Nerva
New Member
- Messages
- 13
- Location
- North Carolina
I was just using my PC one day like any other day, and got a pop up saying Windows encounter an error, and the HDD was going to fail (SMART Error i assume), and to backup everything and so on. Since the HDD is only about 6 months old, I decided to run CHKDSK, and SeaTools to look for any errors on the Disk. SeaTools for Windows said it was ok, I chose the proper C: Drive (and only HDD, the other was a flash drive) and ran both Short/Long Generic test under the Basic Test button. Looking back I should have probably ran the S.M.A.R.T Test, or maybe even the advance. But I did not so whatever lol.
Since SeaTools said it was fine, I decided I would run a simple CHKDSK by choosing the drive in File Explorer, right click>Properties>Tools, and ran the "error check" on it. Of course it passed. So, I searched a little on Google and found out that CHKDSK can not do a proper scan on a drive that is being used. So, I opened the command prompt and ran a CHKDSK /F /R on the next boot.
Everything went fine up to 27%, after it being stuck at that point for around 1hr or so. I decided to dig some more on Google with my laptop. I quickly found out that its a known bug(?) in Windows 8 that CHKDSK /F /R will get stuck at 27% for most users. The general advice I got was to just wait it out. It was a very long process and it should still be working, only the UI was not reflecting that. So I waited for around 24hrs (my HDD is only 500GB, with only 150GB used if that). I opened up the case, and carefully touched the drive. It was ice cold, and it was not making any grinding noises like it has since the day I bought it (refurbished from Newegg). I decided it must have frozen and attempted a hard reset.
Obviously that was a very bad Idea. I had to figure out how to unlock my HDD so I could get Windows back on it again. Which took way to long to get figured out. Anyway I finally did. And started trying to re-install Windows 8 via the DVD. It would not let me format the drive, and had a message saying the drive was bad Windows can not install on it. After trying every fix I could find. I finally managed to clear the drive via the command prompt. And eventually get Windows 8 back on the machine. Now If I try to boot with out the Windows 8 DVD in my disk drive it tells me there is 'No OS installed" or found or something along those lines. If I put the disk in, it will go to a black screen saying press any key to boot from DVD. If I press anything it will take me to the Windows 8 installer. If I leave it alone and press nothing, it boots right up perfectly.
SORRY FOR THE LENGTHY POST, JUST WANTED TO GIVE THE BACK STORY, HERE IS THE MAIN QUESTION
So basically, what do I need to do to get Windows 8 to boot from the HDD, with out the DVD. I have not really tried anything, as I have no idea where to start. The HDD is listed in my BIOS as the primary boot device(I guess it could have got changed some how idk, but it should be the primary device). It also may be worth noting that the PC runs great. I had a few Blue Screens, following the latest W8 update from Microsoft, they became more frequant leading up to the episode I described above. But, not one since. It honestly runs like a brand new machine, which it is aside from the drive being a few months older then the rest of the machine. My only guess would be the boot files on the drive are either missing, or corrupted. But, I have no idea how to either find that out, or fix it, if that's even a possibility at this point. I do not have the money right now to buy a new drive or I would simply do that. If the fix requires me to lose data I really do not care that much. I have anything important backed up on a stash full of flash drives. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and if anyone needs any additional info I will be more then happy to provide it.
Since SeaTools said it was fine, I decided I would run a simple CHKDSK by choosing the drive in File Explorer, right click>Properties>Tools, and ran the "error check" on it. Of course it passed. So, I searched a little on Google and found out that CHKDSK can not do a proper scan on a drive that is being used. So, I opened the command prompt and ran a CHKDSK /F /R on the next boot.
Everything went fine up to 27%, after it being stuck at that point for around 1hr or so. I decided to dig some more on Google with my laptop. I quickly found out that its a known bug(?) in Windows 8 that CHKDSK /F /R will get stuck at 27% for most users. The general advice I got was to just wait it out. It was a very long process and it should still be working, only the UI was not reflecting that. So I waited for around 24hrs (my HDD is only 500GB, with only 150GB used if that). I opened up the case, and carefully touched the drive. It was ice cold, and it was not making any grinding noises like it has since the day I bought it (refurbished from Newegg). I decided it must have frozen and attempted a hard reset.
Obviously that was a very bad Idea. I had to figure out how to unlock my HDD so I could get Windows back on it again. Which took way to long to get figured out. Anyway I finally did. And started trying to re-install Windows 8 via the DVD. It would not let me format the drive, and had a message saying the drive was bad Windows can not install on it. After trying every fix I could find. I finally managed to clear the drive via the command prompt. And eventually get Windows 8 back on the machine. Now If I try to boot with out the Windows 8 DVD in my disk drive it tells me there is 'No OS installed" or found or something along those lines. If I put the disk in, it will go to a black screen saying press any key to boot from DVD. If I press anything it will take me to the Windows 8 installer. If I leave it alone and press nothing, it boots right up perfectly.
SORRY FOR THE LENGTHY POST, JUST WANTED TO GIVE THE BACK STORY, HERE IS THE MAIN QUESTION
So basically, what do I need to do to get Windows 8 to boot from the HDD, with out the DVD. I have not really tried anything, as I have no idea where to start. The HDD is listed in my BIOS as the primary boot device(I guess it could have got changed some how idk, but it should be the primary device). It also may be worth noting that the PC runs great. I had a few Blue Screens, following the latest W8 update from Microsoft, they became more frequant leading up to the episode I described above. But, not one since. It honestly runs like a brand new machine, which it is aside from the drive being a few months older then the rest of the machine. My only guess would be the boot files on the drive are either missing, or corrupted. But, I have no idea how to either find that out, or fix it, if that's even a possibility at this point. I do not have the money right now to buy a new drive or I would simply do that. If the fix requires me to lose data I really do not care that much. I have anything important backed up on a stash full of flash drives. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and if anyone needs any additional info I will be more then happy to provide it.
My Computer
System One
-
- OS
- Windows 8 64-bit OEM
- Computer type
- PC/Desktop
- System Manufacturer/Model
- Me, Intel Machine.
- CPU
- Intel Core i5-3350P
- Motherboard
- GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H
- Memory
- G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (timing 8-8-8-24, Cas 8)
- Graphics Card(s)
- ASUS GTX 650ti
- Sound Card
- VIA VT2021 (on board)
- Monitor(s) Displays
- ASUS VH242H(primary) ASUS VS Series VS197D(secondary)
- Screen Resolution
- 1920x1080(primary) 1366x768(secondary)
- Hard Drives
- Seagate ST3500630NS
- PSU
- TopPower - 800W non-modular (Lesson Learned)
- Case
- NZXT Source 210 Elite Black Steel
- Cooling
- Air, 4 case fans.
- Keyboard
- RAZER Blackwidow Ultimate, Wired Mechanical
- Mouse
- Logitech G9x Black 5700dpi (best mouse I have ever owned next to my old Logitech G500)
- Internet Speed
- 5.22Mbps Down, 1.05Mbps Up
- Browser
- Chrome 90% of the time. FireFox on occasion, and if I am forced IE.
- Antivirus
- Windows Defender
- Other Info
- This was my first true build from scratch.The PC was built with gaming, and multi-tasking in mind. I tried to get the best parts I could get for under $1,000. The Keyboard was a gift, and the HDD was one I had bought for my old machine. The entire build came out right around $900. Only regret is I didn't get an SSD