Repairing a 250gb HDD in laptop

Reece · 05-05-12, 07:37 AM

My son has a laptop computer that had Vista and decided to put XP on it, whilst formatting it got to 100% then an error occurred, now it's stuffed!!
I assume that it may be a problem with XP being so old it didn't recognize the large partition, the drive has 2 partitions.
What I would like to do is remove both partitions then create a new one, make it active then format with an NTFS system.
Does anyone know of a program to use or offer advise on some other method to fix this?

longam · 05-05-12, 04:13 PM

Any Windows install disk can perform these functions, just boot one up.

Reece · 05-06-12, 03:38 AM

The windows XP install disk will not delete the 2 partitions, however when it asked for a format we selected NTFS and a full format not a quick format, this gets to 100% then fails!!

Thomen · 05-06-12, 02:10 PM

Did you try the old FDisk program?

Did you try a Vista or Win7 setup disk?

Just our of curiosity, did you check (with DFT for example) the drive? Maybe the drive a goner..

Reece · 05-06-12, 05:28 PM

The drive was ok before he tried formatting it, the annoying thing is that it doesn't have a floppy drive for old dos fdisk, but then it probably wouldn't recognize the large drive. He has now removed the HDD and it is a standard SATA so is going to try plugging into his desktop pc to see what he can do!

kiwi_2005 · 05-06-12, 09:06 PM

Linux will fix it. download a copy of any linux distro - eg Linux mint, ubuntu etc. Run linux installation and let it wipe your windows partition to set its own up no matter how screwed the hdd format is linux should fix it no problem. Then uninstall linux and reformat & install windows or leave linux on and add windows to a partition making sure during the linux setup you choose the option to make partitions for windows OSes. Have XP as your second OS.

edit: some linux os to choose from, my favorite is Linux mint. Most are free DL unless you want the boxed versions.
http://www.techradar.com/news/softwa...distros-704584

CaptainHaplo · 05-06-12, 11:19 PM

When you do the windows install - choose custom/advanced and you will be able to delete all existing partitions on the drive. Do this. Then create a small, 100GB partition for the OS and format that one. Do NOT format the whole thing. Install the os.

What is happening is its hosing on a series of bad sectors more than likely. By creating a smaller partition, you keep from reaching those on the initial part.

Once the OS is up and running, go to Run, type MMC, add the disk management snapin and you can then partition the remaining space and do a FULL (not a quick) format of that space.

Reece · 05-07-12, 12:02 AM

Some good ideas there, I will pass the info on and see what develops.

Reece · 05-07-12, 03:32 AM

Worked CaptainHaplo!

Thanks all for the advise, I appreciate it!

CaptainHaplo · 05-07-12, 05:59 PM

Glad to have helped!

05-05-12, 07:37 AM	#1
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 32,782 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Repairing a 250gb HDD in laptop My son has a laptop computer that had Vista and decided to put XP on it, whilst formatting it got to 100% then an error occurred, now it's stuffed!! I assume that it may be a problem with XP being so old it didn't recognize the large partition, the drive has 2 partitions. What I would like to do is remove both partitions then create a new one, make it active then format with an NTFS system. Does anyone know of a program to use or offer advise on some other method to fix this? __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

05-06-12, 03:38 AM	#3
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 32,782 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	The windows XP install disk will not delete the 2 partitions, however when it asked for a format we selected NTFS and a full format not a quick format, this gets to 100% then fails!! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

05-06-12, 05:28 PM	#5
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 32,782 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	The drive was ok before he tried formatting it, the annoying thing is that it doesn't have a floppy drive for old dos fdisk, but then it probably wouldn't recognize the large drive. He has now removed the HDD and it is a standard SATA so is going to try plugging into his desktop pc to see what he can do! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

05-06-12, 09:06 PM	#6
kiwi_2005 Eternal Patrol Join Date: May 2004 Location: Aeoteroa Posts: 7,382 Downloads: 223 Uploads: 1	Linux will fix it. download a copy of any linux distro - eg Linux mint, ubuntu etc. Run linux installation and let it wipe your windows partition to set its own up no matter how screwed the hdd format is linux should fix it no problem. Then uninstall linux and reformat & install windows or leave linux on and add windows to a partition making sure during the linux setup you choose the option to make partitions for windows OSes. Have XP as your second OS. edit: some linux os to choose from, my favorite is Linux mint. Most are free DL unless you want the boxed versions. http://www.techradar.com/news/softwa...distros-704584 __________________ RIP kiwi_2005 Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others. Last edited by kiwi_2005; 05-06-12 at 09:18 PM.

05-06-12, 11:19 PM	#7
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	When you do the windows install - choose custom/advanced and you will be able to delete all existing partitions on the drive. Do this. Then create a small, 100GB partition for the OS and format that one. Do NOT format the whole thing. Install the os. What is happening is its hosing on a series of bad sectors more than likely. By creating a smaller partition, you keep from reaching those on the initial part. Once the OS is up and running, go to Run, type MMC, add the disk management snapin and you can then partition the remaining space and do a FULL (not a quick) format of that space. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

05-05-12, 04:13 PM	#2
longam Admiral Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,014 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Any Windows install disk can perform these functions, just boot one up.

05-06-12, 02:10 PM	#4
Thomen Ace of the Deep Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,207 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	Did you try the old FDisk program? Did you try a Vista or Win7 setup disk? Just our of curiosity, did you check (with DFT for example) the drive? Maybe the drive a goner..

05-07-12, 12:02 AM	#8
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 32,782 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Some good ideas there, I will pass the info on and see what develops. __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

05-07-12, 03:32 AM	#9
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 32,782 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Worked CaptainHaplo! Thanks all for the advise, I appreciate it! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

05-07-12, 05:59 PM	#10
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Glad to have helped! __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo