Boot Error...

[AK47]

I am looking for help with a serious boot issue that has been occurring lately...

A few seconds after turning on my computer, the following message appears:

"*** Error Hidden Sector Checksum !"

From this I cannot advance and continue the boot process, as the machine is stuck at this error screen. Now, I presume that this has something to do with the hard drive. However, is there any way that this can be solved without formatting? The system did not come with any software discs (it was bought second-hand), and I don't want to lose 3Gb of important work!

If anybody could help me then I would be extremely grateful.

[Supa Dupa]

Welcome AK47. We'll need more info on your system, such as, operating system, machine specs, etc.

Supa Dupa

------------------
There's a hole in my memory, dear Liza, dear Liza, there's a whole in my memory, dear Liza, a hole.
Then disable it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, then disable it, dear Henry, dear Henry, disable it.

[This message has been edited by Supa Dupa (edited 06-27-2002).]

[old_kid]

Hi AK:

Checksum error at that early stage might be BIOS/CMOS battery related.

Try going into CMOS and saving settings and reboot - maybe replace CMOS battery

If you have an alternate system you can check out HD to verify good/bad

After these 2 simple and low cost steps you will at least have narrowed down the possibilities

Good Luck


http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

------------------
Good Judgement comes from Experience - Experience comes from Bad Judgement - but bad judgement is more fun!!

[skhips]

In the BIOS try changing the HDD detect to auto and save you're settings.

"The sound of you're enemys preffered weapon"
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[AK47]

Thanks to everyone that replied!

I sorted my problem out, and in the end it turned out that the hard drive had somehow been reconfigured in the BIOS to have 64 sectors instead of 63- this meant that it was effectively looking for an extra sector which never existed! After resetting the BIOS, I rebooted and everything now works fine. I can't believe that I was so worried and puzzled by something so simple, but that's computers for you!

Anyway, thanks again!!!