Comp. Geeks, quick question

[GarrettM]

Laptops use different CD drives?

[92 mtechnic cabrio]

It could even be the CD drive just reading the install CD all wierd

[GarrettM]

Ah balls. Thats what I was afraid of.

[Jean]

To check if teh HD is bad, could I just take it apart and plug in a desk top drive (I know its not the same physical size)? Are they the same size IDE cable? Or can I plug the lap top drive into my desk top and run a disk check?

You'll need an adapter.

[GarrettM]

To check if teh HD is bad, could I just take it apart and plug in a desk top drive (I know its not the same physical size)? Are they the same size IDE cable? Or can I plug the lap top drive into my desk top and run a disk check?

[NC325iC]

sounds like your intake manifold has a vacuum leak


oh wait were talking computers now...

[Ryan Stewart]

Because MSFT is the cause of a hard disk failure.

-Charlie

That and AIDS. Bill Gates is giving the whole world AIDS. Why do you think he and his wife spend so much time in africa?

[Charlie]

Install Linux and tell your friend to stop fucking around with that Microsoft shit.

Because MSFT is the cause of a hard disk failure.

-Charlie

[redhatpat]

Install Linux and tell your friend to stop fucking around with that Microsoft shit.

[Jean]

So many things that can be wrong... if you need to test ram and don't have any tools, google memtest86. You can download iso free (legit) and burn to make a bootable cd. There are also ways to install a laptop hdd on a different PC to virus scan/transfer data. There are also Winternal tools out there that let you boot from CD into GUI to attempt repair or recovery.

Do mem and hdd tests first, like other suggested. If you already tried to reload, there is a chance you already screwed it up. You need OEM cd like Jordan said in order for the printed legit key to work.

[HST]

Ram is my first bet. Then HD.

[Charlie]

If it's a laptop, he probably dropped it and fucked one of the platters. Now he's got a nicely trashed group of sectors that formerly contained the MBR.

See if you can get the HD warrantied & FFR the bitch.

-Charlie

[Julien]

i'm saying that laptop has a shitty stick of ram, try to swap one out.

[s0urce]

1.See if you can boot a live distro of linux.
2. If the Master boot record is corrupt, I suggest bootmaster partition recovery. 3. If data recovery is crucial, I suggest buying a new HDD, format and install windows. Try mounting the old NTFS as a slave to copy over what you need.

[GarrettM]

Now it won't even read CD. I has the XP home disc in there for shits and giggles and it says "Disc Read Error, Press CTRL+ALT+DLT to retry"