ACER ASPIRE 3503 not working; is the hdd fried??? HELP!!

Ok here is the story...

I went to watch a movie on my computer so I set it on my desk turned it on and it worked just like normal. I then had a shower. and came back to the computer 10 mins latter double clicked on the movie I wanted(had explorer already open) and it appear to start loading. after about 2 mins I figured something was wrong, the mouse was choppy the hdd light was on constantly but nothing was loading. I tried to open task manger the didn't happen so I figured windows made an error or something and I just Hard booted...

On attempt to restart the acer bios flashed up(normally) then was replaced by black screen with a flashing line for about 20 seconds. then it proceeded to the windows splash and appeared to start loading. the hdd light was on but the hdd was only making a 'grind' every second or so and for only about 1/4 of a second at a time... after 10 minutes(of loading) I pulled the plug. I tried several times including safe mode ect. no luck in get past the windows splash.

I tried to recover from partition, failed 4 times first time was an 'internal inconsistency'; the second and third where error '29004 Read sector error 4965 to 5029' the fourth it just froze and I pulled the plug 3 hours after starting the recovery...

now on boot acer screen -->flashing line and black screen --> reboots after the hdd grinds for half a second.

I don't have an extra hdd to try
I don't even know what type of hdd I need if the hdd is the problem...


ANY help ANYONE!!!! please!!!!!!!


Yuio. Ask if you need ANY other info...

 

ANY one???

 

Well it definitely looks like a disk problem.
The replacement drive is should be ATA-100 2,5"
Do not try to start the laptop if you do have some data you want to recover from it. You can try that later in USB casing.

At this point you can try downloading software from disk manufacturer and booting the computer from CD with the diagnostic program.

Still if you want to recover some important data use the shortest test possible- if there is a serious problem even this test fails.

Try the HDD in USB casing or in another laptop first to rule out chipset problems.

 

I thought of that but I don't think I have a compatible computer to swap with. nor do I have a USB case...

Should I try to take the disk out of the computer.

I don't need the data on the disk... it can all be replaced...

 

If that's the case you are one happy man.
The worst part is when you get to remember that you don't have no backups.
Maybe test the drive on another laptop before you make the purchase.

As for new HD I'd recommend Seagate 5400.3 (perpendicular, fast and cool).
Remember your laptop is ATA not SATA (at least that's what I found on the net). You'll be sure when you take it out anyways.

 

I used HD tune and I found out it is a ATA and this, if the hdd is the problem, the hard drive I was going to use as a replacement was.
http://www.memoryexpress.com/index....dProductDetail.php&DisplayProductID=9498&SID=

Note* its a Canadian price.

 

That's exactly what I meant. I bought this one as an upgrade some month ago but it already has over 750 power-on hours.
Quite fast even though it's not NCQ SATA- average read by HD Tune is some 35MB/s. Additional benefit- 80GB has only one plate whereas 100GB and above have 2 plates.

 

Thanks alot! downloads, just for curiosity what benefit does 1 plate have over 2?

 

Less chance of mechanical failure due to impact.

 

I should also ask is there any one who thinks this is not a hard drive issue?

Thanks again!

 

run manfact daig on it

you sure you file system not just scewed ?

run chkdsk

boot off normal xp disk or cd that let go recovery console try acess it

 

the entire OS is messed up now that I tried to recover from partition so chkdsk won't work, but I will try the CD I got with the computer in a few minutes. I would run the diag but I don't know the model number of the drive... all I know is that it is a ATA 4200rpm Hitachi with a 60 gb capacity...

 

It can be either Travelstar 4K120, 4k80 or 80GN.
All those should work with Drive Fitness Test.

http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/download.htm#DFT

 

tried Disk Fitness tool and it just hangs after it says it is 'loading up DFT... '

install from CD failed with the error: '29004 read sector error from 4965 to 5029'

??? any ideas

 

Looks like quite a few bad sectors. This probably means that there are no more spare sectors for relocation meaning that they were already used for relocating earlier.

Have you had any performance issues with the drive lately?

In future I recommend checking at SMART status one in a while- you would probably see that there already are some relocated sectors and this means the drive should be replaced.

 

no actually not really any performance issue or instability, lately. I have in the past in terms of instability. ok, I am glad this is not a motherboard.

how do you check 'SMART' status?

Thanks for all the help so far!!!! I love notebookreview.com and all the helpful people on it!!!!

 

HD Tune or Speed Fan do have tabs with SMART status. Speed Fan additionally analyzes your status online and compares with the same disc model submitted by other people (i.e. average temperature).
Speed Fan online analysis warns you even if threshold isn't yet exceeded but the parameter is low and is important- for example relocated sectors.

 

Awsome! thanks for all your help. on my Ferrari I looked at HD tune but I could not understand any of it but speed fan worked great.

 

Ordered the hdd I linked to earlier... couple business days...

 

Diffent hard disk error get usb case for other hard disk

put new one in you laptop and do new install xp then run data recovery program on you old hard disk

I wound recomend getback ntfs or get fat32 but they not free

I had to do this other day maxtor hard disk for client that had so many badsector on it wound clone it time consume but you shound be able get all you data off it

 

Thanks for the Advise! I don't actually need any of the DATA on the hard disk so I will be ok in that regard... Thanks Anyway! This was not my primary computer, it was a back up/spare so it didn't have alot of DATA on the hard disk(other than movies, but I can re-rip the DVD's they came from easily.

... waiting ... its KILLING me!!!