Explanation Please From Those In The Know.

[Jackdaw33]

This is not a serious problem, just a minor irritation which is really getting on my titties.

Almost always, when I power up my laptop, I am greeted with the following:

(: Your PC has run into a problem and will need to restart. We're just collecting error information and then we'll restart.

I then get the message: "To skip disk checking press any key within x seconds"

The whole process takes less than a minute, but I find it intensely annoying. (Patience is the one virtue which has passed me by).

Has anyone else experienced this?

[bhg481]

Bartrum //There are certain files stored on a hard drive that have to be in a certain sector of the disk (The boot sector) if this sector becomes bad the whole disk will become unusable, these files cannot be moved to another sector so while windows may detect an error it can do nothing about it.//
I'm not sure that's completely correct. In the days when I ran an IBM system every disc had spare blocks on the outside. A sector is a string of blocks, initially contiguous. Each block on a disc has a pointer to the next block in the series so, if a block has problems, the system modifies the block BEFORE that one and points it to a spare block; the spare block is given a pointer to the block AFTER the bad block. Thus the bad block is removed from the sector and replaced by a good one; the sector is solid again. I see no reason why this system, in use in the 1970s, should be changed at all.

[Togo]

Fortunately things have moved on. The need for partitioning hard drive discs will soon be redundant. Back in the 70s with the slower disc speeds and less efficient scan arms it was crucial to do so for security, speed of boot, and recovery options. Now with the advent of SSD and even hybrid Hard drives there is no need to set up partitions. I have a hybrid running in my desktop that is brilliant, and have one for my lappie on Santa's wish list.

[Jackdaw33]

What's SSD and hybrid hard drive, please?

[Togo]

I am almost sure that hc is running a hybrid hard drive too. Perhaps he will chance by and give us his take.

[Togo]

A conventional hard drive is HDD Hard Drive Disc. SSD is Solid State Drive(no disc). A hybrid SSD uses a combination of both systems and is much less expensive than a SSD hard drive which as yet are very expensive to buy if you want large capacity. I have a 1TB hard drive SSD hybrid that I paid about £95 for.

[Togo]

//A hybrid hard drive (HDD) is a storage device that incorporates both the storage capacity of a hard disk drive and the performance and speed of a solid state drive by engaging rotating platters from hard disk drives and a small portion of high-speed flash memory together in a single drive.//

[Jackdaw33]

Thanks. As you will appreciate, I'm no techie.

[Guilbert53]

Windows thinks there may be an error on your disk and it needs to run a Check Disk to look for errors.

You should let the check disk run (it may take a while) as windows will correct any errors and also mark areas of the disk as bad if it can't correct the errors.

If you keep skipping this it will keep asking till you run it.

You can run a check disk manually if you wish see the windows help for details.

[Togo]

Here you are Jackdaw a brief explanation of all 3 systems.

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2025402/ssds-vs-hard-drives-vs-hybrids-which-storage-tech-is-right-for-you-.html

[Jackdaw33]

If I let the disk check run it comes up as 100% complete in less than a second.

[bhg481]

Togo - what you say is absolutely true but not necessarily relevant to the problem we're discussing. The boot sector will be placed on the quickest-access part of the disc, which doesn't exist with an SSD. We're discussing the likelyhood of a block on the disc being damaged, in which case it will be removed from service and replaced with a spare if a disc-repair is carried out.
I still use partitions for convenience eg, my P drive contains my photos, my V drive contains my videos, my M drive contains my music etc.
If you could talk Santa into an SSD you would be especially pleased; the problem with laptop hybrids is that they seen to be 5400rpm so, whilst you gain from the SSD you lose for all other data read/writes.

[Togo]

If you look back at earlier answers BHG, I think, only think mind, that I may have found the reason for Jackdaw's boot issue. It is something that has been an issue discussed on HP and Microsoft forums. I was reading about it a couple of weeks ago and thought....hmmmm interesting. Annoying no doubt.

[Old_Geezer]

"If I let the disk check run it comes up as 100% complete in less than a second."
Dang, that can't be much of a check. I use Spinrite on mine when I think I have an issue. Wasn't cheap though.

[Togo]

It will be SSD for the lappie BHG. They have come down in price since I replaced the desktop hard drive and the capacities are much larger for your dosh than 2 years or so ago. Quiet, fast, reliable, less power consumption, less heat, etc etc. What's not to like. :))

[bhg481]

Togo - so you're arguing that there isn't a problem with the disc; the problem lies with the software that says you need to check it, if I understand your post. I can buy that.
My desktop boots from an SSD and is lightning fast. My laptop boots from a hybrid and, to be honest, is disappointing. You WILL be pleased with your SSD.

[Togo]

Spot on BHG. Not a disc problem. I think Jackdaw's lappie is pretty new and I was reading that HP 360 Spectre's were showing the issue straight out of the box on initial boot up.
Sorry for diverting your thread a little Jackdaw, we nerds get a bit carried away at times, but I hope there is at least some content that you find useful.

[Jackdaw33]

No problem. You're right, it is only a month old but this has only started happening in the last fortnight. As I said, it doesn't affect booting up, just delays it for a minute. I think I can live with that.

[Togo]

Just a quick one Jackdaw are you able to tell us which version of w10 you are running?
Press the windows key bottom left keyboard.
Then bottom left click with cursor the little wheel cog icon.
Then click update and security(bottom of the menu I think)
Then view update history.
This will give a list of recent updates the latest at the top. Mine for instance says
"Windows 10 version 1709 for x 64 -bit systems (KB4053577)"

When you open the Update and Security menu it will also have a grey box that says "check for updates". Check it and do any updates.
I take it that you are not on capped or limited wifi?

[Bertrum]

For clarification when a computer turns on it is totally stupid it doesn’t know what it is so first it looks at the BIOS for clues on what it needs to start up and initiate the operating system.
For an internal Hard disk the specific address on the disk is Cylinder 0, Head 0, Sector 1 and then loads the MBR into memory
If that is physically damaged or not there the computer will not boot

[Togo]

//when a computer turns on it is totally stupid it doesn’t know what it is so first it looks at the BIOS for clues //

Haha great analogy Bertram.