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General discussion

Harddrive Crash

Sep 6, 2004 2:19AM PDT

Suddenly HD would not boot... goes "tick, tick, tick" trying; then I get a message that I must boot with a CD. I replaced the 14 month old 80 GB Western Digital HD... reloaded XP Pro and my computer is up and running. But I lost all data on the original HD...

I am wondering if the problem could be only a virus that I might be able to correct somehow? Or since it sounds like an electro-mechanical problem, do I just have to send the HD off to a data recovery company at some terrific expense?

Yep, I am intent upon being more careful to back up data from now on.

Discussion is locked

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Re: Harddrive Crash
Sep 6, 2004 2:33AM PDT

The tick-tick-tick sound is a typical failed drive. Data recovery is usually under 1000 dollars at the usual Drive Savers or Ontrack and is only considered when backup is non-existant or files must be retrieved.

Back of what you can't lose has never been cheaper. DVD recorders are now under 100 bucks and you go over 4GB on on disk. Most of us can put our pictures and files on just a few of these.

In closing, it's not a virus issue, but just one of learning that hard disks are temporary storage. They can last about 5 years.

Bob

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Re: Harddrive Crash
Sep 7, 2004 3:45AM PDT

zzjones,

Maybe not,

In New drive create a folder named "Old Drive"
Then
>Slave your old drive to the new one.
>Go to Windows Explorer
>If you can see your old drive
>copy
My Documents and Program Files to "Old Drive Folder"

Do not attempt to find your files until after they are on the new drive. After you have retrived the files you need Old Drive folder can be deleted.

You may only get one shot at this.
And it may not work but worth a try.

Bill
Comments welcomed

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Re: Harddrive Crash
Sep 8, 2004 6:17AM PDT

Your old hard drive is damaged. To recover data, you need the services of a hard drive technician, it could be a lens alignment problem, mechanical problem, but surely not virus related.
Doing so (data recovery procedure) will really cost you a lot especially if you have important files in it, it will be wiser to send the hard drive to the manufacturer, they know what to do with their hard drives.