Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

[kenimpzoom]

My parents have a 6 months old Compaq Presario 2100. The hard drive failed, against good advice, my dad took it to a local shop and he replaced the hard drive, it lasted a week, then replaced it again, it lasted 3 weeks.<br /><br />Now my dad finally wants to send it back to Compaq.<br /><br />Do you think they will reject a waranty repair? Will they be able to tell if the hard drive has been replaced?<br /><br />Ken

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

Originally posted by KenImpZoom:<br />Do you think they will reject a waranty repair? Will they be able to tell if the hard drive has been replaced?

If the hard drive was replaced and they didn't use exactly the same kind, they'll probably know; in which case I'm sure they'll refuse to fix the hard drive.

 

[PierBridge]

Re: Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

How does the hard drive come out if you broke some sort of seal that would more then likely void the warranty if it's just phillips head fastener then you could try and put the original drive back in and try Compact for warranty.<br /><br />Why would....never mind.

 

[rwise]

Re: Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

HP (compac) edits (put there own) the firmware on the hard drive (also marked with there part #) and will only cover the origanal drive (if you have it). (If you can find a drive that is from them, they do not record the info for the drive.) But, it sounds like there are deeper problems with it. 3 hard drives in 6 months is a bit much. Try to get the first drive back and return it to the unit. <br />Good Luck!

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

Some shops store their hard drives on really hard shelves.<br /><br />I sincerely doubt anyone will ever care that the hard drive has been replaced. You'd be amazed by what gets returned for warranty service in the computer buisiness that passes.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

Ken, If you took it to an authorized warranty center, then they would have replaced the drive with an authorized warranty part from Hewlett Packard (HP bought Compaq and still uses the name for some products in the consumer space). This does not void the warranty. If fact, they have to replace it with a like drive with the same part number as the original which I can guaranty that thet ordered from HP (or they sent it in for repair).<br /><br />3 hard drives is unusual. What is the failure? While it is possible that it may be a bad bacth of hard drives, it may be something else.<br /><br />I run an authorized repair center, but we chose not to fix the Presario line. Your servicer should be able to escalate the repair of your unit since it has been worked on 3 times for the same issue. It is unlikely that HP will replace the whole unit after 6 months.<br /><br />You can send the whole unit in to HP for repair. You can set this up with HP/Compaq by calling 1-800-ok-compaq (1-800-652-6672). They will send out a shipping box and will pick up the unit for free while still under warranty.<br /><br />I just logged onto the Compaq Dealer support site to check for Service Advisories in regards to the laptop. There are none that involve the hard drive. There are 12 in all, but most of them are for broken or misfitting plastics.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

Thanks a ton for all the advice.<br /><br />The computer would turn on then say some file cannot be found or has been corrupted.<br /><br />I called tech support and they got me to replace the corrupted system file from the CD (chkdsk /r). Computer and windows worked fine then.<br /><br />So then I ran scan disk from windows XP.<br /><br />Next thing I know the computer keeps resetting itself saying there is an error in one of the files.<br /><br />I am currently doing the same thing that tech support got me to do (chkdsk /r)<br /><br />I'll let ya know what is going on after that.<br /><br />Ken

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

I asked my dad if he still had the orginal hard drive... nope, threw it away. ARRGGGG, my father is a pack rat, and never throws anything away.<br /><br />Also, the repair center is some small little shop.<br /><br />Yea, I know.....I wish he would have let me handle it in the first place.<br /><br />Ken

 

[Scoop]

Re: Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

Sorry that he threw the hard drive away. The CHKDSK/r does a file repair, but it may not be the hard drive that is causing the issue. If you can get into Windows after the CHKDSK /r, then you can run a Scandisk to check for bad sectors. <br /><br />If bad sectors are there, then chances are that he he did get a bad hard drive. To do this in XP,<br />1. Doubleclick on My Computer icon<br />2. Right click on C:\ drive<br />3. Click properties<br />4. Click tools tab<br />5. Under the Errors checking box, click Check now.<br />6. Click on scan for and attamept to recover bad sectors.<br />This is the cheap way to do it. A better way is to buy Norton Utilities. It will probably tell you exactly what is wrong.<br /><br />Hope this helps. Also, going to the HP website and downloading all patches for both the operating system and firmware updates are a must in addition to Windows updates, current virus scanner, and Spyware scanner.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

Scoop, thanks for the info.<br /><br />I tried the scan disk and then the computer crashed again. Then I repaired the files again, and it crashed again. The I completly reinstalled XP. After installation it immediately crashed.<br />Says:<br /><br />Kernel_Stack_Inpage_Error<br /><br />I really think the hard drive is fried, gonna call Compaq again.<br /><br />Ken

 

[HeadHunt]

Re: Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

You may have the same problem I had. It does not sound like a hard drive failure since the drive still worked and only the files became corrupted.<br /><br />I found out that I had defective RAM causing the same problems you are having. The RAM writes data to the hard drive and it was writing defective data, especially during sleep mode. Go to www.docmemory.com and download the memory tester. The download will walk you through the procedure for creating a bootable floppy disc which you will use to perform burn tests on your RAM. I did this and my RAM failed every test. Replaced the RAM and problem solved.<br /><br />HeadHunt

 

[rwise]

Re: Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

KSIE would point to the hard drive (need the hole stop code) it could also be the cable or the mother board. Most of the time its the hard drive. Good luck.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

Is this the same exact problem that the unit had before. If so, then it probably is not the hard drive. It would point to other things which could include system board, memory or even processor.

 

[HeadHunt]

Re: Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

You can also perform burn tests on your hard drive. Go to your hard drive website. Most of them offer free diagnostic software.<br /><br />HeadHunt

 

[TELMANMN]

Re: Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

If under warranty do not ever try to fix. It may be a simple problem but once touched, never helped.

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: Compaq notebook hardrive failure questions

hehe once again PC junk parts junk haha just had to say it "poof" outta here.