Harddisk checking

[bloo_fish]

Hey, is there a program similar to memtest, but for checking the hard drive? Becuase recently my hard disk has been playing up, eg: when i open up my Compter i get that little moving torch for a bit

Sytem specs:
Amd Athlon Xp 1700+
256 samsung 2700
Abit NF7-S Motherboard
60gig segate baracuda
230v enermax psu
WinXp

So its not exactly a slow enough pc for the harddisk be needing to do this, and its all ways been fine beofre, this problem started yesterday pritty much since i installed MSN messenger 6 (i had to, i couldn't find the addon on for any msn for the email thingy)

Althou its been deleted now and the problem is still here

also general loading things has got a bit worse

[Edit] bit of exra info incase anyone suggest things that may be wrong, this was a clean install yesterday, i've run dsik dfrag a couple of times during installing things, and i've run chkdsk which didnt really tell me anything so i assume that was fine.

Thanks for any help
- Bloo

[Agent]

this is what you want mate
Get the OS independent one and run it Pre-OS so nothing can interfere with it
It might take a while, but it'll check the drive for the same certification it gets when it leaves the factory

[pmk24]

also just a idea but have you tried a diffrent ide cable?

[bloo_fish]

Originally posted by Agent
this is what you want mate
Get the OS independent one and run it Pre-OS so nothing can interfere with it
It might take a while, but it'll check the drive for the same certification it gets when it leaves the factory

Cheers m8, just ran it and no problems..........

Originally posted by pmk24
also just a idea but have you tried a diffrent ide cable?

Good idea, i'll give that a try now!

[Agent]

Also you can check that too much unused stuff isnt starting up with windows. Use the excellent utility from here and remove any startup items you dont need

[bloo_fish]

Originally posted by Agent
Also you can check that too much unused stuff isnt starting up with windows. Use the excellent utility from here and remove any startup items you dont need

Well tried a new ide cable, and tried that program, no difference, The main prob is (forgot to mention it in my first post) that when i log in, it takes about 30 secs to do anything (all i see is my background)

Any more ideas? I may just format it again cuase i'm doing formating a dif machine now so i spose it'll give me somthing to do

[Agent]

Very strange indeed.
Done a full virus scan on it ?
Aldo i assume you have ran scandisk and defragged ?

[Zathras]

If it takes you 30 seconds doing nothing when logging in, try setting any network adapters you have to a static IP in the range of 192.168.0.x where x is between 1 and 254. Windows is famed for pausing for thirty seconds or upwards whilst network cards try to get a 'server-assigned' IP address.

[Jonny M]

Do you have a virus scanner scheduled to scan every so many days? I know one that used to scan 300 or so files every startup, slowly getting its way through scanning the whole drive as the computer is rebooted.

[pmk24]

very true zath didnt think of that, also i take it the drive is primary, is there anthing on seccondary?

[bloo_fish]

Originally posted by Zathras
If it takes you 30 seconds .............whilst network cards try to get a 'server-assigned' IP address.

Still no change

Originally posted by Caged
Do you have a virus scanner................. drive as the computer is rebooted.

Yup but it doesnt scan when my comp loads (even took it out of loading on boot and still no change)

Originally posted by pmk24
very true zath didnt think of that, also i take it the drive is primary, is there anthing on seccondary?

Yea it is, and nothing on secondary

Thanks for all the help guys, its much appreciated

[pmk24]

next think i would say is update the bios?

[bloo_fish]

Originally posted by pmk24
next think i would say is update the bios?

As in change/update settings in the bios or put the newest version on? (and is putting a new version on at all risky?)

[pmk24]

put the latest one on, no it isnt risky just follow the steps from the mobo site and it should be fine mate, this is only a suggestion as ive thought of the more common problems and you have tired all of them

[bloo_fish]

Ok then cheers, I'll give it a go in abit, gonna read up on it first thou.

Thanks to all again.