Fixing My Hard Drive: 2002 - 2009

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In summary, the desktop machine refused to boot, so I replaced it with a new hard drive and cleaned install of Windows XP on it. I am recovering data from my 80GB borked drive.
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Ben Niehoff
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It's done me good service since 2002, but about three days ago, my desktop machine refused to boot.

So I did some digging on the Microsoft help site, configured my BIOS to boot from CD, and stuck in my Windows XP disk to attempt to repair Windows. Attempted to start Recovery Console, but it was not able to recognize my password, so I finally resorted to calling Microsoft (luckily I still had 2 free calls, so I didn't have to fork over $60). They walked me through a "repair install" of Windows, but it failed to copy over all the files. On starting Windows, it begins by running CHKDISK, which found about 200 unreadable segments on the drive. After finding the corrupt segments, it crashed, complaining of a missing or corrupt DLL.

I was tempted to just get a new machine, since this one is rather out of date, and all the fancy quad core thingies make me drool every time I go to an office store (mine is a Pentium 4 2.0a GHz). But I reigned myself in and came up with a less expensive plan: Get a new hard drive, clean install WinXP on it, and then attempt to recover the data from my 80GB borked drive and move it to my 500GB external. Then, once my data is safely on the external drive, I can play around with my fresh drive and take the opportunity to experiment with Linux!

The next hurdle was finding an IDE hard drive, since my computer is old and not compatible with all the new SATA drives. After failing to find one at a few stores, I had to go to Fry's. I got a sweet deal, though: $60 for a 320GB drive. I also gave into temptation to buy a 1GB DDR RAM stick, since they're cheap now...previously, my machine had 768MB RAM in two slots; removing the 256MB stick and inserted the 1GB stick gives me 1536MB, which is a pretty sweet upgrade.

Anyway, I was up until 5 in the morning installing Windows and then installing the myriad of Windows Updates I needed (my install disk is so old that it contains only Service Pack 1), and then trying to install Ubuntu (which failed due to a bug in gparted, which I found a workaround for but haven't been able to try yet). Today I am recovering my data. It seems about 1 in 50 files is corrupted and can't be copied to the external drive, which is pretty good, I think. But it's annoying, because it's not smart enough to just skip the corrupted files. It stops every time it finds on, and I have to manually delete the unreadable file, and restart the copy operation. :(

After that I am going to format the 80GB drive, and see about installing Ubuntu again. Ultimately I want to dual-boot so I can play around in both. If my 80GB drive is still functional after formatting, I'm going to install the OSes there and use the 320GB drive for data.
 
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  • #2
Hmm...I learned how to use the DOS 'xcopy' command and tell it to ignore errors. It seems to be working...
 
  • #3
Okay, maybe this is a dumb question, but do you actually have a question in there somewhere? I just read your whole post, and it sounds like you have it all under control already. Or are you just looking for some sympathy? :rolleyes:
 
  • #4
I think I was just sharing. I was going to update with my eventual solution in case anyone in the future had the same problem.

Also, I was excited that I finally have a good opportunity to install Linux. Previously, I was too invested in my data to risk destroying it by making partitions. :)
 
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FAQ: Fixing My Hard Drive: 2002 - 2009

1. What is the main cause of a hard drive failure?

The main cause of a hard drive failure can vary, but it is often due to physical damage, logical errors, or wear and tear over time.

2. How can I tell if my hard drive is failing?

Some common signs of a failing hard drive include clicking or grinding noises, slow performance, frequent crashes or error messages, and files or folders that become inaccessible.

3. Can I fix a failing hard drive on my own?

It is not recommended for non-experts to attempt to fix a failing hard drive on their own, as it can cause further damage and potentially lead to permanent data loss. It is best to seek professional help from a specialist in data recovery.

4. How can I prevent future hard drive failures?

To prevent future hard drive failures, it is important to regularly back up your important data, keep your computer in a cool and dust-free environment, and avoid physical damage by handling your device with care.

5. Is it possible to recover data from a failed hard drive?

In many cases, it is possible to recover data from a failed hard drive with the help of a data recovery specialist. However, the success of the recovery depends on the extent of the damage and the condition of the drive.

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