Blackmirror

Souds like your hard drive is dying

I was afraid of that...

[MagicalSwordsman]

Are you guys out of ideas? Just wondering cuz I'm not sure what I should do lol

[Jeva]

I am having the same problem. This occured after removing a bunch of programs from "ADD & REMOVE PROGRAMS". So, I am thinking that I removed something that I shouldn't have. And I also do not show a sound card when I look where you said. Any ideas for my situation?

[Jeva]

Just wanted to let you know that I figured out how to fix mine. I had to use the resources cd that came with my pc & reinstall the Audio Driver. Worked great!

[Suresh_Kris]

Hello guys, I HAVE A SOLUTION BUT IT"S LONG....read the full solution below....
I too had this issue for the past 4 weeks..i have a Genuine WinXP SP3, and everything was going well and all updates from MS was going on fine till some week back. Some update from MS has screwed it up.
I struggled with the issue of NO AUDIO for 10-15 days, ...formated c: drive 3 times and re-installed WinXP SP3 and VGA, AC97 audio drivers, during the 3rd attempt though VGA driver had to be installed to make the display 1024x768 but the Audio driver was not required to be installed as the Device Manager (Sound Video, Game Ctrlr) automatically picked up the required drivers for audio. But i got a doubt... as it's not possible for the system, auto install the audio drivers...as 3 yrs ago i had to change my Compaq MB(Motherboard) to a local Sheen MB and Win XP could never detect the VGA and Audio of my Sheen MB and had to use the mfg dsk to install both VGA and Audio.
What i did to solve the issue of NO Audio is WIPE C: by using KILLDISK (DOS based App) this makes all the sectors in the disk(c 0000000000 then shut down the PC, unplug the power, remove the power supply cord/wire, keep pressing the power ON button for 4-5 mins without any power supply, and to re-set the BIOS.. i had to open the PC and remove the CR2032 button cell on the mother board (a watch battery that appears almost the size of a Dime), again keep pressing the power ON button for 2 mins without any power supply, remove the two 512 mb RAM cards on the MB, again keep pressing the power ON button for 2 mins without any power supply.....wait for 15 mins, reinstall the CR2032 battery in it's slot, reinstall the TWO 513 mb rams. Clos the PC and power ON and get into the BIOS setup (use either Del Key or F1, or F2 key depending upon the type of MB) check if AC97 Audio (under Other Pheriferals) is ENABLED (if it's Disabled or Auto) and u cant change to ENABLED then u can be sure that Microsoft updated the Firmware of BIOS their updates....the only next option is to FLASH the BIOS with a firmware from the MB manufacturer.
Q1, Is it necessary to make changes to BIOS ?
YES if the Audio (AC AUDIO in my MB BIOS) shows either AUTO or DISABLED and u cant change it to ENABLED before beginign the above procedure.
Q2 Why do i have to use KILLDIKS ?
To wipe the HD (only C CLEAN and reset it to as GOOD AS NEW
Q3 How do i know if I am NOT destroying all my data on my HARD DISK by using KILLDISK ?
Before using KILLDISK, note down the HD details on paper (number of physical disks, the number of logical partitions (C:,D:, E:, etc) and the size of each partition (10GB C:, 25GB D:, 45GB E etc and the USED space FREE space etc in each disk.
Q4 How do i know if I am WIPING only C: using KILLDISK ?
When KILLDISK begins it shows the physical and logical drives and some serial numbers on the left pannel, and on the right pannel it gives all the relevent info of total size, used space, free space (u need to match the C: details that u noted on the paper with the one shown on the right pannel) u can use the down/up arrow key to scroll up down on the left pannel and chose the correct drive/disk to erase.
Q5 How can i be more safe ?
If you are worried that you will lose the data on HD, I suggest you back up the full HD data to a USB memory stick of say 160 GB etc depending upon the data size you have.
Q6. How to use KILLDISK ?
First create a BOOT DISK of Win XP (guess u know how to do this... else Google and check how to do it ? Google and Download KILLDISK (free version) and copy it on to a 3&1/4 diskket or a CD, u can use the same Win XP boot Floppy disk to copy this utility in it.
Q7 How can i boot my PC from my BOOT floppy disk ?
Get into BIOS as explained above and check the boot sequence in there it should be in the following order :
1st boot option - Floppy disk, 2nd boot option CD ROM DRIVE, 3rd Boot option HDD
if it's not in this order, make the necessary changes by using the arrow keys and press F10 to save and exit BIOS, if you dont have floppy drive or cant find a floppy disk, u can use a CD to make resuce disk
Q8, How do i begin KILLDISK ?
After booting from BOOT floppy disk, you will get the A: there u can type DIR to see all the files in the floppy disk, u will c KILLDISK listed there, just type KILLDISK at A:/ the program will start.
Q9 The KILLDISK says the FREE version give only ONE PASS ?
Ignore the msg, you can always do TWO pass by repeting the above clean process of KILLDISK twice.
Q10 What next ?
Once the KILLDISK process gets over COMPLETE press ESC killdisk will refresh the disk data, wait for the killdisk screen to apear again, go to the "Unallocated Space" on the left (it was ur C: before u run the killdisk app) u can c that the disk sectors details there are all 00000000. Now ur C: is clean.
As explained above u can go ahead and reset ur BIOS by remove the CMOS battery (CR2032 button cell on the MB) follow the process as written in my first para.
Once u are done, and have reinstalled the battery, and installed the RAMs in its slots, u can close the PC and power ON.
Hold down the DEL/F1/F2 to enter BIOS, check the Audio there in the pheferials option now it must alow u to change it to ENABLE.
To Re-install WinXP, format the C: using NTFS full format (Dont use Quick Format pls) install VGA and Audio drivers if required, and try using the AUDIO now it should work
Hope this helps, let me know pls email me @ suresh_krishnan1961@yahoo.com if u feel OK
all the best