I only have 1 disc/dvd/cd drive. BTW I tried that diagnostic test when my PC was WORKING... I tried the quick test, which said the HD was okay. As I did the FULL test.. it froze on me.. like it does for when I burn a cd, download large files, run virus or spyware programs...

I'm thinking of getting a new HD.. then make the new one as C: and connect the older one and see if in windows--> my computer it shows up and/or works...

I just wanted to be sure the HD IS!! dead.. otherwise it would be stupid to buy a new HD and find out.. something ELSE was the fault...

Hey Harry,

Lets rule out the memory, download the test from here and run it for a while to wee if it pick up any faults for the memory.

I ran memtest before, but I didn't download it from there.. also how would I be able run it when my PC won't let me go into windows? unless I use dos? I forget the F key for it too...

The memtest I did before the PC crashed with two 512 chips in.. said error... but when I tested them indivdually, it showed 0% coverage and 0 errors.

I am thinking of getting a new HD mabye on tuesday, as I need to get my PC running asap. My college started and I will need my PC running.

Have you tried in unpluging the cd/rom,sound card,network card, only minimum memory chip in. Just have the hard drive minimal memory and video card, and psu. Just have the need items pluged in to eliminate the other hardaware? which could be causing a problem.

i'll try it out.. but I don't see how something like the network card or gfx card would be causing an issue.. I still have a feeling it's the hard drive.

The thing im wondering is if the ram was dead.. then wouldn't the PC just show a black/blank screen? so that would rule the ram out then?

and if the HD was crashed or dead.. would the PC even load then? I still feel like it's the HD, it loads the windows logo/bar... then after 10 secs.. reboots... or adding a XP cd.. it reads it... and the same thing happens...

i'm wondering what would be the chances it's the HD? I just feel it is... but i was hoping someone had run into this kinda problem or would be able say 99% that yes it is ur HD.

Hey there Harry,

This is actually starting to look more like memory may have caused part of the fault, the memtest from here is a bootable image. You should run it on one module of memory in the pc at a time and in each of the memory slots. eg. memory 1 in slot 1 then in slot 2, then memory 2 in slot 1 and then slot 2. What this will do is tell us if it is either a particular module of memory or a memory slot failing.

I'll try it out, but if the ram was a problem... wouldn't the PC just be blank? or black?

I did do a memtest 1 day before the system ran into this problem and the ram indivdually didn't freeze the pc and showed 0 errors and 0% coverage as i ran it for about 20-30 mins.