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General discussion

new hard drive?

Sep 19, 2004 11:43AM PDT

I have found out recently that my hard drive is going die. There is nothing i can do about it. What I want to know is what is the quickest and easiest way to get a new one and get my system up and running again? Suggestions for a new one(would an exterenal one work?) And the easiest way to get all of the stuff off my old one? Thanks david

Discussion is locked

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Re: new hard drive?
Sep 19, 2004 11:57AM PDT

A new retail drive if of the size your machine and OS will support comes with a DRIVE COPY PROGRAM.

I'd use that.

And an external drive will not work... unless you have some Macintosh and firewire drives...

Bob

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Re: new hard drive?
Sep 19, 2004 10:27PM PDT

You didn't mention what OS you use, as XP is slightly more difficult to work with. Anyways, if you buy a retail packaged HD kit, it will have the h/w and s/w you need to migrate data to new HD. If just a boxed HD, then goto thier support website for the required s/w. The process isn't that difficlut but if unfamiliar will seem that way. I *strongly* suggest you do all this ASAP while the current HD works. BAckup or save any data you truly need for the time being as a safeguard. Most HD kits provide some guide/instruction on how to proceed, follow it closely. If you have XP as an OS, use your XP CD to load the OS and partition and format the way you want it. Again, in some s/w from the HD vendor may provide a more friendlier path to do any of this. At least checkout thier support for some insight in to what's expected. You may want to invest in a "clone s/w" that migrate wholesale all data from one HD to another once the HDs have been prepared, I use Ghost from Symantec.

good luck -----Willy Happy

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Re: new hard drive?
Sep 25, 2004 5:41AM PDT

I do have xp. My questionis what would be a good hard drive to get? I would like to get one around 120gb. Let me know prices and where if you can.

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Re: new hard drive?
Sep 25, 2004 6:22AM PDT

If local to you, check Fry's, BestBuy, Circuit City, and/or Staples, Office Max, and Office Depot. The pricing is similar but one or more usually has a sale. Online, check NewEgg, Tiger Direct, Dirt Cheap Drives, or google for HD vendors and buy from a trusted source, check with online buying bots for history, etc. I further suggest if I didn't already a complete retail kit vs. the HD alone, though you save money you may not in time or if you need some guidance.

good luck -----Willy Happy

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Re: new hard drive?
Sep 26, 2004 9:10AM PDT

what i would like to know is what is a good hard drive that won't die on me? I am obviosly concerned since this one is about to bite the dust.

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a good hard drive that won't die on me?
Sep 26, 2004 10:08AM PDT

Current hard disks are "five year designs" or "designed for five years of average use".

What many don't realise is that a hard disk is temporary parking space and not permanent. What we need to do is to organize our backup to survice a hard disk loss or machine theft.

Bob

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Re: new hard drive?
Sep 26, 2004 10:22AM PDT

Have you noticed that ther're all ducking the question? For good reason, too. All hard drives fail, in any model line, from any vendor, almost at any time. Even the best vendors produce an occasional turkey. Understand that models don't stay around very long, by the time we all realize that THAT disk drive was the best one to have bought, they're no longer being made. Follow on models with the same family name remain a crap shoot.
All that said, look for names you recognize, names that have been around for many years. Usually, they're still in business because they don't produce a lot of bad drives, and if they produce a bad one, they honor their warranty.

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Re: new hard drive?
Sep 25, 2004 11:12PM PDT

I've had good success with CasperXP in cloning the hardrive: 80 gig to 200. Everything worked right away.

I attempted to use Norton Ghost and Drive Image 7, which many people recommend. I just couldn't get a bootable new drive to come out.