Need some assistance please ;)

0x0161

BSOD
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441
Hello fellow members of computerforums.org Im having a little trouble with resolving a

clients issue. The problem is when they turn on their notebook which is an

'Acer Aspire 1690' I am able to see the Acer logo then it loads into a

black screen with all the BIOS information. After it loads the BIOS

information, it displays the following message;

"media test failure, check cable"

Operating System not found.


Before this message the person was playing online poker the night before.

Also, they didnt install any new hardware or software. So basically, he was

online, playing online poker, and right before he was going to win some

$$$$ his system completely froze/locked up (he did a hard shutdown). Now

when he boots up his notebook it displays the following message;


"media test failure, check cable"

Operating System not found.

So at this point I did some troubleshooting to isolate whether this is a

hardware or software issue. So far I did the following:

1.) Loaded into the BIOS and reset the BIOS using F9. Turned on notebook

same issue.

2.) Loaded into the BIOS and changed the 'boot sequence' to CDROM first, so

I can boot from a CD instead of the hard drive (hdd), HDD, Floppy, Network

boot.

3.) Tried using the CDs that came with that exact notebook but it is also

giving errors where it cannot continue. (1 system disk) & (3 recovery

disks) none of these worked.

4.) I have my own version of Windows XP Pro I bought from best buy I tried

to install it. First I tried using the *repair* R then ran chkdsk it

wouldnt load it started giving off errors.


Next, rebooted notebook with disk in it. It got all the way to the 'setup'

part the disk which reckonized 3 partitions previously installed on the

hdd. 2 was from the vendor Acer (it said so) and the last partition was his

partition. I deleted only his partition, and tried to install windows XP

on that partiton but it gave errors that it couldnt continue.



Now when I turn on his notebook it comes up with the Acer logo and displays

a black screen with the following 'a disk read error has occured' press

control + alt + delete to reboot

IM thinking about just erasing the whole hdd either by deleteing all

partitions on the hdd or just running the repair option, then format the

drive through the prompt not GUI. At this point I don't know if it would do more damage than good.

Im not trying to recover data or anything just trying to install windows on the hdd so homeboy can use his notebook.


At this point Im thinking homeboys hdd is shot/fried. However, I still want

to do some more troubleshooting on it just to be certain.

All help is greatly appreciated, 0x0161.
 
Goto the HDD manufacturers website and download the diagnostic tools and run them. Also, does the HDD show up in the BIOS?
 
1:45

Goto the HDD manufacturers website and download the diagnostic tools and run them. Also, does the HDD show up in the BIOS?


A little F.Y.I Many manufacturers including ACER preload the *diagnositc tools* (such as dell,sony etc..) so you can boot to them using one of the "Fn" (function) keys when issues like this occur.

However, I did download some 3rd party software on my personal notebook burned it to a blank CD-RW and I will install it on the ACER notebook to determine if the HDD is shot. Also, ACER recovery CDs detect bad sectors where it cannot continue.

Also, does the HDD show up in the BIOS?
__________________

in the BIOS it states;

hdd model name IC25N080ATMR04-0

HDD Serial Number MRG4W9K4KA5JHH

ATAPI Device MATSHITAUJ-840D
 
I Might sound like a n00b here,But have you tried replacing the cable going from the mobo to the HDD?


No I havent. Actually I never seen a disconnected cable in any of the notebooks I took apart. I also mostly work on workstations and desktops. The cable was fine. The HDD had bad sectors on the HDD. The HDD was shot. We bought a new hitichi hdd and reinstalled XP Pro issue resolved and I got payed.

Cheers, 0x0161
 
the best thing would be to take it back to where you got it from if possible. no messing around and they will sort it out. if u cant do that then deffo run the hdd diagnostic tools, as for some reason the hdd isnt being picked up which aint good.
 
the best thing would be to take it back to where you got it from if possible. no messing around and they will sort it out. if u cant do that then deffo run the hdd diagnostic tools, as for some reason the hdd isnt being picked up which aint good.

The issue is alreay resolved. Also, I cannot take it back. It is one year past the manufactures warranty. They couldnt do anything for me. They are just authorized resellers. ;)
 
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