I've borrowed my mates 486 (wait, the modem speed is 11k), but turning it it on the other day it said it had a hdc failure.

I'm not an IT guru, and need to know...

1) what is a hdc failure
2) presuming it is to do with the hard disk, can I retreive any saved files, or are they lost forever.
3) can I do a repair job, to hand back a functional PC to my mate.

airhead

 

Hard disk controller failure. The controller is either on the motherboard or most likely on the hard drive itself on a 486. Maybe it took a knock when it was moved.
I reckon the disk is fooked, but its worth trying it in another machine before you break the bad new to your mate.

 

I would guess its Hard Disk Controller... Easiest way to check is take hard disk out and plug it into another computer... if that works then you havent lost data and it is the m/board of the 486 so in that case chuck it in the bin and keep the hdd safe!

Edited to add... doh beaten to it.

David

[Edited by David_Wallis - 6/17/2002 8:23:47 AM]

 

kin hell a 486 ...I'm surprised the transistors powered up

shunty

[Edited by shunty - 6/17/2002 8:47:39 AM]

 

the 486 bit is ok, but try to use a 11k modem for the internet.
Painfull isn't the word to use !!
56k modems are slow enough.

The 486 pc was borrowed from my mates 5 year old, who uses it for games and stuff. Our main PC broke in the UK, and we didn't have time to fix it, or the dosh to ship a broken PC to NZ.

Thanks for the tips, I'll give that a go.