Hard Disk Failure, but computer still works? Ten points to best answer.?

Question

This is absolutely infuriating. I have a custom ordered computer from Dell, it's only about 7 months old. It's a very large gaming rig and I maxed out the specs to get some quality hardware. A few days ago, while playing a game, everything froze. I tried quitting out but it froze up. After a lot of force closing and such I got a message saying I had hard disk failure (yes it is a legitimate warning, not one of those scams). Sweet. Awesome. I restarted it, and an American Megatrends boot process came up, saying that there was an AMCI Port 2 device error. I skipped through it because there's nothing I can do from there, and booted the computer as normal. It tells me there's a hard disk failure and to back up everything, shut down the computer, and call support. So I backed everything up and shut it off.

Here's the issue, the computer is working perfectly fine. The only things that happen are that every time it boots it boots to the American Megatrends screen, and when I fully boot it says that the hard disk is failing, but I can still use and access EVERYTHING. I've shut down and turned the computer back on multiple times, it still works. Personally, I think this is ****ing ridiculous that it would fail before it's even a year old, and now it looks like I have to call them up and wait for a box, ship it, wait for a month for them to start repairing it, and another month to get it back, not taking into account all the horror stories of people never seeing their computers again after months of waiting and calling support.

Has the hard disk just not failed yet, and is on the verge of doing so, and it's just a matter of time? Or can I restore everything and avoid making an already maddening situation more maddening?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

This is a S.M.A.R.T. warning.(Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology)Its a monitoring system for computer hard disk drives to detect and report on various indicators of reliability, in the hope of anticipating failures.Is SMART detects failure you immediately backup your data,it can be 2 days or 2 months but the drive WILL fail.

Teresa · Answer

So you can still get into your OS? Like you can load Windows up and access your desktop and such?

Because the boot-up screen, the BIOS (the black screen with all the white text and such) is NOT related to your hard drive. That information is located on flash ROM or BIOS RAM and is separate from the hard disc. The Hard Drive contains your operating system, and all of your game files, etc.

Also, it's not too uncommon for a HDD to fail after 7 months (not very common, but it happends, you just got unlucky). And on another note just because your HDD is going to fail doesn't mean your computer won't turn on and have pretty blinking lights, it just means you can't access Windows (if it's installed onto the failed hard drive).

So if you can indeed access Windows then go ahead and play around. Your best bet is to get a new HDD (they're relatively cheap) and clone the failing HDD onto the new HDD, essentially making the new HDD an exact copy of the failing one (as long as it's failing due to hardware issues it won't affect the new HDD).

If it says the HDD will fail I don't think you want to test it or doubt the validity of the message. Make a back-up, get a new HDD, and clone your dying HDD image onto the new HDD. Pray it lives long enough for you to do this.

Anonymous · Answer

Windows 7 Hard Drive Failure Warning

Anonymous · Answer

That's quite strange, it seems on the verge of failing.
First thing I'd do is make a backup image using Acronis True Image,
you could probably find a torrent on thepiratebay or something.
Then backup which will make an exact image of everything on your PC.

Buy another HDD and replace it with the old one.
Then restore the image with Acronis and you should have everything back on!

Here's some links to show you how to backup and restore with Acronis:
Backing up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duhw2oSUUZ8
Restoring: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVSXhln2qSI

sexy_nude_dancer · Answer

How to Set BIOS to Boot from CDROM:
All modern Computer Systems manufactured in the last years, support boot from cd feature, but it may be required to configure this feature in bios or previous owner of your computer system may have disabled this feature or may have changed the boot priority sequence )

When you start your computer, check the boot-screen for setup key, In most newer pc it will be DELETE key, so make sure to check it.

This AmiBios Require you to press DEL key to enter setup

AMIBIOS(C)2006 American Megatrends, Inc.
BIOS Date: 03/02/06 20:15:54  Ver: 09.00.07

Press DEL to run Setup 

Checking NVRAM..
now you will see some similar screen and choose the BOOT option and choose Boot Device Priority and choose first boot device to CDROM and second boot device to HARD DRIVE You can press F10 to save settings.

BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Main   Advanced   Power   Boot   Security   Exit
 
► Boot-Time Diagnostic Screen:[Enabled]
► QuickBoot Mode:             [Enabled]
► Scan User Flash Area:       [Disabled]
► After Power Failure:        [Last State]
► On Modem Ring:              [Power On]
► On LAN:                     [Power On]
► Boot Device Priority 

1st Boot Device   [CDROM]
2nd Boot Device   [Hard Drive]

► Hard Disk Drives
► Floppy Drives
► CDROM Drives
 
Specifies the boot sequence from the available devices 
+ -     Change Option 
F1     General Help 
F10    Save and Exit
(c)Copyright 1985-2006, American Megatrends, Inc.
On Award Bios you will see some similar screen and choose the right key to Enter setup

Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG, An Energy Star Ally
Copyright (C) 1984-98, Award Software, Inc.

ASUS P2B-DS ACPI BIOS Revision 1012B

Pentium III 650Mhz Processor
Memory Test : 262144K OK










 Press DEL to run Setup
 08/05/00-i440BX-P2B-DS
Now choose Advanced Bios Features

Phoenix - AwardBIOS CMOS Setup Utility
> Standard CMOS Features
> Advanced BIOS Features

> Advanced Chipset Features

> Integrated Peripherals

> Power Management Setup

> PnP/PCI Configurations

> PC Health Status

Frequency/Voltage Control
Load Fail-Safe Defaults

Load Optimized Defaults

Set Supervisor Password

Set User Password

Save & Exit Setup

Exit Without Saving

Esc : Quit 
F10 : Save & Exit Setup

tiny(eye giant) · Answer

what is your hard disk config?
how many hdd?
---
or just check if S.M.A.R.T (self monitoring analysis and reporting technology) in your bios
well, you better move your files into a new hard drive. that should end the problems.
also, prevent power loss of your pc by using a UPS.

geek-in-training · Answer

"Has the hard disk just not failed yet, and is on the verge of doing so, and it's just a matter of time?" - YES!

Anonymous · Answer

Try this little utility to check your hdd's,one of my disks has been tripping smart for the last 18months
http://download.cnet.com/CrystalDiskInfo/3000-2086_4-10832082.html

Chris Ancor · Answer

The best answer is to send it back to Dell under warranty.

wizkid · Answer

how many hard drives do you have?

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Hard Disk Failure, but computer still works? Ten points to best answer.?

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