Two questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter Johnny
  • Start date Start date
J

Johnny

A couple of questions:

1) On xp I could always use Windows Key + F to find such files as
Charmap.exe, or files supporting my sound card - that sort of thing. This
doesn't apply in Vista. Is there an equivalent?

2) How common is it that a healthy computer with Vista installed will
succumb to application malfunctions that can be rectified by Check Disk? My
laptop was new 2 weeks ago and apparently the hardware is in good shape, but
I've had to do a couple of check disks.

Cheers.
 
Hi,

1) Winkey+f still opens search, but you may find advanced search more to
your liking.

2) Not common. A need for a disk check indicates errors on the hard drive.
These should not be caused by applications. Have you tried a drive
diagnostic tool or run the memory diagnostics yet?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
1) Winkey+f still opens search, but you may find advanced search more to
your liking.
Click to expand...


Will that find charmap.exe?
2) Not common. A need for a disk check indicates errors on the hard drive.
Click to expand...

I take it that's not necessarily physical flaws?

Certainly Vista went through the restore process without any indication of
those; but I have many hard drives on my old system which for some reason
started giving problems that were rectified by chkdsk and - with the
problems eventually getting worse - have ended up not letting me reformat
them, and I take it that they are somehow physically damaged (perhaps only 6
months after being purchased new); I don't know why this happens and I don't
want the same to be happening to my new laptop.
These should not be caused by applications. Have you tried a drive
diagnostic tool or run the memory diagnostics yet?
Click to expand...

Where do I find these?

Cheers.

Johnny
 
Hi Johnny,
Will that find charmap.exe?
Click to expand...

Yep, but easier and far faster to just hit the Winkey and type it into the
search line. That's what this new search line is for.
I take it that's not necessarily physical flaws?
Click to expand...

Nope, not necessarily, more likely indexing or errors in the mft.
Certainly Vista went through the restore process without any indication of
those; but I have many hard drives on my old system which for some reason
started giving problems that were rectified by chkdsk and - with the
problems eventually getting worse - have ended up not letting me reformat
them, and I take it that they are somehow physically damaged (perhaps only
6 months after being purchased new); I don't know why this happens and I
don't want the same to be happening to my new laptop.
Click to expand...

A drive failure in a new disk is not unusual. In fact, most will fail in the
first few months, or last many, many years.
Where do I find these?
Click to expand...

A drive diagnostic utility is best obtained from the drive manufacturer.
These are generally free to download and run from a diagnostic floppy or CD.
For the memory tool, just click start and type "memory diagnostic" into the
search line.
Cheers.

Johnny
Click to expand...

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
A drive failure in a new disk is not unusual. In fact, most will fail in
the first few months, or last many, many years.
Click to expand...

I don't know anyone else who has anything like my graveyard of HDDs. What
does a drive failure look or sound like? I take it it's something to do with
the motor?

Cheers.
 
Hi,

Look like? I failed drive can "look" like everything's fine - even act
perfectly normal right up to the last second. Sometimes you will hear
bearings or the spindle (especially if you're able to detect high pitched
sounds), or hard clicking, but not always. A failed drive can be any
component - motor, spindle, bearings, platters, etc.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
OK next question: what does one do with an unwanted graveyard of HDDs, when
one is concerned that the data might fall into the wrong hands?
Sledgehammer?
Cheers.
 
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