PC Lost XP for a second time - what might be causing this?

[Muddyfox]

We have a Novatec PC running XP Pro. For the second time in a couple of months it's lost it's OS now. Initial thoughts on the first loss were that one of our bright boys had tinkered and messed it up but now it's done it again I'm wondering if it's hardware related - hard disk on the way out perhaps?

[FN-GM]

what do you mean lost?

might be a hard drive going

[Michael]

I can't see how you can lose XP unless you mean the system won't boot, or the hard drive has failed completely. If you take the hard drive out and insert it as a secondary drive (in another system), is the file system and folder structure OK or nothing at all?

[Muddyfox]

Thanks FN and Michael.

It started off with extremely slow boot and after a few log ons and off ends up looping on the Windows screen without actually booting. I'm at it tomorrow so will try your suggestion Michael.

[Jamo]

Download the ultimate boot CD and burn to a disc. Boot and run a memory scan and HDD scan, it could be either but becuase of the slow boot I would think that it is more likely to be hard disc related. did you hear chugging from the harddrive? Or repeated knocking patterns?

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

[FN-GM]

Is it a Seagate or Maxtor drive? If so use this: | Seagate