A couple of questions:

1) On xp I could always use Windows Key + F to find such files as
Charmap.exe, or files supporting my sound card - that sort of thing. This
doesn't apply in Vista. Is there an equivalent?

2) How common is it that a healthy computer with Vista installed will
succumb to application malfunctions that can be rectified by Check Disk? My
laptop was new 2 weeks ago and apparently the hardware is in good shape, but
I've had to do a couple of check disks.

Cheers.

Hi,

1) Winkey+f still opens search, but you may find advanced search more to
your liking.

2) Not common. A need for a disk check indicates errors on the hard drive.
These should not be caused by applications. Have you tried a drive
diagnostic tool or run the memory diagnostics yet?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"Johnny" wrote in message
...
A couple of questions:

1) On xp I could always use Windows Key + F to find such files as
Charmap.exe, or files supporting my sound card - that sort of thing. This
doesn't apply in Vista. Is there an equivalent?

2) How common is it that a healthy computer with Vista installed will
succumb to application malfunctions that can be rectified by Check Disk?
My laptop was new 2 weeks ago and apparently the hardware is in good
shape, but I've had to do a couple of check disks.

Cheers.

1) Winkey+f still opens search, but you may find advanced search more to
your liking.


Will that find charmap.exe?

2) Not common. A need for a disk check indicates errors on the hard drive.

I take it that's not necessarily physical flaws?

Certainly Vista went through the restore process without any indication of
those; but I have many hard drives on my old system which for some reason
started giving problems that were rectified by chkdsk and - with the
problems eventually getting worse - have ended up not letting me reformat
them, and I take it that they are somehow physically damaged (perhaps only 6
months after being purchased new); I don't know why this happens and I don't
want the same to be happening to my new laptop.

These should not be caused by applications. Have you tried a drive
diagnostic tool or run the memory diagnostics yet?

Where do I find these?

Cheers.

Johnny


Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"Johnny" wrote in message
...
A couple of questions:

1) On xp I could always use Windows Key + F to find such files as
Charmap.exe, or files supporting my sound card - that sort of thing. This
doesn't apply in Vista. Is there an equivalent?

2) How common is it that a healthy computer with Vista installed will
succumb to application malfunctions that can be rectified by Check Disk?
My laptop was new 2 weeks ago and apparently the hardware is in good
shape, but I've had to do a couple of check disks.

Cheers.

Hi Johnny,

1) Winkey+f still opens search, but you may find advanced search more to
your liking.

Will that find charmap.exe?

Yep, but easier and far faster to just hit the Winkey and type it into the
search line. That's what this new search line is for.

2) Not common. A need for a disk check indicates errors on the hard
drive.

I take it that's not necessarily physical flaws?

Nope, not necessarily, more likely indexing or errors in the mft.

Certainly Vista went through the restore process without any indication of
those; but I have many hard drives on my old system which for some reason
started giving problems that were rectified by chkdsk and - with the
problems eventually getting worse - have ended up not letting me reformat
them, and I take it that they are somehow physically damaged (perhaps only
6 months after being purchased new); I don't know why this happens and I
don't want the same to be happening to my new laptop.

A drive failure in a new disk is not unusual. In fact, most will fail in the
first few months, or last many, many years.

These should not be caused by applications. Have you tried a drive
diagnostic tool or run the memory diagnostics yet?

Where do I find these?

A drive diagnostic utility is best obtained from the drive manufacturer.
These are generally free to download and run from a diagnostic floppy or CD.
For the memory tool, just click start and type "memory diagnostic" into the
search line.

Cheers.

Johnny

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

A drive failure in a new disk is not unusual. In fact, most will fail in
the first few months, or last many, many years.


I don't know anyone else who has anything like my graveyard of HDDs. What
does a drive failure look or sound like? I take it it's something to do with
the motor?

Cheers.

Hi,

Look like? I failed drive can "look" like everything's fine - even act
perfectly normal right up to the last second. Sometimes you will hear
bearings or the spindle (especially if you're able to detect high pitched
sounds), or hard clicking, but not always. A failed drive can be any
component - motor, spindle, bearings, platters, etc.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"Johnny" wrote in message
...
A drive failure in a new disk is not unusual. In fact, most will fail in
the first few months, or last many, many years.


I don't know anyone else who has anything like my graveyard of HDDs. What
does a drive failure look or sound like? I take it it's something to do
with the motor?

Cheers.

OK next question: what does one do with an unwanted graveyard of HDDs, when
one is concerned that the data might fall into the wrong hands?
Sledgehammer?
Cheers.

"Rick Rogers" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Look like? I failed drive can "look" like everything's fine - even act
perfectly normal right up to the last second. Sometimes you will hear
bearings or the spindle (especially if you're able to detect high pitched
sounds), or hard clicking, but not always. A failed drive can be any
component - motor, spindle, bearings, platters, etc.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"Johnny" wrote in message
...
A drive failure in a new disk is not unusual. In fact, most will fail in
the first few months, or last many, many years.


I don't know anyone else who has anything like my graveyard of HDDs. What
does a drive failure look or sound like? I take it it's something to do
with the motor?

Cheers.

Sledgehammer.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"Johnny" wrote in message
...
OK next question: what does one do with an unwanted graveyard of HDDs,
when one is concerned that the data might fall into the wrong hands?
Sledgehammer?
Cheers.

"Rick Rogers" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Look like? I failed drive can "look" like everything's fine - even act
perfectly normal right up to the last second. Sometimes you will hear
bearings or the spindle (especially if you're able to detect high pitched
sounds), or hard clicking, but not always. A failed drive can be any
component - motor, spindle, bearings, platters, etc.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"Johnny" wrote in message
...
A drive failure in a new disk is not unusual. In fact, most will fail
in the first few months, or last many, many years.


I don't know anyone else who has anything like my graveyard of HDDs.
What does a drive failure look or sound like? I take it it's something
to do with the motor?

Cheers.