Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.gateway2000 (
More info?)
1. If GWSCAN 5.07 includes Data Lifeguard Diagnostics by Western Digital Corp,
you are well covered for running manufacturer's hard drive diagnostics.
2. Yep. Sounds like memory is the villain, especially in light of your more
recent experiences. Contact Gateway and tell them the memory is bad, not the
motherboard. Replacimg memory is easy, as you've found. Replacing a
motherboard is more work, altho a Gateway chassis is a lot easier to work in
than an HP, for example... Ben Myers
On Sun, 31 Oct 2004 02:27:58 GMT, "T Brox" <wtbrox@yahoo.com> wrote:
>OK:
>
>1. The disk scan run was the GWSCAN 5.07 - Data Lifeguard Diagnostics
>coypright by Western Digital Corp, I am currently re-running the extended
>test on both disks but they have (since this problem begin) both passed the
>extended test without errors. This program is on the GW red CD disk that is
>distributed with the computer.
>
>2. I downloaded memtest-86 v 3.1 and ran this. This program consistently
>reports errors on Test #3. I can upload a screenshot of the error reports
>but I am unclear whether I have a cache, motherboard or memory problem.
>
>3. On Friday my wife called Tech support at GW & they now plan to replace
>the motherboard. Sounds like the memory may need to be replaced first.
>
>Please advise................
>
>
>
>
>
><ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in message
>news:4183beb4.8728774@news.charter.net...
>> Was this the disk drive MANUFACTURER'S hard drive test? If so, I would
>agree
>> and suggest that MEMTEST-86 still be run. If not, and the so-called hard
>drive
>> test was GWSCAN or SCANDISK run under Windows, I would have to disagree
>strongly
>> with the advice given.
>>
>> As stated earlier, GWSCAN and SCANDISK both rely on Windows often
>unreliable
>> underpinnings to run and they provide insufficient diagnostic information,
>hence
>> they cannot be considered reliable indicators of whether or not a drive is
>100%
>> defect-free. Long experience in the industry recommends that if a modern
>> ATAPI/IDE or SCSI drive has even one bad sector, that the drive be
>replaced.
>> (Back in the early days of personal computers when 30MB hard drives cost
>$500 or
>> $600, people would live with the defects and replace bad sectors with
>spares.)
>> One bad sector is a harbinger of more catastrophic disk problems to
>follow.
>>
>> Likewise, if MEMTEST-86 reveals even one hardware error while running many
>> cycles, this is a sign of something wrong somewhere. Possibly defective
>memory
>> or memory out of spec with the motherboard requirements. Possibly a flaky
>chip
>> on the motherboard itself.
>>
>> The recommendation to make sure the hardware is absolutely right before
>going
>> further has its roots in the dark days of the computer industry, when such
>> pre-historic beasts as 360's, 370's, 1107's and other humungous computers
>with
>> punch card readers and paper tapes roamed the land. I see nothing in the
>modern
>> world of computing to deviate from a proven practice, and a lot of
>experience
>> that says it is the best practice... Ben Myers
>>
>> On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 09:41:02 -0500, "Jeff S." <jeffreys1966@yahoo.com>
>wrote:
>>
>> >Since the hard drive test passed already and the system has only been
>> >reloaded by Gateway (with their oddball image software...). There's
>nothing
>> >to lose by starting fresh from a clean load of software...
>> >It takes all of an hour and will give a clean slate to go off of...
>> >JS
>> ><ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in message
>> >news:41831ae7.54194647@news.charter.net...
>> >> No, no! Try to rule out hardware FIRST. If the hardware is not
>working
>> >right,
>> >> no way will the software run properly.
>> >>
>> >> So run hardware diagnostics on the system, especially the motherboard,
>> >memory,
>> >> and hard drive. These are the most critical pieces of a system. It
>seems
>> >> pretty clear that something is very wrong with the hardware.
>> >>
>> >> 1. Download MEMTEST-86 , and prepare a bootable floppy according to the
>> >> instructions on the web site. The diskette will boot Linux, but no
>need
>> >to
>> >> worry. MEMTEST-86 cycles through a very comprehensive set of memory
>> >tests,
>> >> exercising the processor and some of the motherboard chipset along the
>> >way. If
>> >> MEMTEST-86 reveals even one error after running for several hours, then
>> >either
>> >> the memory or the motherboard is bad. I'll guess that the CPU is OK.
>> >>
>> >> 2. Determine the hard drive manufacturer, and download the hard drive
>> >> diagnostics from their web site. Run the diagnostics and see if there
>are
>> >any
>> >> errors.
>> >>
>> >> If both of these tests show clean error-free hardware, I would be
>stumped.
>> >> Faulty motherboard chips would seem to be the most likely cause, given
>> >that hard
>> >> drives were replaced. Were the hard drives you got from Gateway sealed
>in
>> >> electrostatic bags? Were they marked as refurbished or were they new?
>> >>
>> >> The aforementioned tests run as close to the computer hardware as
>> >possible, so
>> >> they are accurate diagnostics. No matter what Gateway or Microsoft
>might
>> >claim,
>> >> gwscan and scandisk rely on Windows, and if the Windows software is
>> >screwed up
>> >> as it often is, any Windows-based tests are likely to give false
>results.
>> >>
>> >> ... Ben Myers
>> >>
>> >> On Fri, 29 Oct 2004 22:51:50 -0500, "Jeff S." <jeffreys1966@yahoo.com>
>> >wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >I would start with a clean slate -- using the gwcan utility, write
>zeros
>> >to
>> >> >the drive. Then, reload Windows, but not any other apps. Clean the
>> >Windows
>> >> >cd before reinstalling...
>> >> >Don't have any hardware, other than kybd, mouse, monitor, hooked up.
>> >> >See what that does.
>> >> >If that doesn't do it, start eliminating internal hardware - sound
>card,
>> >> >modem, nic (unless integrated...).
>> >> >Try to rule out software then hardware.
>> >> >Keep us posted.
>> >> >Jeff S.
>> >> >"T Brox" <wtbrox@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> >> >news:lstgd.15092$6q2.13653@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
>> >> >> Background:
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> 1. System 700XL/Win XP Pro/2- 250 GIG HD/1 meg RAM - arrived with a
>> >dead
>> >> >HD
>> >> >> (Sept -03), 1 week on phone with Tech support, replace disk & OS
>> >rebuild.
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> 2. HD crash & corrupted OS June -04, 2 weeks on phone with Tech
>> >support,
>> >> >> replace disk & OS rebuild
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Next problem approximately Aug 19-04 started random reboots with
>> >Checkdisk
>> >> >&
>> >> >> multiple cross linked files
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Aug 20-04 OS corrupted & system would not boot.
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Multiple phone calls to tech support, eventually recommended return
>for
>> >> >> service.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Shipped 8-28-04
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Returned 10-7-04 from Service
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Booted up & ran approximately 2 hours & then random reboots with
>> >Checkdisk
>> >> >&
>> >> >> multiple cross linked files. System remains unstable same behavior
>> >since
>> >> >Aug
>> >> >> 20.
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Reshipped 10-8-04
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> System returned Oct 28-04
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Booted up & ran approximately 3 hours & then random reboots with
>> >Checkdisk
>> >> >&
>> >> >> multiple cross linked files.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> During the time it was running, I loaded Norton Internet Security &
>> >copied
>> >> >> files, started instability after approximately 5 GIG of files were
>> >copied.
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Each trip to service, OS & apps reloaded & "system passed", no
>hardware
>> >or
>> >> >> disks replaced.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> GW Utility GW Scan passed hard disks on 10-7-04
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Have not yet re-run GW scan this trip
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Question:
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> 1. What is likely "diagnosis"?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> 2. What customer service or resolution options do I have?
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Thanks in advance,
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>>
>
>
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