On Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:07:09 +0000 Chris Dennis <cgden...@btinternet.com> wrote:
> > Eventually I found the the bios had reset the hard disk setting from > > the original 80 gig to 10 Gig so grub wouldn't start. > > If BIOS settings are changing randomly on an old PC, I would > immediately suspect that the CMOS battery is flat. Thanks Chris, that is one thing I can check > > When I corrected the bios setting it then booted ok BUT it runs > > terribly slowly. I know it isn't a very fast system to start with > > but it is currently taking 40+ minutes to get from the grub screen > > to a logon prompt. > > Perhaps the hard drive is failing too. I'd hoped getting the same problems with another drive would have eliminated that as source of problem. > > hda: host side 80-wire cable detection failed, limiting max speed to > > UDMA33 > > Does it have an 80-wire cable? Have you tried reseating the drive > cable? Dunno what sort of cable it is other than it looks like all other drive cables I have seen (apart from more modern SATA types) I did press down on the connectors but didn't actually remove and re-seat other than at the hard drive end > > It may be that this system has is passed its 'usability date' and > > I'll need to get a replacement system but the only option locally is > > to buy a brand new system from PC World which I am very reluctant to > > do. All I need is to be able to clone (rsync) the /home partition > > on my main system to a backup system. > > How about just using an external USB hard drive for that? I am using one of those as well - 'belt and braces' approach. I also used the backup PC to keep a copy of my geneweb database on, the primary data lives on a third machine. The geneweb data is also backed up to my netbook, to my website and periodically to my main system. The intention of having a clone PC was that if my main system died I could use the backup system for email etc without needing to do anything other than "just use it" -- John Lewis using Debian sid -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --------------------------------------------------------------
