WindowsXP Gurus - I Need Your Help

[savedbygrace]

I need help. Out of the blue, my WindowsXP (SP2) system has gone crazy. It is frequently giving me a warning message in the System Tray that says:

Windows - Delayed Write Failed Windows was unable to save all the data for the file D:/$BitMap. The data has been lost. This error may be caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection. Please try to save this file elsewhere.

That file is apparently hidden, but revealing hidden files doesn't show it.

My WinXP volume is on C:/ and the D:/ drive volume is for data files.

I've googled for help, and done everything that Microsoft and others have suggested. Nothing helps. This began suddenly.

Any ideas? Any other info you need before you can help me?

Thanks.

[antiRepublicrat]

For raw speed, I’ve set up the 8 processors to work together as if they were a render farm, and when I compress video files, all 8 processor chunk out the same file in unison

Be a dear and install VisualHub, turn on XGrid and give me your IP address. :)

[antiRepublicrat]

That’s my video system, though, and there are disadvantages to having a dual use machine.

Not guaranteeing it'll fit your needs, but with that many cores and that much memory you can probably afford to run XP in VMWare Fusion or Parallels.

[savedbygrace]

Yeah, I used Parallels on my previous Mac, a Quad MacPro. It ran OK, I suppose, so I could do that. It’s certainly convenient enough, but it doesn’t claim enough RAM for itself to suit me. IIRC, it only accesses 512MB.

But now that I’m running Leopard, I have Boot Camp, so that might change things. I’ll have to noodle that for a while, poke around in Apple Discussions to see what the pitfalls are.

[ArrogantBustard]

So long as you keep your data backed up, you can play it by ear.

"Backed up" means a copy is stored on some data medium that is:
A) Not permanently connected to the computer (USB drive, DVD-R, whatever) AND
B) Accessible by some other computer.

[papasmurf]

LOL.

[savedbygrace]

You’re right, of course. The other warnings didn’t pop up until AFTER I’d backed up to E:.

So, I have several options at this point. I’ll move forward with replacing the D: drive and copy from E: to the new D:, then see what happens.

If the problems persist, then I can decide which way to go.

[Paleo Conservative]

I have to work out a scheme for getting those drives off that ATA controller before I do anything else. Because of the way I configured the hardware in this Antec case, that will require a lot of noodling.

You're making this more difficult than it needs to be. Get an external USB/Firewire drive and use that to a data backup. do a file by file backup of your data. Download and run Spinrite 6 on your existing drive. Install your new ATA system hard drive as the slave drive on the same controller. Get Norton Ghost and make an image copy of your original drive to your new drive. After duplicating your system drive, take out your original system drive and change the jumpers on your new system drive to make it the master drive and reboot your machine. You'll end up with a new internal system drive, and an external drive with a backup of your data.

[JerseyHighlander]

Um, now i have to ask, are you Gibson?

[antiRepublicrat]

Yeah, I used Parallels on my previous Mac, a Quad MacPro. It ran OK, I suppose, so I could do that. It’s certainly convenient enough, but it doesn’t claim enough RAM for itself to suit me. IIRC, it only accesses 512MB.

I don't believe the current Fusion or Parallels is limited like that. I run XP in 1-1.5 GB right now on Fusion depending on my needs, and it will even let me choose how many cores I want the VM to use (but I am limited to two on the iMac).

[savedbygrace]

That’s more difficult, IMO. I don’t think there’s a problem with my system drive, but I could be wrong. I’d rather do this methodically, step by step, rather than throw money at it.

I can install the replacement drive as the Slave to the system drive on the same IDE cable, and copy from the current D: drive to the new one, without any other machinations.

If there are copy problems, then I can move to the next level of troubleshooting. I might still have a mobo problem, but that hasn’t been proven yet.

[petro45acp]

Another option for pulling your data off the drives would be to pick up an inexpensive USB external drive enclosure. I’ve recovered a couple of laptop hard drives that way.

Good hunting.

[savedbygrace]

Thanks. I live in a small town, so that option won’t work. No place to buy such an item.

[Crolis]

This sounds like you have a disk issue. While it may not be critical at this time, I would suggest you make a backup of your data.

Depending on the manufacturer of your hard disk drive (Western Digital, Hitachi, etc.), you may be able to find a diagnostic utility from their site which can read disk parameters, like SMART codes. That may give you a better idea of what is going on, or at least eliminate the disk as a possibility.

Be sure to have a backup made before you run any disk utilities like that though.

My experience leads me to believe your disk is nearing the end of its useful life and you should safeguard your data before it dies.

[petro45acp]

No huhu, check out www.microcenter.com. These folks have some really good prices.

Cheers,

[Born Conservative]

http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category.aspx?Category=15&name=Hard-Drives

[ToryNotion]

I’ve gotten this with external drives connected via USB. I shut down the drive and let it cool down and then run a check disk when I bring it back up. So far no worries. There are tools to check the internal health of the drive but I forget their names right now. I don’t think this message always means your disk in danger of failing.

[roamer_1]

Another option for pulling your data off the drives would be to pick up an inexpensive USB external drive enclosure. I’ve recovered a couple of laptop hard drives that way.

I would favor this solution. In the end, it would give you a place to backup your data and get it off the machine- I don't mean just for this event, but as a backup procedure for the future as well. Getting your data off the machine is critical to any backup solution, so you should have one anyway.

[ToryNotion]

I’d take a lot of the tech advice on a political board with a grain of salt. Like a lot of the singers on American Idol think they can sing a lot better than they actually can, so do computer users generally over estimate there understanding of whats going on inside that box.

[Gone_Postal]

D:/$BitMap...this file going bad means it's going to cast you some money and not a little bit either...

replace your hard drive after you have backed up all data....

[roamer_1]

The key bit of information I didn’t post earlier is that the failing drive is on an Ultra ATA133 controller card. The drive that I backed up the data from D: is on the same controller card, same channel. So, I’m extremely concerned about that.

Why does this concern you? are you saying you believe the controller to be failing?

I will add this bit though: It is always better to test a drive from the motherboard if possible. Temporarily move the offending drive to an onboard connector in order to run drive testing gear... If the drive tests well, put it back where it was. there is no reason to fear a controller card.