Desktop died....help!

[kermit315]

Hard drives are inexpensive today...I just paid $84 for a 500GB 7200rpm for my old laptop.

I always partition my Hard Drives into two...One for OS & Programs, the other for data...I've always been able to recover my data.

Also helps when you get a virus or other malicious program, just whipe and reinstall the operatng system and programs.

Lastly, I keep numerous backups on different media. DVD's, Flash Drives, other portable hard drives.

I used to back up by mirrored Hard drives on a RAID setup...Tape, Floppy...

Just recently had to do a system recover on a new laptop due to shutdown while installing updates.

You should backup at lease monthly, I prefer weekly because of my usage...If you are working on an important project...backup immediately

I hear you, and if it was a computer that we used for stuff like this all the time, the pics would have already been on my external HD.....this was my kids $300 machine that he uses to do schoolwork on. The only reason I put pics on it in the first place was because it was the first computer I got to that day, and we were on our way out the door with full camera cards. But I cant get those pictures back any other way, so I will work it with what I have.

[Marinos]

Just buy a MacBook Pro.

[Montu]

try booting to say Ubuntu from a cd or usb drive to back up the data

http://www.ubuntu.com/

or you can try a live cd like Trinity Rescue to back up and it might even be able to repair the installation or at least tell you how damaged your drive is.

http://trinityhome.org/Home/index.php?content=TRINITY_RESCUE_KIT____CPR_FOR_YOUR_COMPUTER&front_id=12&lang=en&locale=en

its totally possible that you can salvage either the windows install or the hard drive.

[NYT]

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[NYT]

Uh, those errors don't sound like an OS issue...

Sent from my fingers, to your face.

Thank the heavens that you don't work in IT haha

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[ExtremeX]

Just buy a MacBook Pro.

[ExtremeX]

Windows 7 comes with a built-in backup feature, all you have to do is to attached a USB external drive to your computer (with large enough capacity for the backup of course). You can also set a daily schedule for it to backup. This is probably the easiest way to ensure you don't lose data in the future. Or at least, don't lose as much in the event that the disk crashed just prior to the backup kicking in.

[glockman19]

Right!!! That's wh I spent most of a day last week dealing with a virus on my Mac Book Pro?

YES...Apple computers also get viruses.

[skale240]

If you're concerned about your data use a SATA to USB tool and plug the HD into another PC. I've had great luck recovering data from hard drives with mechanical failures using software called Getdataback. It's a great tool and as long as the drive powers on you still have a chance at recovery. It takes time so be patient. Also, make sure you're recovering data to another drive not the one that's failing.

[stilly]

Hey guys,

Here is the deal. I have an eMachines EL1333G-03w. It was working fine all day (actually, I havent had a problem with it since I bought it a couple of years ago). Anyway, I came in the room earlier, and it says "Disk Boot Failure, Insert System Disk and Press Enter" across the top of the screen.

I reset it and it gets to the windows logo (Win 7 64 bit), then resets the computer and gives the same error message above. I then try to repair it, and when it loads as X: it shows no operating system. I click on restore to earlier point, and it gives me an error about the I/O device and this code: 0x8007045D.

I am freaked out that the hard drive completely died on me, as I have pictures and other stuff on it that I want off. I swapped the SATA cable between the dvd drive and the HD with no luck. The inside was not dusty and no sign of any blown capacitors or other parts on the MB or HD. When I go to boot options, and select HD, it shows Ch4 M. : ST3500418AS, so I believe the HD is at least partially still alive.

Is this something that Win 7 repair disc can fix (reinstall the boot sector, etc), or am I screwed?

Also, if I am screwed, is it possible to buy a new SATA drive and have the data recovered and moved from the old drive to the new one?

Thanks in advance, this one is above my paygrade.

Jamie

That error means that the HD is usually on its last leg if not just dead.

[stilly]

Replace drive, install OS. Hook up old drive as a secondary, you may be able to get data off of it. It's worth a shot at any rate because at this point you have nothing left to lose.

+1

This is EXACTLY what I was thinking.

I partition drives too but if a drive DIES, it DIES. To hell with your partitions. Your BEST bet now is to cradle it up (hardware costs $15.00 +/- $3) and see if you can salvage your stuff off of it.

When you get your new drive make certain that SMART is enabled because many times that will give you a good look at what is about to happen. I just had the SMART warnings come on about 8 months ago for a HD that I had just bought and low and behold, 4 restarts and that drive is just about dead... Thankfully it was a storage drive anyways but it was a WD so I guess I should have known it was gonna be a POS.

Sounds like everyone here already has you covered, if you can not get anyone here to service your HD I would take a crack at it. I have a lot of solutions at my disposal but if it does not even turn on then FAHGET AHBOUT IT! :|

[stilly]

Right!!! That's wh I spent most of a day last week dealing with a virus on my Mac Book Pro?

YES...Apple computers also get viruses.

LIES! And even if that statement IS true, no self respecting apple owner would EVER admit to what we PC users suspect but have yet to be able to prove...


LoL

[ExtremeX]

[kermit315]

haha. That pic is funny, I dont care who you are.

Anyway, I pulled the drive out and hooked it up via an interface card. I can hear it spin up, but cant do anything with it. That being said, i am going to pick up another drive and reinstall windows, then talk to a place here in town that says they can pull the data off. They are saying $55 bucks if they can do it, nothing if they cant. I figure I dont have anything to lose.

For those that are interested, this was a seagate drive that kicked the bucket on me.

[Jel]

haha. That pic is funny, I dont care who you are.

Anyway, I pulled the drive out and hooked it up via an interface card. I can hear it spin up, but cant do anything with it. That being said, i am going to pick up another drive and reinstall windows, then talk to a place here in town that says they can pull the data off. They are saying $55 bucks if they can do it, nothing if they cant. I figure I dont have anything to lose.

For those that are interested, this was a seagate drive that kicked the bucket on me.

If you have the old drive hooked up properly in another system and it is not being recognized there is a very good chance that the drive is having internal mechanical issues.

Data recovery specialists are not cheap. On the order of at least $1000+ if they are opening up the drive. It all depends on how much the pictures are worth to you. I understand that they are not replaceable, so it is up to you to decide if you want to spend big bucks on recovering them.

On another note, if you happen to be using Sandisk cards AND you only deleted/formatted the cards and haven't started using them for pics again, you can try their recovery program.

http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4985/~/data-recovery-for-memory-cards-and-flash-drives

Good luck to you.

Just remember that you data (pics, vids, etc ) are only as good as your last good backup.