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This topic will hopefully grow into a nice guide into how to troubleshoot your PC.

If you have any useful advice please post in the Hardware Discussion and Assistance any useful information will be added by the mods.

If your PC is giving out beeps when you switch it on have a look at these sites:

Computer Hope

PCGuide

PC Hell

The above are for reference only you really need to consult the manual for your motherboard.

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Had my cousins PC over at the weekend, the PC just wouldn't get past the Packard Bell splash screen. After disconnecting all the power cables, checking the IDE connectors, individually connecting each hdd to PC, trying another IDE cable I'd run out of ideas and was stuck. My conclusion was that the both HDD's had gone. However I just couldn't buy it that both hdd's had failed together. I then decided to one of the drives in my external USB HDD case, this meant altering the jumpers on the master hdd. Plugged the drive in and it powered up then windows saw the drive.

It appeared that the slave hdd had failed, as the jumper was set on the western digital for master with slave attached, because the slave hdd had failed and was no longer seen by the bios this jumper was now incorrectly set so the PC was hanging. When I replaced the hdd with the jumper reset to master only Windows booted and it was sorted.

So if your PC isn't working because of the hdd's, check the following.

Cables both IDE and Power
Try each hdd individually (if more than one)
Check Jumpers
Try in another PC/Exteranl USB hdd case

[stidyup]

Getting "cycle redundancy check" from a hdd?

This could be a sign that the hdd is failing.

Run your hdd manufacuters diagnostic utility on the HDD giving the error.

IBM/Hitachi

Maxtor

Western Digital

Seagate

Fujitsu

Samsung

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HDD Failure?

Data Recovery Tips

I would only use these tips providing the hdd isn't making any loud scraping noises. If your hdd is making these sorts of noises I would advise shipping it off to a company who specialise in data recovery like Ontrack if there is data on the hdd you need to really need to recover as you may do more damage to the hdd by using these methods, which may mean a higher data recovery bill.

USE AT OWN RISK

I've had success using this in the past, put the hdd in a air tight bag (squeeze all of the air out) and place in the freezer for a couple of hours.

If you do this you run the RISK OF ELECROCUTION as water may have frozen inside the drive and/or as the hdd is super cooled condensation may form.

So there is a small chance of electrocution. IF YOU TRY THIS TRICK IT’S AT YOUR OWN RISK.

I have put hard drives in the freezer on many occasions without a problem – however you do need to be careful.

REMEMBER TRYING THIS IS AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!

This may give you access to the drive depending on what's caused it to fail. If this works you only have a limited time to recover the data, make sure your PC is all set up for the recovery task. If you have a HDD Cooling Fan attach it and if you have a room fan point it at the hdd. You need to keep the hdd cool for as long as possible. Once the drive heats up it's likely to fail again. You are racing against time so make sure your all set up to go once you've got the drive out.

The other way you may be able to get your data off requires you to have a 2 identical hdd's: make (manufacturer), size (gb) and model (although this may work with just the make and size being the same) and swap the controllers cards. To do this you will need screwdrivers like these, some hdd's you will need a T8 as the screws may be slightly bigger. I've managed to recover hdd's using this method and get the data off.

WARNING Using this method will invalidate your warranty only use if the data you want is more valuable than the hdd. If you use this method you may do more damage to the hdd which may mean a higher bill if you send it off for data recovery. Some data recovery companies can open the drive without affecting the warranty, check with your hdd manufacturer for approved data recovery specialists.

[stidyup]

Beginners guide to overclocking.

PCStats

AMD Guide

AMD Guide 2002

VIA Arena

P4 Overclocking

Toms Hardware

Overclocking may cause system instability and your components to fail. Overclock at your own risk