HD Failure Imminent !

Hi. My sons laptop displayed this message - Failure predicted on HD 0:ST980811AS-(SI). Back up immediately and replace drive. HD failure may be imminent.
Restarted in safe mode and received message - Windows has recovered from unexpected shutdown….. The following details were given:
Problem Signature:
Problem event name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.768.2
Locale ID: 3081

Additional info about the problem:
BCCode: 7a
BCP1: 8D0FF8E0
BCP2: C000009C
BCP3: 010AF864
BCP4: 943167C3
Service Pack: 0_0

Restarted in normal mode - got top message again (Failure predicted etc).
Pressed F1 to continue. Got message "Windows did not shutdown successfully…"
Restarted in safe mode and logged in OK.
Got message Security Centre service not working. Tried to turn on but said was unable to start.
Noticed several other services not running either.

Owner advises:-
1. Behaviour has been progressively deteriorating - freezing more often, shutting down, etc.
2. Blue screen has appeared before.
3. Laptop is 2-3 years old but not often used until last 6 months.
4, Recently added some poker site programs but these function OK when laptop is behaving.

I'm no expert but it sounds like the HD is about to fail.
Could there be any other reason for this behaviour?
Is a replacement hard drive pratical and/or cost effective?

Any advice you could give would be much appreciated.

I ran a HijackThis scan in case it may help:-


Thanks for your time.
Neil T
EDITED by paws HJT log uplifted as an attachement [attachment=5667:hjt.txt]
📎WERC698.tmp.version.txt

Hi, sorry to hear of the problems with your machine
IMPORTANT
Don't close it down, start it up, or reboot………………….a likely situation is that your hard drive is failing……….(it could be other things, but imminent failure is likely) any rebooting starting it up or closing it down is likely to expedite its failure.

The important thing now is to check that your son's back up/copyarchive of everthing that is important is 100% up to date accurate and reproducible and kept safe on removable media.

Even if the back up is only a day out of date, take the opportunity now to update it. When you next access your machine be sure that you have everything you need to copy off all your data, files, docs, music, videos school work, drivers applications, passwords, user names in fact everything that is important to you. Its importnat that you do all this in one session, get it all done as soon as possible you may only have one restart available to you before catastrophic failure. Make sure you have not forgotten the installation files of any applications you have downloaded, have all your installation disc hany and your Windows installations disc and of course the vital serial keys (25 characters, alpha numeric, in 5 groups of 5)

If you made a disc image on removable media (and you had the foresight to make a bootable CD disc) this will help reinstall everything on to a new hard drive if this is necessary and you can be up and running again in the time it takes to walk the dog.

Hard drives are now cheap to buy, and easy to fit (only a minute or so to fit) but the installation of Windows and your applications , settings, passwords, Internet, email, anti virus, firewall etc not to mention all the documents, spreadsheets, music, photos, etc is what takes all the time.
If you r machine is still under guarantee then its best to take advantage of it…but do back up all your stuff first….

If the machine is an Acer and it has the Acer Recovery system lets hope you made the restore discs…..

Let us know when you have checked your back up. archive copy and its all up to date and reproducible and you have looked out all the installation discs
Regards
paws

I'm no expert but it sounds like the HD is about to fail.

Isn't that what it told you?

I'm not laughing at you, but you did definitely give me a grin. Thanks.

I hope that doesn't offend you - that's not my intention.

The hard drive's SMART system is reporting failure. All your symptoms are that of a drive that has bad sectors. YES the drive is failing.

Thank you paws - your prompt reply is appreciated. Here's where we're at now:- 1. All required folders, files, programs, etc, have been backed up to an external drive, 2. If installation discs were received (?) they are now not locatable, 3. No bootable CD was made. (Doh!!) 4. Machine is still running in safe mode. I guess that means new OS software as well as a replacement HD. The preference is to revert to XP if possible. Do you know if Microsoft will replace software if proof of purchase can be provided? Also, could you tell me if there is anything to look out for when sourcing a new HD? The laptop is an ACER TravelMate 4072WLMi. Thanks again for your time. Cheers, Neil

Apple - no offence taken. I'm glad you got a laugh. After all, I was stating the "bleeding obvious". I just wanted to be sure it wasn't another cause - wishful thinking I guess. Cheers, Neil

Hi Neil, I'm glad you got your back up sorted out…..once you have checked it, double checked it and then checked it one more time…here are some thoughts for you:
Your Acer is probably fitted with the Acer Recovery software…… if it is then there is one thing you can try before spending your money!
However I will spell this out after I have given you the "standard" suggestions!
I dont think its likely that Microsoft will supply you with installation discs as they usually devolve this sort of support to Acer…..(there's no harm in asking though!) I think you would stand more chance of asking Acer for this sort of thing…you can do this by email from the Acer support site:

http://acer.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/acer.cfg/…?p_sid=Vhc83zJj

1 If you can return your Acer to their service Centre in your locality without it costing you a fortune for transport then Acer will be able to fit you a new hard drive, and they will reimage it for you so the operating system and software and all the preinstalled applications will be just as when it left the factory when it was first manufactured. In the UK they often charge around £100 for this (+tax+transport & insurance) and take about a fortnight from start to finish…….they will then usually guarantee the job for 90 days…….this is the preferred route for many folks, and the main advantage is that it works first time!….. however you will still need to reinstall any extra applications or software that you want and all your data, Internet settings email etc. and this can be time consuming……. (see time estimates below)

2 The second option is to use a local competent computer Technician to supply and fit a new hard drive and then reinstall Windows for you ( using their own install discs but your Certficate of authenticity with its 25 character product key) this in my neck of the woods is about the same cost of the Acer service but would not include the installation of any applications, additional services or extra parttion with Recovery information, you would have about a days work (8 hrs or so) to install all of these + your data, settings, email, Internet etc…..manually.

3 The next step may appeal to you or it may not……… there's no guarantee that it will work, as your hard drive may be too damaged to use the Acer Recovery System to "format and restore to factory conditions" but if you have it installed and it works it may go on long enough for you to take a disc image using Acronis, Drive Image XML Paragon, Ghost etc save the image to an external hard drive, make a bootable disc, fit a new hard drive, (its probably an ATA 100) and image the new hard drive, back from your external hard drive. This will have the effect of Step 1 above but without all the extra applications, softwares, Internet settings emails and data etc…… allow a day for this (8 hours or so) There is extra scope for failure in that your disc image may include errors from your old hard disc that may or may not have been overcome (temporarily) by the formatting of the old hard drive by the Acer Recovery system. However its an interesting job to do ( for some of us!) but tedious for others of us! The cost for this method, apart from a bit of time is about £35 to £40 for a new hard drive.
To access the Acer Recovery System start your machine and at the Acer logo hold down ALT and press F10…….your machine will either start the Acer recovery or it wont!

If you decide to go for option 3 then you will need to be highly organized, make sure you have all your discs, serial numbers, bootable disc, imaging application all ready to hand…so you can crack on with it.
Let me know if you need anything further.
Regards
paws

Hi Paws, I've been away however my son has decided to go with your option 2 above but he needs OS software. Things are on hold while he chases XP software. I guess that's end of story! Thanks again for your time and assistance. Cheers, Neil

Your service provider should have the necessary disks on hand already. All you need is the product key on the COA sticker which is located on the bottom of the laptop. Repair shops have this kind of stuff. Or, at least competent ones should as they are required on a regular basis.

Yes Good luck with this Neil, As appleoddity correctly says the repair shop will have all the discs required to reinstall Windows for you, but they will use your Windows product licence serial key, 25character alpha-numeric in 5 groups of 5, (the one on your certicate of Authenticity) [CoA] that is normally stuck on the outside of the computer case. Regards paws

Aha!! The serial key is on bottom of lappy. I don't know how I didn't notice it before. All is well - we are underway. Cheers and many thanks guys, Neil