Looking for some advice on hard drives?

[jaminoegirl]

Hi,
 My nami is jami.I have a windows desktop2400 home edition with XP.I can't do a thing with it.Won't boot up in Safe Mode,when it did there was no system restore.have no idea why or how it crashed.Anyway there is 7000 music files on this comp.I know "why didn't she back it up before?" Well i didn't know how.So now i'm looking at options to retrieve my data from the hard drive.Just hoping somebody could advise me on the best way to do that.I was thinking of taking the hard drive out and installing it in another dell same model(the one i am using now).Would i be able to do that without corrupting the computer? Any help would be most welcome.My e-mail is Jaminoegirl@yahoo.com
                                       thanks,
                                                    jami

[Dak]

When you start the computer, does it do anything at all? Do you get anything on your screen? Does the computer make a beeping noise?

[jaminoegirl]

Yes it beeps,then goes to that screen with safe mode options then takes forever to come up,however it did something weird just few minutes ago.it started up normal,but i got NT/Authority error system will shut down in 30 seconds

[Merlin33069]

hmm, ok that does sound like a problematic hard drive, you have a few options, the first of which is the easiest


First i need to know, when the computer crashes and or what it does

like

does it try to load, get the xp boot screen (with the loading bar) or does it not get that far?

also, if it does get to the boot screen, when it crashes does it blue screen? or just restart?

if it blue screens, start the computer again and when the options come up there should be one that says something like:

disable automatic restart on system error

you can try that even if it doesnt blue screen, what this does is, it keeps the blue screen, or crash report screen up, instead of automatically restarting itself, if you can get the crash screen to stay up, take note of the error codes and what it says


post any new information here and we can continue

[Mitz]

If you don't find the disable automatic restart on system error you can also quickly do this to stop it from shutting down.
 
1. Go to the Start menu, click Run.
2. In the Run dialog box, type: shutdown -a
3. Click OK.

[jaminoegirl]

It somehow manages to boot up in safe mode,however no system restore,and no run functions.I installed a software called fix it utilites 9 ran diagnostic nothing came up wrong,but when it did file check came up with 14 Hkey root class files missing/corrupted.the program doesn't seem to be able to restore those files.Nor can i use it to restore to back date.Was told i had no option but to reinstall windows and by doing so i will lose all my documents and etc. So i'm looking at options to save the data that on hard drive before i reinstall?

[jaminoegirl]

yea! it booted up in normal windows and i managed to get that run command to keep it from shutting down,im still getting system restore can not protect your computer reboot and try again,it lagging and nothing else seems to work,What Am I supposed to do? ready to pull my hair out,feel like im in a loop pergatory with this thing.

[Merlin33069]

Ok, at least you can get into your pc

Windows has a built in utility to scan windows files and verify them, but you need an xp disk

If you have one go to run and type

Sfc /scannow

This is the system file checker

That might fix the problem

I also reccomend doing a check disk too, but after you do sfc

[jaminoegirl]

just got the cd in mail from dell tonight,will run test.let ya know.

[Merlin33069]

Ok

[jaminoegirl]

quick question.No longer able to start in normal windows It back to safe mode,so can i run this test in safe mode?

[Merlin33069]

Yes

[jaminoegirl]

ty crossing my fingers lol

[jaminoegirl]

frustrating after waiting so long for it to finish booting up.I put in CD i tyeped the command into run and nothing happened.there is an option to check the compatibility on this disc. Will try the command again.

[jaminoegirl]

So after few minutes of waiting after i ran Sfc /scannow,this is what appeared in a grey box.
 Sub-ComponentCom+raisedAn exception while processing the OC_Cleanup Setup Message
 d:\NT\com\com\x\Src\complussetup\comsetup\csetuputil.cpp(line 4367) error code=0x80070516
 this security ID may not be assigned as the owner of this object
  setup was unable to open the service control manager.
 Now what ?

[Merlin33069]

There isn't much I can think of to do... But, before I say my next... More destructive idea, I want to do 2 things

1 I would like to wait and see if someone else has any other ideas

And 2 since you can get into windows, go ahead and back up as many files as you can, if you can

[jaminoegirl]

that is what i was going to do was back them up since i can't make data cds ,was looking into encasment kits,when someone suggested since both computers were identical i could just take the drive out of the nonworking computer and put it in this one.however i was nervous on doing that for fear of the repercussions to my computer due to the drive from the other.

[Merlin33069]

Ok

It shouldn't hurt the other computer, your hard driove is just failing, however you would want to make sure its set to slave...if its pata (ide) by the jumpers, and if its sata you should be able to go for it

I would check if its under warrenty

But you have no flash drives or anything?

[jaminoegirl]

no i wish i had flash drive but i do not. not sure what the drive is i haven't had courage to pull it out as afraid,not sure exactly what im doing.

[jaminoegirl]

And no my drive is no longer under warranty

[jaminoegirl]

looked up in my owners manual found this under specifications, 
  Externally Accesible two 5.25-inch bays
                               one 3.5-inch bay
   Internally accesible   one bay for 1-inch-high IDE hard drive
   So its an Ide and only one bay so i propably cant put it in my computer right?
   Since both computers are same.

[jaminoegirl]

however as i keep reading this helpful piece of work i have found that this computer has a primary IDE channel 40-pin connector on PCI local bus a secondary IDE channel 40-pin connector on PCI local bus .i will keep reading lol.check back tomorrow.my blonde head hurts lol.thanks for the advice.Much appreciated.

[Merlin33069]

1 40 pin IDE = 2 channels

The disk drives are also IDE so you have 4 channels 2 for hard drives and 2 for CD drives

That's how many mobos are

[Dak]

OK, you sound like you have a little knowledge, so lets see if we can get you through using Linux as a rescue method. If you have any questions about this process, its best to ask before you actually install Linux.

Linux is an alternative operating system to Windows, but unlike windows, it can also be used to access the files and folders of the other operating systems on the hard drive. It can be installed on your hard drive without damaging the windows installation. It is different in many ways, but has a desktop, files and folders, and software to do stuff, just like windows.

If you were to download a Linux distribution, you can use Linux to access the windows folders and burn your windows files to disc.

To do this, you are going to need:
another computer, which you have.
An .ISO copy of Linux
A CD burner
Software to burn an ISO file to disc

Please note, the ISO file is a disc image,and MUST be burnt to disc as a disc image, NOT as a file. Not all software, and certainly not the standard windows burner, will do this.


A particular easy to install version of Ubuntu Linux can be found here

http://wubi-installer.org/latest.php

To burn the ISO image to disc, an easy way is with any modern version of Nero if you have it.

Open Nero StartSmart, click on the CD tab, and hover over the BACKUP icon, you'll see an option.. 'Burn Image to Disc'. You'll get a browse window to navigate to your new Linux ISO file, which you have downloaded and saved to your computer. Select it, click ok, and the next window that pops up is the 'Final Burn Settings' window. Make sure you have a blank cd in your cd drive, and click 'Burn'! Wait a few minutes, and you have your new copy of Linux on disc..

If you dont have Nero, try this excellent FREE ISO burning software...

http://www.freeisoburner.com/FreeISOBurner.exe

Its very easy to use, let us know if you have any problems.


The Linux disc you are creating is bootable. It doesnt need windows at all. Boot into this disc, and  install Linux. Linux will create its own partitions in the drive, without damaging the Windows folders.
Again , you sound like you have a little knowledge so I am assuming you know how to boot into this disc. If you dont, just ask and we will walk you through it.

Once you've installed Linux, it will now become the default operating system, and each time you start the computer, as it loads you will see a prompt asking you which operating system you want to load. If you miss this prompt, then Linux will load automatically after a few seconds.

You may find that you have a shortcut on the Linux desktop which allows you to simply open the windows folders just as though its part of Linux.

If you dont, then you'll need to 'mount' windows. Some good instructions on this process can be found here.

http://www.reviewsaurus.com/blogging-tips/how-to-mount-windows-partitions-on-linux/

Once you have mounted the Windows folders, then you can browse to your music or any other files you need, and burn them to disc using Linux.
When you have all the files you need on disc, you can then do as you will with the old hard drive, including simply replacing it with a new drive and installing windows.

[Dak]

oh jami, just one more thing...

WELCOME TO THE FORUM 

[Merlin33069]

yes, WELCOME

[Mitz]

How about trying to repairing Windows with the windows cd you have... Its close to a format but only repairs errors and leaves your data on your computer... You basically put your cd in and boot to it..Then it will ask you if you want to install windows or repair it...Choose repair, then choose installation number one, then type in the admin password...(usually leave blank) and press enter.

Make sure you choose repair.
Let us know if you want to try this? If not there is the linux option also.

[Dak]

Sorry, I misread the earlier posts and thought you had already tried a repair. Using the repair option on the Windows disc is definitely the easiest way. If you are successful, then use Windows to backup your files immediately, before something else goes wrong lol


Should you get a blue screen like the one Mitz has posted, dont choose the repair option. It will take you to the recovery console and you may find that difficult to use.

Choose the Setup Now option. When it examines your disc, it will tell you that you already have a windows installation, and ask you what to do. You'll be offered a repair option at this point, thats the one you need, as it will do it all automatically for you.

I suspect however that you wont get a blue screen as pictured by Mitz, or if you do it may have different options, as you'll be using a Dell recovery disc. In this case, there should be instructions for you to follow.

Since you got a disc from Dell, this also bypasses another potential problem that arises when you use a normal Windows disc.. a Dell computer would want a Dell disc to use for  recovery, and a normal Windows disc wouldnt be able to do this.



If you find you cant repair using your Dell disc, then go back to the Linux option.

[Merlin33069]

there are also other options too, don't get discouraged!

[jaminoegirl]

Than you all for being soooooooooo smart and soooooooooo nice to me
 I did get that blue screen and now trying to repair i reallllllllly hoping i don't lose my files.I have been told no matter what i do only way to them is encasement kit.I know there has to be other ways. So hopefully this will work if not i did download and install lynux and i got the free trial of the Nero 9 downloaded and installed. just in case. well let you know.

[jaminoegirl]

ok so i was installing Lynux and seemed slow but figured it just cause it such huge file,walked away went did some neglected housework,came back i found message on screen "has encountered a problem installation could not be completed.Do i try again? Since i did try the repair method off the dell windows xp service pk 2 disc didn't seem to do anything ?

[Merlin33069]

ok, well if the repair method did not work...

There are only a couple options left, if you had a way to get your files off it would be easier

because you cant install linux im going to guess you wont be able to do a non-lethal reinstall of xp, without it failing.

so, i have no... easy... ideas

if it were me, i would at least try to put the HD in the other pc. BUT i would wait for a while and see if we get anymore ideas ><

[Dak]

There are other things that can be done, for sure. I think its unlikely that just sticking the hard drive in another pc will work. The other PC would have to have identical motherboard and drivers to the original to stand alone. Accessing the volume from another drive isnt as simple as you might think either, since both would have their own copy of windows.

Most of the stuff Merlin or I could attempt to do now would be quite advanced, and not really stuff we could walk you through, as there are too many variables to deal with along the way.

If Linux wouldnt install, my guess is that it means that the installation disc was unable to find sufficient contiguous usable space on the drive. This means either the drive was too full, or the whole hard drive is dying, and even the unused sectors are not usable.

Obviously you dont wish to risk losing all your files, and if you attempt anything too much more advanced then thats what you risk doing.
I dont want to get the blame for giving you advice which loses all your stuff!

I'm really sorry we werent able to fix the problem for you, but it really sounds like your hard drive is dying. Its surprisingly common these days. As you can imagine, its possible to fit hundreds of copies of the Encyclopedia Brittanica on a modern hard drive, and I constantly marvel at how they can do this in such a small package. The technology involved is amazing, but also highly sensitive, and faults are still common. I have had 2 week old hard drives fail.

My recommendation is to take the tower to a quality repair shop, and ask them to install a new drive and transfer the files from the old one. I would estimate less than US$50 for a hard drive, and 2-3 hours labour, depending on how much of a problem it turns out to be and how skillful the repair guy is.

Again, I am sorry we cant really help you further, but as Merlin has said, we have no ... easy.. ideas. If someone else has an easy way of doing this, we would love to hear it, but I think trying too much else, including putting the hard drive in another computer, is filled with danger for the novice, and is more likely to hurt than help.

[jaminoegirl]

well i went to wal-mart pocked up a 16 Gb flash drive.Now it only boots in safe mode and seems it will not recogonize a flash drive has been found,so again i am at a loss.been pricing encasment kits with out a drive,and also thinking i may nuy another HD to back up both comps.Any tricks on getting Windows to recognize the flash drive in safe mode?

[jaminoegirl]

This is freaky! I turned off comp manually just for heck of it trie to start in last known config that worked.Well took good 45 mins but it booted up all the icons everything! So i tried that flash drive,instead of showing up as an E drive or newly installed hardware,the sonic record now software pos up and opens.I don't know how ,maybe i got a computer gaurding angel lol.anyway i took a disc figuring it give me error message,but tried nonetheless to create a data disc.To my utter amazement it worked! I didn't put alot on disc as like I said figured it wouldn't work.But so far so good got over 300 songs on cds.Not only do they play beautifuly they also work in my Son's stereo as well as the home theater system. Wishing though I had spent that 40 dollars on cdrw's instead of flash drive lol,but then again without it who knows if i would have gotten the burner program to run. Thank you all for your help,much appreciated.

[Dak]

That is wonderful news, well done. You will find that its the repairs that you made have taken effect, though I am at a loss to explain why it didnt work immediately.

When a hard drive dies, all kinds of strange things happen. Sometimes you can repair windows temporarily, but often you will make repairs and then find you have a totally different problem instead. Obviously the very first thing you need to do now is backup EVERYTHING that is important to you. If it is in fact a faulty hard drive, then more problems are definitely going to occur.

Once you have everything backed up, just keep the backups up to date as much as possible, wait and see what happens. If it dies again, then you can buy and fit a new hard drive without all the pain.

Yoy may find it easier and faster to use the flash drive for storage, 16GB is a lot of space and will save you a lot of time and CD's or DVD's.

To use the flash drive, open My Computer and look for the flash drive. If its shown as drive E previously, and its being recognised now, then it should show in My Computer as drive E. If you double click on it, it should open like an empty folder.

You can then open your music folder as well, reducing the size of both windows so they fit on your screen, and simply click and drag files from the music folder into the flash drive.

I dont know how much space your 7000 songs are taking, that would depend on the bitrate of the songs, but its possible if you are only using a low bitrate that all of the songs will fit on the flash drive, which would save you an LOT of time. To find out how much space you will need, click on START, right click on My Music, and select properties. You will see how many files are in the folder and what size the entire folder is. If its less than 16GB, then you can simply 'select all' in the music folder and drag the whole lot straight into the flash drive, and the whole process will only take a few minutes.

If the music folder is larger than 16GB then I'd transfer maybe 500 songs at a time in this way until the drive is nearing full, then less until it is totally full, and then do the remainder onto DVD's using sonic.

If My Computer does not show the flash drive, or double clicking on it doesnt open it, then the computer may still have some issues with recognising the drive, and you will have to do it all onto discs using sonic.

I'd also advise that you also backup anything else that is important to you, like documents, pictures etc. Something many people forget too is your email address book and your browser bookmarks. You'll find tutorials on how to save these on our parent site www.tips4pc.com

[Merlin33069]

Many people dont realize how important it is to make regular backups...

you have a 16 gig flash drive, i would store all my important info on it.

[jaminoegirl]

Been working on the long slow hard way,using sonic.as long as it stays opperating.The flash drive does not seem to be working,computer does no longer show it in MY Computer .hoping maybe something else freaky happen tomorrow and it will just start working cause i would love to do this easy lol.Will back up other things as well. Nice thing is once i get all these songs back on cds they going in the safe .