Setting up a multi-boot as you propose may involve juggling the drive
boot order in BIOS, since each drive would have an independent boot
sector not aware of the other OS partition. To insure that arrangement
would work, only have the one drive connected as you install Windows to
it. Once completed, a single keystroke during the startup of BIOS will
open a list on most newer computers and let you pick which drive to boot
from. If one drive fails to work, the other drive will still function.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] S.M.A.R.T. error message
From: Gregg Pfaff <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, November 04, 2009 9:07 am
To: [log in to unmask]

the last time I was in my hp Tower was 8 years ago when I installed the 
slave drive and Plextor CDRW drive. The main drive it refers to as a
bigfoot 
drive and it's always been a lot noisier than the new drive I had
installed 
(not a bigfoot). I'm thinking that I'll just switch the function of the
two. 
reformat the slave and install windows on it. I should still be able to
boot 
to the other one if I chose to, Right?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kenneth Whyman SC" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 1:54 AM
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] S.M.A.R.T. error message


I applaud your backup efforts, and I encourage you to continue both the
saving of data and monitoring of drive health. I'm sure there are
utilities that can read and interpret the SMART data and give you more
information about what is occurring. Just keep in mind that SMART
doesn't say that the drive is bad, just that it is exhibiting abnormal
test responses. You won't know when the drive is bad until you hear it
crunch funny, not boot, not spin up, or other such tangible symptoms.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] S.M.A.R.T. error message
From: Gregg Pfaff <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, November 02, 2009 7:30 pm
To: [log in to unmask]

I've been getting that message on my old HP 433mhz Celeron, running
win98se,
on the primary 8gb drive for 6 months now and after I hit F1 it operates

fine. I backed it up to the second (slave) drive and if it goes it goes.
I
only really use it to run some old programs I have and word processing
etc.
But I feel the message is an error and the drive seems normal. Like I
said...I back up my important stuff regularly.
Gregg


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kenneth Whyman SC" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 5:53 PM
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] S.M.A.R.T. error message


SMART is a drive monitoring technology that has become a standard in the
industry. The hard drive itself monitors several different parameters
concerning its own health, and reports the results to the IDE controller
if it is enabled to receive it in BIOS. One SMART alarm is not a great
cause for concern. The second and subsequent ones are, especially when
they begin occurring on a regular basis (every boot cycle). SMART does
not tell you that the hard disk has failed, only that it is getting
ready to do so. My advice to you at this point is to make a VERY prompt
backup to CD of all your data, and continue to monitor the drive. If you
get SMART alerts each boot-up, save money quickly for a new drive and
use the current one with regular backups until it drops. Be sure to have
your Windows restore disk and any drivers you need to recover the system
close at hand. Another idea is to shoot a disk image as a backup and lay
that onto the new drive if and when the old one gives it up. That method
of backup and restore will get you going a little quicker that the old
"restore disk and drivers" method.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [PCBUILD] S.M.A.R.T. error message
From: Phillip Williams <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, November 02, 2009 1:12 pm
To: [log in to unmask]

I recently sent this in using my AOLmail before I remembered being
told the list wasn't accepting AOLmail so I'm sorry if it gets double
posted.

Lately, when I start one of my pcs, I get this message;
Pri Master Hard Disk:S.M.A.R.T. Status Bad Backup and Replace
Press f1 to resume.
I press f1 and continue with no problems.

I have noticed in the past that there is an "enable/Disable" option in
the "bios" settings but not knowing anything about S.M.A.R.T., I
haven't messed with it. Is there a chance the warning could be wrong?
I hope so since my Primary HD is a WD 10,000rpm which I can't afford
to replace unless I do so with a cheaper drive. The 2nd drive is an
older WD 60 gig that, since problem started, doesn't even show up in
My Computer.

I haven't experienced any major problems with this pc but lately while
sitting idle, I've noticed an occasional sound similar to a thermal
cut-off switch turning off and back on. I assumed it was the fan
regulator changing speeds but this warning has me second-guessing that
asumption.

The only time this pc has been connected to the internet was when I
first activated windows (xp home) and any software or other media I
insert is checked first with AV software on another machine.

I have the HD in a cooler box that fits a drive slot. It's a dual fan
gizmo with LED read-out that alternates between CPU and HD
temperatures which usually run about 83 and 88 degrees. I'm not sure
which reading represents which component but these temps have been
pretty consistant since it was built.

The only major change I've made is to add a second HD for video and
music files. I did that a couple months ago and the warning just
started in the last few days.

One other problem I've had (which I posted here but never really
resolved) is an occasional freeze-up of movie DVDs which requires a
reboot but even this hasn't happened in a month or two.

The pc is using a Soyo mobo, P-4 3.2 hyper-thread and 2 gig ram.
primary HD is sata and 2nd HD is on the ribbon cable with my dvd
drive.

Is there any hope for this HD or shall I play a durge and commit it to
the briney deep?

-Phil-

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