Hard Disk Warning - What to do?

Question

Have Dell Smartstep 250N  40G HD   HD is a IC25N040ATCS04-0  S/N CSL401D4L4BWEA rev CA4OA71A   The computer has been shutting down w/o warning during heavy H/D use especially if running Norton AV.   Periodically, have received a 'HD at Risk' in a message ballon above the Systray.   Does anyone have access to a known HD  test S/W?   Or is there a more cost effective HD replacement?   Dennis

ejn63 · Answer

I'd be willing to bet any such message in the system tray means you should also deep scan the system for malware - it is likely spyware.

rickmktg · Answer

@Dennis1943 wrote:

Have Dell Smartstep 250N 40G HD

HD is a IC25N040ATCS04-0 S/N CSL401D4L4BWEA rev CA4OA71A

The computer has been shutting down w/o warning during heavy H/D use

especially if running Norton AV.

Periodically, have received a "HD at Risk" in a message ballon above the Systray.

Does anyone have access to a known HD test S/W?

Or is there a more cost effective HD replacement?

Dennis

In the future, by using the Advanced Forum Search on the bottom of this page, you can quite easily find the answer to this often asked question.

Reboot and hit F12 to run hard drive diagnostics. Hopefully, the "periodic" message you have been receiving has encouraged you to backup your data...

Dennis1943 · Answer

Thanks for the advanced search idea.  Saying that, I attempted combinations on Smartstep; hard drive; F12; and 'at risk.' to no avail.   F12 only gives options to boot from a; CD; HD (no access to HD diagnostics)

rickmktg · Answer

@Dennis1943 wrote:

Thanks for the advanced search idea. Saying that, I attempted combinations on Smartstep; hard drive; F12; and "at risk." to no avail.

F12 only gives options to boot from a; CD; HD (no access to HD diagnostics)

F12 should provide "IDE Diagnostics" on the list.

Given ejn63's point, I'd test for spyware IF you pass diagnostics.

Go to www.lavasoftusa.com. Download AdAware. Install it, open it, UPDATE IT, run it. Delete everything that it finds. Note - download the FREE version.

Go to www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx. Download Windows Defender. Install it, open it, UPDATE IT, run it. Delete everything it finds.

Start, Run, Msconfig. Click on Startup Tab. Uncheck everything that this site says you can: www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php. When the computer reboots, check the box that says don't show me this again. If it's X or N, uncheck it.

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Hard Disk Warning - What to do?

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