Computer Problems, Once Again!

I hadn't realised prices had gone up that quickly due to the flooding. Makes you wonder about the ethics of suppliers considering there must be thousands of drives already here and elsewhere in Europe or the rest of the world.

Nev.

 

Dollars and Ethics don't mix.

 

LOL yesterday I said I'll replace your hard drive should cost around £50 fitted, I got home looked on the internet for the required replacement unit, and my bum's still sore, I found one in a small computer shop at last weeks prices after some searching, after I had a new HDD in my hand, speaking to the guy that owned the shop he hadn't realised how fast and how much they had gone up,

 

I just rang my Computer shop and they won't sell me one at any price.No! No! No!
They said they have to keep what they have for new builds.
I thought they may not have been aware of the shortage.

 

Thanks for all advice so far!
My dad says I'm able to burn my OS (windows7) onto about three DVD disks? My OS is pre-installed by the retailer though, does this still work? I just know I'll have to deal with a lot of *insert foul word* before I will have solved the hassle with the product key.
As for my valuable data, I only need 1-2 gigs I reckon (spreadsheets, word-documents etc.), so a USB stick is the answer here?

And yeah, I'm only using about 70 gigabyte as we speak, and I don't think much will be added to that.

 

Hi,
If you obtain or download an imaging program that will take a complete image, including the operating system. Then if a good imaging program it should also compress that image, but it won't be much smaller as some things can't be compressed. However, 70GB will take a large number of DVD disks as a standard size disk similar to some I have here is only 4.7GB.

For an imaging program that is a free to use download, myself and KenB have been looking at is "Macrium Reflect" from this link=

http://www.macrium.com/

You do have the choice with that one to burn the image to DVD disks, but be aware it will still take a large number of disks.

 

I just want to add a few thoughts here. I agree with Nev that imaging is always the best way to go and I assume that the program suggested is a good one if it comes from him. Imaging is generally used as a safeguard against the possibility of a failing hard drive. The very act of learning how to use it and then creating the image may be the tipping point to a total Hard drive failure.

If you want to try it, that is fine as long as you manually save all your important data first. Burning copies to DVDs is impracticable for a number of reasons. Since the DVD can only hold a small percentage of your total hard drive you will have to burn several of them individually. That again will strain your hard drive. Based on what you say you value a flash drive or USB stick is fine just to store your data for a short period. I would rely on it for long term storage because they are cheap for a reason.

You should not have any problem with installing windows back on your machine using the manufacturers validation key because you are only changing your hard drive and not the motherboard.

Now with that being said, once you have protected your data so that you will have it in the case of a complete failure I would give imaging a try but I would find an inexpensive external hard drive that will be large enough to hold the entire image. A good external HDD will have its own power source but you can make do with a cheap USB powered drive which really is nothing more than a better flash drive. You may need to look around a bit to find a really cheap one because most newer once are emphasizing capaicity. A few years ago I found one with about 160 gigs and even then it cost me less then $60.00 at Walmart. If you can find a small one like that it should be dirt cheap these days.

If the imaging works then you can simply boot from the image and presto you are right where you were on a new Hard drive. These same programs should also give you the option to clone your existing drive. I don't think that will place more strain on the drive than imaging will and you will be able to simply pop in the new drive. Keep in mind that cloning an image does not compress anything. You can either install the second drive directly onto your motherboard with a SATA system or slave it on the ribbon(IDE) cable if that is what your are using now. Alternatively you can buy or borrow a USB adapter (or caddy) and clone onto the drive that way.

Since you will need a new hard drive anyway. Cloning may be the least expensive alternative but ONLY after you have saved your data.

 

I think this is a good idea on a healthy HDD, however on a failing HDD pretty fruitless.
Why I say it may be fruitless is the failing HDD may have segments that may not be able to be read properly.
Most important at the moment as everyone has said, get your data off pronto.
Just my thoughts.

 

Hey guys, I was away for a while, had some stuff to do you know

Eh, my harddisk isn't ratling anymore, all is completely well again... My dad speaks of an intermittent problem... I only hope the problem stays away forever.
And I just found the original warranty for all my computer hardware pieces, I got 1 year left, haha!

Thanks to all for advice.

Laurent