Expert: Lenny - 7/6/2009

Question
QUESTION: Upon start up my Dell dimension 8400 with windows XP professional gave me an error message that hal.dll. was missing or corrupted.  I tried to boot up using the CD and use recovery to fix the problem.  But, I end up with a message that windows setup is examining 238418 MB Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0 on iastor.....I have to manually shut down to get out.  I ran the hard disk diagnostics - I have a Maxtor hard drive - and it failed with a return code 5.  Is tere anything I can do to boot up?  Is my hard drive dead?  Thanks for any help.

Clare   




ANSWER: Hello Clare,

Most likely, the hard-drive could be having internal damage or is NOT damaged at all. But the strange behaviour seems hard to determine the root cause of the problem unless a special manufacturer's diagnostic program is run on it. The program will do a bunch of test-rides as it says in the link below;
http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/SeaToolsDOSguide.pdf

Step by step instructions on how to about using Seatools diagnostics are highlighted in the link below;
http://seagate.custkb.com/seagate/crm/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=201271

DOWNLOADING
The diagnostic program can be achieved at the hard-drive manufacturer web-link below.Registration is absolutely free;
http://download.seagate.com/seatools/registration.nsf/eula/desktop

After entering your details, you are greeted by a list of download options.Under "SeaTools for DOS Version" far right to it you see this label called "ISO CD-ROM Image". Please click on the language version that suits you. "EN" is English.Once download is complete, please proceed below.

BURNING ONTO CD
Click on link below to download and install Alex Feinman ISO Recorder
http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/download/ISORecorderV2RC1.msi

Then follow instructions to burn seatools.iso file you downloaded:

1.Insert a blank CD in your CDROM drive.
2.Find the .iso file that you have downloaded onto your computer, for example, onto your Desktop.
3.Right-click on the .iso file.
4.You will see a Copy Image to CD  option on the dropdown menu. Select it.
5.The CD Recording Wizard should appear. Simply choose Next and Finish.The CD will eject when completed.

The instructions above are from http://seagate.custkb.com/seagate/crm/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=201431

Once CD has been created you will be required to boot up the machine with it and run the tests. LONG TEST is most technical and reliable. It'd take hours though. Then afterwards ZERO ALL by running ERASE DRIVE

Finalizing........
If tests fail then it's high time you checked whether the drive is still under warranty by noting down what's required in the link below;
http://support.seagate.com/customer/warranty_validation.jsp

Fill the Serial number, Model number or Part number ( all these are clearly visible within seatools), captcha
Hit Enter

Sort the rest.

Kind Regards,
Lenny.




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I did all of the above and the Seagate tests would only run on the long test until it reached 99 errors.   At that point, it told me to contact the hard drive vendor for help. It did not give me any opportunity to correct anything.  So, I assume I have a bad hard drive that can't be repaired - at least not by me.
Thanks for your help.

ANSWER: Hello Clare,

You have a very damaged hard-drive and needs replacement. Fill out the Warranty details and send it to Seagate.

Kind Regards,
Lenny.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I have a Maxtor 250 gb hard drive that is 4 years old---do you think it's still under warranty?  I assume that means that Maxtor is made by seagate?

Thanks again.

Answer
Hello again,

It could still be under warranty.What you could do is boot the machine with the SEATOOLS disk but don't you run any diagnostics yet. The aim is to get the Serial, Model or Part number of the drive which should clearly be visible.

Note them down then fill them on the link below to see your drive's warranty status:
http://support.seagate.com/customer/warranty_validation.jsp

Kind Regards,
Lenny.