To the PT Geeks...

[Catty1]

My own computer is tied up for the next 17 hours or so running a recovery program on a sick hard drive.

I am online in Safe Mode on a computer I am refurbishing.

Questions:

How many heads/cylinders are there in a 250GB hard drive? (Would help me to know when the recovery program will stop its incessant beeping...).

AND I am in Safe Mode on this computer because when I boot into Windows normally, the desktop occupies the top half of the screen and the bottom half is black. Seems to me the solution is really easy...but it escapes me at the moment. I had reinstalled Windows and there was no problem until I thought I had finally found the graphics/visual drivers. The computer is no particular brand, but has an Intel motherboard. The ethernet controller driver is by Marvell Yukon.


Thanks very much!

[Karen]

Without looking it up, I think there would be different numbers of heads depending on the manufacturer and model of the hard drive. That's kind of like saying "how many tires are there on a truck?" The answer in the truck case could be 4, 18, or somewhere in between.

[cassiesmom]

Candace, I need new glasses! I thought the title of this thread said, "To the PT Gleeks..."

So I have no idea how to answer your question!

[Puckstop31]

Heads/Cylinders... Lord only knows. There are so many variables to consider.

As for video issues.... Windows 7 is your friend. If it cannot figure it out, especially for a 'older' board....

[Catty1]

Win 7? The unit is running XP Home.

Again, all was well til I installed video/display drivers. Got the ATI ones...then was told it couldn't install because I didn't have DirectX 8 installed...then it turns out that DirectX 9 is the last one to support XP....ARRRGH!

Thanks...

[blue]

Is the graphics card an actual card or is it embedded to the motherboard? Do you have Everest, Belarc, or SIW (System Information for Windows) to find out what the graphics card is to figure out the correct drivers?

And you know your a geek when you yell VISTA!!! instead of dropping an F Bomb.

[DJFyrewolf36]

?

And you know your a geek when you yell VISTA!!! instead of dropping an F Bomb.

LOL!!

Catty, can you pester me on facebook? If not, PM me your boards model number or the vid cards model number if it is an add in card. Hubby can find just about every driver there is, especially if it is an XP driver.

[Catty1]

I just realized that the video in the other computer is NOT onboard - it's a Radeon x300. Seems to me I downloaded both drivers, but will clear them out and try again. I will also remove the card and reseat it.

As for the scan...wee Zoe had hopped up and knocked the HD cage to the ground...and the USB plug popped right out of the computer. So we start all over again today! lol

Thanks, everyone.