| Author | Message | ||
     Firemanjim |
Question for all those more enlightened than I. My laptop took a dump on me. Was having problems with XAT,not unusual, so I did a system restore and it went bonkers,error message and could not even start in safe mode. Took it to local geeks and was told I had a total hard drive failure and they were unable to save anything---but I did not have alot of confidence in their abilities and wonder if it was just easier to install a new drive--and more expensive for me-- than to actually fix this. I was having zero issues before this. Anyway to see if anything is left of my data?Anyone here good at this sort of task? | ||
| Froggy |
If it is a hard drive failure, (very likely, in fact the most common hardware failure), it depends on how it failed to determine how recoverable the data is, if at all. It would be impossible for me to say without hooking up the drive to see if anything can be salvaged. If your data is really that important, it can be saved, there are professionals that deal only with data recovery, but it is stupidly expensive (several grand). A hard drive is cheap and easy to replace these days, so even if you cut your losses and start from scratch, you won't be out much cash. | ||
| Ohsoslow |
pretty much everything Froggy said. if it is the HD when you get a new one dont forget to get an Operating system, unless you already have a copy. | ||
| Drkside79 |
Yeah i agree with Froggy. Its a tough lesson that most of us learn at one point. Best Buy will give you an honest opinion as they will make more on fixing your issue then selling you a new one. If it's shot buy 2 hard drives one for your computer and one as an external. You can get both @ tiger direct for less than 150 asuming you dont want more than a TB or a solid state. On the flipside how olds your computer? If you like expensive jigsaw puzzles you can get barebones kits pretty cheap most times. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Got it fixed, but was looking to see if stuff can be saved. And like the laptop as it still has a serial port that alot of tuning systems still use and it goes to Bonneville with me.Shopping for better home use on and will use this as tuner only. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
fireman - I had a laptop fail a few years ago as well. I was able to take it to a local place and they were able to recover all of my information for not too much money, I think it was around 100 bucks US Call around, talk to friends that can recommend a trusted source etc Good luck on your search | ||
| Slaughter |
Jim, I still buy older systems by the pound on Ebay... because I also need the DB9, RS232 serial port for tuning. NEW laptops built for Government all still have the 9-pin DB9 since so dang many systems still use that system (and USB won't handle more than 5 volts and many tuning systems and ECM outputs have a few signals that run to +- 10V DC. What's your budget? For laptop tuning, get a few ebay laptops and just do early/often backup. I still have a Gateway 5150 that is my tuner laptop. Last one I paid $80 on ebay. http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/Solo_Series/p5 150/p5150nv.shtml I keep the programming files, maps, documents backed up to a CD (files are quite small) - working files are some excel and word... never get close to filling a single CD when backing up. | ||
| Reepicheep |
You can download a bootable version of Unix (runs completely off the DVD drive). http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download From there, you can run a disk analysis tool that will query the error log in the hard drive (yes, there is one) and tell you what is going on. You can also mount the drive while there and look for files. I don't have my ubuntu system in front of me to tell you all the buttons, but it will work. Another simple option is to get a drive adapter, either an external enclosure, or something cool like this: http://www.amazon.com/USB-SATA-5-25-Cable-Adapter/ dp/B000YJBL78/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299789748&sr =8-1 (Don't know if that one is good, I have another off brand with similar features and it works great). Handy thing to have lying about. Pull out the failed hard drive, plug it into this adapter, and then plug the adapter into another good working machine. Then you can do disk check, malware removal, and data backup. (Message edited by reepicheep on March 10, 2011) | ||
| Scottykrein |
After you've exhausted the other options, try throwing it in a freezer for a couple of hours. Then hook it up to a USB adapter. | ||
| Hootowl |
If you think Scotty is kidding....think again. Also, if you're in the market for a new drive, consider a solid state one. You won't believe the difference. And I suspect that they are much more reliable since they have no moving parts. | ||
| Teeps |
Leo LaPorte the Tech Guy swears by a program called Spinrite. Call around and ask if any "computer repair" outfits in your area use Spinrite. http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm | ||
| Birdy |
Yep SSD is the way to go NO moving parts at all. Corsair makes a good one look at the "Force" line of theirs. I even use one in my home computer as is much faster too! |
