DOA WD drive

[mrgreenjeans]

I'm working on a friends computer I built for them originally, an ASUS P4S8X-X mb, 2.4g, 512 ram, and a 80g WD harddrive. They started having problems and random crashes, and related it to a game their son had installed and then uninstalled. I attempted a system restore to a point prior to the game installation and got an error report on the reboot that a command sys. file was missing or corrupt. I downloded WD's harddrive checking software (Lifeguard) and ran it and did a reformat with no apparent problems. I then reinstalled Windows and had just about finished reloading all the software when i got another error with another sys. file missing on a reboot.
Now the Lifeguard won't run, gets a memory error while trying to write the temp files to the harddrive) and the mobo bios has a warning that the hardrive is ready for immient failure. I opened her up, checked all connections and cables and still the same.
Pretty much figure the drive is dead or dying.
Any ideas other than a quick visit to Newegg for a replacement?

[Th0r]

Ok lets not jump the gun.... Maybe its not the Hard Drive... Memory failure?!?!?!.... *glares at RAM chips*... yeah that could be a problem...

If the lifeguard tools didn't find anything the first time then it could be a bad RAM!!!

[mrgreenjeans]

OK, let's run MEMtest86. I'll keep you posted. But when it says 'memory failure, the software is writing temp files to the harddrive, not to the RAM, but, hey, I'll give it a shot!

[CrashOveride]

Somtimes files are put in the RAM before theyt are written so RAM could be it.

[mrgreenjeans]

It's on the forth successful pass of MEMtest with no errors, so I think it's gonna be the hardrive. It's the first one I've ever had go belly up on me. WD's pretty good on their warrranty aren't they. It's probably not over a year old. Time for an RMA. I'm gonna go ahead and order a new one off NewEgg so i can get the client up and running again.
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm gonna let in run for a while just in case. It won't make any difference if I order tonight or tomorrow morning.

[CrashOveride]

They have good warrrenties ya, you might wanna try a low level format or somthing, scandisk too... those can fix bad sectors, otherwise you might wanna make sure they replace drives for that and then RMA it.

[mrgreenjeans]

Already been to their site and have RMA. By using the 'advanced option' they'll go ahead and ship the replacement while I return the other, holding the credit card number in the meantime. Got to give them credit. Makes me glad to know my personal rig is running wd's.
I stopped MEMtest on the 14th pass. I think if that was the problem it would've turned up by then.
Thanks for the input guys!

[Th0r]

No problem, we had to check to make sure it wasn't the RAM...