Drive not ready. System halted

[ThePunkGeek]

Well i'm trying to help someone out and all the info i have it.

The computer will turn on in the morning and run for around 30min, then crash(i'm not sure if bsod or just a lockup) then they will get, "Drive not ready. System halted" and the computer won't boot into windows until hours after.

My guess would be the harddrive is ready to be put to rest, but just wondering if anyone has another opinion?

Thanks

- Also i was thinking it could be a power issue...

[RJARRRPCGP]

Well i'm trying to help someone out and all the info i have it.

The computer will turn on in the morning and run for around 30min, then crash(i'm not sure if bsod or just a lockup) then they will get, "Drive not ready. System halted" and the computer won't boot into windows until hours after.

My guess would be the harddrive is ready to be put to rest, but just wondering if anyone has another opinion?

Thanks

- Also i was thinking it could be a power issue...

That message is from the BIOS, it means that the BIOS failed to read the partition of the HDD. Is the HDD burning hot?

[ThePunkGeek]

i have no clue, all i know is what i posted. What would the easiest way to fix the problem be? Replace the HDD?

[RJARRRPCGP]

It means that the HDD failed to respond. Please check the IDE cable. The HDD may have failed. If Windows suddenly crashed, then during a reboot, you get that message, probably the HDD failed. I seen a HDD fail like that before on a PC that was in the classroom I used to be in. I remembered Windows crashing accompanied by a ticking sound or a pinging sound then when rebooting, that message appeared.


FYI, some BIOSes will give you a HDD controller failure error message when the HDD fails to respond. Getting that message don't always mean an IDE controller problem.

[David]

Find out who makes the drives and perhaps running the relevant diagnostic tools may help. Does sound like a drive on the way out though - any clicking, tapping or pinging noises?