Is my hard drive failing?
Tuesday, March 6, 2012 by 2of3 | Discussion: Personal Computing
I've had a problem off and on with my laptop crashing/BSOD when playing flash based content (like youtube videos).
It's been good for about 6 months now so I was surprised when it again happened today. I restarted the computer and was confronted with another bluescreen. After several tries at rebooting and system repairs (failed......."windows could not repair"), I decided to reinstall the OS......clean slate, ya know.
All was fine after everything was installed (drivers, etc) but the computer crashed again when I tried to do the windows rating index (no bsod, just a sudden dump). I tried it twice to make sure it wasn't a fluke.
Did a windows update and the thing crapped out again after the reboot to install. I managed to get the lappy to start again and scheduled a chkdsk. Rebooted.
Waiting for CHKDSK to finish.....
Earlier, I have only had crashes when playing flash based video and I've read online about problems with adobe flash and ATI cards. But this seems different to me.
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Reply #102 Friday, March 9, 2012 2:42 PM
This one's an option: http://www.mpx.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=645748#extra
Similiar specs to the ASUS I linked to earlier.
The ASUS does have 2 hybrid drives...... Toshiba, 1 hybrid and 1 regular.
ASUS can have up to 16 gig ram......Toshiba, max 8
Same processer and chipset.
And the Toshiba is fugly.......but more than 1,000 krowns cheeper
Reply #103 Friday, March 9, 2012 2:56 PM
This one's an option: http://www.mpx.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=645748#extra
Similiar specs to the ASUS I linked to earlier.
The ASUS does have 2 hybrid drives...... Toshiba, 1 hybrid and 1 regular.
ASUS can have up to 16 gig ram......Toshiba, max 8
Same processer and chipset.
And the Toshiba is fugly.......but more than 1,000 krowns cheeper
Three PC techs I know say that Toshiba is the best built laptop at this time. You can buy more powerful ones, but will they be as good?
ASUS is crap...lol...sorry.
Reply #104 Friday, March 9, 2012 3:04 PM
Anything I buy will be too expensive in my wife's eyes....ya know?
I just saw that the Toshiba has a lower screen res (1600x900 VS 1920x1080).....that's kinda a minus 
Reply #105 Friday, March 9, 2012 3:12 PM
Why not try HP ? They make pretty robust laptops.
Reply #107 Friday, March 9, 2012 5:52 PM
Hey 2of3 by any chance when you boot that laptop does it say loading express gate before the BIOS screen shows up?
Reply #108 Friday, March 9, 2012 6:03 PM
Strange. It has better specs, but it's cheeper
EDIT: ah...second HDD is 5400 rpm not 7200
Now you're talking. 
You can always use the HDDs from your existing laptop. External enclosures are cheap! 
Reply #109 Friday, March 9, 2012 6:10 PM
Quoting 2of3, reply 102Quoting RedneckDude, reply 101Buy a new one. Get a Toshiba. Best value in laptops in my opinion. My PC shop guy agrees. My Toshiba has been trouble free for nearly 2 years.
This one's an option: http://www.mpx.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=645748#extra
Similiar specs to the ASUS I linked to earlier.
The ASUS does have 2 hybrid drives...... Toshiba, 1 hybrid and 1 regular.
ASUS can have up to 16 gig ram......Toshiba, max 8
Same processer and chipset.
And the Toshiba is fugly.......but more than 1,000 krowns cheeper
Three PC techs I know say that Toshiba is the best built laptop at this time. You can buy more powerful ones, but will they be as good?
ASUS is crap...lol...sorry.
Dis-a-gree
Reply #111 Friday, March 9, 2012 6:49 PM
All my stuff is ASUS as well....has been for a few years now. It takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' , I'm a happy camper
Reply #112 Friday, March 9, 2012 6:57 PM
I have no experience with ASUS, I was only repeating what my local PC repair shop guys say. 
And I didn't mean asus parts, I meant asus laptops. 
But, I know not from personal experience. So I'll shut up, before the duck shows up and tells me to. 
Reply #113 Friday, March 9, 2012 8:42 PM
I got myself a 15" Sony Vaio to replace my old 17" Toshiba. I hated the Toshiba because it was too heavy, but, at the time I bought it, I thought I needed a 17" because of the screen resolution (1440x900, IIRC).
As it happens I managed to find this 15" VAIO laptop with a 1920x1080 screen resolution. It was a relatively cheap model with an Intel i5, 4 GB of RAM, nVidia/Intel graphics combo and Windows 7 x64 Professional. I also bought a 160GB Intel 320 SSD, replaced the Vaio's hard disk with it, and I now have a little rocket.
Nothing like an SSD to make an el-cheapo laptop run better than their much more expensive, HDD based, counterparts. 
Reply #114 Saturday, March 10, 2012 3:35 AM
Buy a new one. Get a Toshiba. Best value in laptops in my opinion. My PC shop guy agrees. My Toshiba has been trouble free for nearly 2 years.
Going to have to disagree. Acer makes better notebooks than Toshiba IMO. Good bang for your buck.
Reply #115 Saturday, March 10, 2012 4:40 AM
I think we all can settle on personal preferences here. Each to their own.
Reply #116 Saturday, March 10, 2012 4:55 AM
I'm not "married" to any brand really. My experience is just limited to ASUS and Acer.
Weight is really not an issue considering how I use the computer. It's more a desktop replacement than a laptop that I move around all the time. It sits in one place when I'm at home and on my desk in my cabin while out at sea so I move it about twice a month.
What is important is balls, so I won't settle for less than an i7 processor. I also do like a big screen (better for skinning) so I'm only looking at 17" units.
Reply #117 Saturday, March 10, 2012 4:58 AM
I agree bigger screen is better for skinning I really could use a bigger monitor at home 
my 20" isn't quite big enough :/
Reply #119 Saturday, March 10, 2012 7:50 AM
Wow Tim! Norway must have really high taxes or something. A laptop that would cost you a little over $2,400.00 US there only costs about $1,200 - $1,900 at top end. 
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Reply #101 Friday, March 9, 2012 2:22 PM
Agreed.
Buy a new one. Get a Toshiba. Best value in laptops in my opinion. My PC shop guy agrees. My Toshiba has been trouble free for nearly 2 years.