Packard Bell, 4 years old, keeps hanging and now can't get into it (it's been getting more and more unstable over the last 2/3 weeks). Error is a corrupt or missing windows file.

When running the system restore, that keeps hanging/crashing too.

Current thinking is HDD is fooked so maybe a new HDD for £50 is the answer? However he has to get the system CD's off PB for the new HDD.

As per other thread, he might buy a new PC but not if not necessary. However I think he's lost faith in the old machine.

 

unless the HDD is making a bad noise then i would suggest a reformat & reload of whatever OE you are using, obv make sure you have all the relevant drivers first


Andy

 

But that's the problem. You 'restore' from a hidden part of the HDD but the restore crashes too! There's a menu to fdisk/format the HDD but still has the problem of then not restoring and doesn't (yet) have the CDs to do so.

 

Have you tried booting off a DOS disk and doing a manual Format? Or use the fdisk command and remove and re-setup the partition (NOT the one that has your restore).
To get a DOS disk go here: www.bootdisk.com