??Failing HDD

[#1]

Quote from: okrzynska

.... bits of software which claim to accurately report the drives status and magically fix any problems.

Spinrite?  http://www.grc.com/sroverview.htm

[#2]

Well did the chkdsk \r. took over 7hrs, but dont know the results, as i just left the laptop to it. where do the results get stored(if they do) so i can look at them?

[#3]

Quote from: ReedRichards

Quote from: okrzynska .... bits of software which claim to accurately report the drives status and magically fix any problems. Spinrite?  http://www.grc.com/sroverview.htm

Spinrite is only good for predicting potential problems and disaster recovery. It doesn't actually fix the drive of physical errors which are basically down to wear and tear.
The only way I could describe it is that it would be like the ECU in your car being used to repair rust damage to the chassis. It just wouldn't happen.

[#4]

Quote from: penfold

chkdsk \r. ... where do the results get stored?

For XP, look in Event Viewer, Application Data under Winlogon.

[#5]

Just as an update, for everyones whos contibuted....  Stripped the Laptop down (Bloody Sony vaios, no access flaps or anything......)
Fitted new HDD, and all well.  Full reformat of an 80Gb drive took around 15mins, and all seems fine,