I get this message when I start up the computor,
(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t262/mikebillabong/DSC_0295.jpg)
Ive read that theres pretty much nothing I can do, can anyone suggest where I might get a new hard drive, and are they easy to fit?
You need to get anything you value off your hard disk ASAP. At least you have some warning of impending failure.
If you press F2 at the screen shown, does the computer still start?
If it does, get your data onto an external disk drive, a big flash drive, or CDs / DVDs, anywhere but the existing disk. Best not to turn it off if it does start, as it might not do it twice.
If you are handy with a screwdriver, a new hard disk isn't hard to fit, it's reloading the operating system, device drivers, and software is the fun bit. There are two main types of hard disk, so be sure to get the right one!
Lesmond
This is the spec for your current drive, Seagate ST3250310AS 250GB Hard Drive SATAII 7200rpm 8MB Cache so as long as you get one compatible, though it will probably be larger capacity now.
So many places to buy from just google SATA 2 hard drive.
Have you been able to back everything up, or do you have windows cd's
Edit - listen to Les, he's a pro :thumbsup:
If you're not au fait with PC hardware, it might be worth getting a specialist local computer firm to fit a new hard disk for you, it shouldn't cost the earth and they should also be able to restore Windows etc. assuming you have the backup DVDs of all your software.
At least a new hard disk should be faster than the old one!
Rod
I buy most of my cumputer stuff from Play.com. A new hard drive costs around the £60+ mark. They also do external USB hard drives for backing up data.
Fitting a new hard drive is fairly simple. Restoring your data may be harder.
I wouldn't use a computer firm to do it myself as you never know what they might do with your sensitive data, such as online banking passwords. I also open up my old hard drives and destroy the disks.
I send mine to Lesmond.... as he does it for a living! ;D My old laptop is in the process of recovery with his company.
Any reputable computer repair company (such as mine :thumbsup:) will keep your data on a dedicated hard drive on a secure, offline, encrypted data storage server, for as short a time as possible, put it back where it belongs on the repaired computer, have a signed off paper trail of who accessed what, and delete the recovered data beyond hope of restoration immediately the job is done.
£60 will get you a 2TB hard disk, if you know where to look.
We would charge £100 inc VAT to sort this, provided the existing drive was an "easy" recovery.
It's also worth looking at getting a pair of disks and setting them to run as a mirror if you can. Given the price of disks these days and the value of what is on them having a mirrored drive pair and a backup is a good idea.
Quote from: EtchedPixels on August 29, 2011, 05:41:15 PM
It's also worth looking at getting a pair of disks and setting them to run as a mirror if you can. Given the price of disks these days and the value of what is on them having a mirrored drive pair and a backup is a good idea.
Absolutely. Disk space is for pence these days.
I do this, and also have a DOS script (anyone else remember those?) which backs up all my important stuff to four locations, two of which are off site. Not that I'm paranoid about data loss or anything.
Would that be PCDOS? ;D
It started out in CP/M, then migrated to PCDOS, then to MS-DOS, and now on to what passes for the command prompt in current Windows boxes.
Having compared then with now, it has advanced a bit :smiley-laughing:
Always run two disks.. I dont bother with any fancy mirroring..not needed..
Partition your main drive and have the operatijg system on it's own partition, data on the other. Often the operating system fails not the drive, nice and easy to rebuild, all data is safe on the 2nd parition. This can then be set to auto back up onto the second drive!
Easy peasy.
Cudders
Mine's set up like that. Unfortunately, because of all the security upgrades etc. the partition with the operating system is getting full. :-(
Cudders, could you explain the partioning in a bit more detail (how to do it?). I notice I have a C and D drive, C is 50% full and D is only 10% is this the same thing? I Have bought an external drive but as far as I can tell I can only save my personal files to this, photo's etc, which I have done.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thaks
Paul
Quote from: poliss on August 30, 2011, 05:51:24 PM
Mine's set up like that. Unfortunately, because of all the security upgrades etc. the partition with the operating system is getting full. :-(
Ah yes, need to make sure the operating partition is a decent size. I tend to go with 50GB..more than enough. You can use 'Partition Magic' type software to increase the size of it..This is what I tend to use.
Also I have 3 other partitions, one for my core data, ones for programs, games etc and one for the back-up of the core data, the other disc I used to save this back-up again, I do this every month and keep the last 2 years just in case! Never lost anything I wanted to keep. Programs can always be re-loaded from disc if needed but data can be lost if not backed up. Of course this can be recovered sometimes by software or a x-editor. I also crash and re-build Windows now and again..get's rid of all the junk.
Cudders
I always have 2 HDDs on my computer, one for storing data and the other for running the OS, using a Linux OS with updated systems being released every six months it makes it easy to quickly load the latest onto the computer, usually less than 1 hour with updates.
Quote from: cudders on August 30, 2011, 05:44:15 PM
Always run two disks.. I dont bother with any fancy mirroring..not needed..
Partition your main drive and have the operatijg system on it's own partition, data on the other. Often the operating system fails not the drive, nice and easy to rebuild, all data is safe on the 2nd parition. This can then be set to auto back up onto the second drive!
Easy peasy.
Not half as easy as mirroring!
I would also take issue with your point about the OS failing and not the hardware - software issues are normally resolvable, hardware failure is a pain in the neck (depending on exactly what has failed).
Similarly partitioning a drive won't save you from hardware failure, though I agree it helps keep things more neat and tidy.
Quote from: red_death on August 31, 2011, 12:06:15 PM
Quote from: cudders on August 30, 2011, 05:44:15 PM
Always run two disks.. I dont bother with any fancy mirroring..not needed..
Partition your main drive and have the operatijg system on it's own partition, data on the other. Often the operating system fails not the drive, nice and easy to rebuild, all data is safe on the 2nd parition. This can then be set to auto back up onto the second drive!
Easy peasy.
Not half as easy as mirroring!
I would also take issue with your point about the OS failing and not the hardware - software issues are normally resolvable, hardware failure is a pain in the neck (depending on exactly what has failed).
Similarly partitioning a drive won't save you from hardware failure, though I agree it helps keep things more neat and tidy.
It's easy, bolt in switch on ..job done.
Where did i say hardware didn't fail? I didn't...Read it again.
Where did I say paritioning saves a hardward failure? I didn't...Read it again.
Cudders
Oh please don't play the pedant - if you want to play that game where did I say that you wrote that hardware didn't fail. I didn't...read it again.
It soon gets boring.
My point was (that you seem to have misunderstood) is software issues are relatively easy to resolve, hardware failures much more so. So your point about it being "often" the OS fails not the drive is a bit of a moot point and an IMHO misleading.
In 10 years plus of having to look after an array of desktops/laptops and a variety of servers I know where would I expend my effort. Mirroring is not a replacement for back ups (for a variety of reasons) but if a primary drive fails the back up is only as much use as whenever it was last performed. With a mirrored HDD you have redundancy against one drive failing before your back up is done.
Come on chaps, cool down. You each have your preferred ways by the sounds of things, but there is no point falling out. :thumbsup:
back on topic, my machine is off for repaire tomorrow. Its a long time since Ive used my laptop on t'internet, so dont know how I'll get on!
I'm beginning to wish I had never asked Tank to set this section up ::)
Michael - I am sure you will have no probs with the laptop, not my favourite device I admit but it will see you through till yours is fixed :thumbsup:
Quote from: Lawrence on August 31, 2011, 08:27:25 PM
Michael - I am sure you will have no probs with the laptop, not my favourite device I admit but it will see you through till yours is fixed :thumbsup:
Laptops are all I've ever had at home so I just back up to a Seagate external drive. Touch wood (head, in my case) I've not had any problems.
Everything else above has gone way over my head. A mirror is something I use for shaving, a partition is the bit between my office and the bosses, and a primary drive is where I park my car. Numpty or what :-[
Quote from: red_death on August 31, 2011, 04:28:35 PM
Oh please don't play the pedant - if you want to play that game where did I say that you wrote that hardware didn't fail. I didn't...read it again.
It soon gets boring.
My point was (that you seem to have misunderstood) is software issues are relatively easy to resolve, hardware failures much more so. So your point about it being "often" the OS fails not the drive is a bit of a moot point and an IMHO misleading.
In 10 years plus of having to look after an array of desktops/laptops and a variety of servers I know where would I expend my effort. Mirroring is not a replacement for back ups (for a variety of reasons) but if a primary drive fails the back up is only as much use as whenever it was last performed. With a mirrored HDD you have redundancy against one drive failing before your back up is done.
Err..Pedant? I think you have some issues there. I didn't miss your point at all. You mis-quoted and I responded. How can saying O/S often fails be misleading? It's a fact just as hardware fails is a fact. I have rebuilt 86 devices this year where to O/S has failed. Not really sure why an argument formed? I have 27 years experience but so what ? doesn't make me an expert. I simply offered my opinion and advice. If you want to throw pointless jibes feel free. I'm not listening.
Apologies to the guy who just asked for advice. This is one the reasons forums suck.
Tank, apologies also, I didn't start it. Now back to the trains :NGAUGE:
Quote from: newportnobby on August 31, 2011, 09:15:10 PM
A mirror is something I use for shaving, a partition is the bit between my office and the bosses, and a primary drive is where I park my car. Numpty or what :-[
No, it's called being normal and not a technogeek ;)
Paul
I think that since michael's machine is now off to the repair shop, it is unlikely that we can be of further help to him in this thread.
Well done Mustermark.
I have sent a Private Message about this. After a member of staff intervenes I don't want arguments to continue on this forum. We all have our own opinions, but getting personal only causes harm to our feelings and the forum.