Hard Drive Problems - help needed please!

annie-c

Thanks so much for all these replies.

Unfortunately I'm rubbish with computers and don't even know what the inside of the tower looks like.

What happens when I put the recovery disk in is first a screen comes on with options, I pick the 'boot from hard disk' option and it goes through the motions of starting up, a windows screen appears and things start to be happening, but then it switches off. The whole thing stops and starts about three times and then I get a message that the hard disk is not bootable.

It sort of makes the right noises but doesn't seem to be able to complete the task. That's a rubbish explanation of what happens, I know, but does it help at all? Thanks again everyone.

albertross_2

do you get a recovery console option?

annie-c

erm, i'll check in the morning...

sorry so be so thick!!!

annie-c

B33fy wrote:

It may be possible to connect the drive as a slave drive to a working computer and read off the required data - but first have you checked that the connection cables are fully plugged in and not been dislodged in the move?

Sorry for delayed reaction to this suggestion.

I have another working PC at home. How would I go about connecting the other as a 'slave drive' please?

bigbadgoggs

Annie C -
If you are willing to roll up your sleeves and open your PC to take the disk out, then try the following two options, both of which I have used successfully in the past;

Put your disk in a an anti static bag (If you're very careful a sandwich bag or anything moisture proof would do) and leave it in the fridge overnight. Put it back into your PC next morning and try booting it up. This has worked for most of the disks which have gone t*ts up on me. It generally allows you enough time to move at least some of your data before it goes phut again. If it does go phut, just repeat the process, fridge overnight etc and try again until all your data is retrieved.

If that doesn't work try using a usb to ide adapter. This wee gizmo will work if it is just the boot sector on your disk that is dead. The adapter plugs into your hard drive and you plug the usb cable into a usb port on your PC. If you're lucky and it is just the master boot sector that is dead, Windows XP will still recognise and install your disk as a local usb drive (you'll be able to see it in the explorer window as a local drive). You can then transfer the data onto a more reliable drive. You can get one of these from ebay for about £12 including P&P. If you're not sure about finding the right thing on ebay let me know and I'll pm you a couple of auction details. (Or if you live in the Falkirk area I would have a bash of trying to recover your data for you using my own adapter).

I hope you get your data back - I have been lucky so far but would hate to lose data like this, especially photographs.

P.S. As other posters have advised, leave the physical violence to the disk until all other possible solutions have failed!

annie-c

Hi bigbadgoggs! Thanks for your reply.

No probs in rolling up sleeves, but am completely thick about computers..... what would my hard disk look like??

albertross_2

http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=hard+disk&hl=en

annie-c

albertross wrote:

http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=hard+disk&hl=en

Ok, thanks, now I know what it looks like, and I have screwdriver to get the back off the tower.... but how do I get this bit out???

Thanks for your patience!

indiegirl_2

You should find that the same screwdriver that helped you remove the screws to the side panels of the case will also help you unscrew the HD from it's bay. Some bays have removal points to allow you to remove the whole 'tray' that the hard drive sits in.

So, you should ensure that the machine is switched off and power unplugged (to make sure there is no static buildup, unplug the mains cable, then press the power button on your PC to discharge). unscrew the back of the machine, remove the case, and touch the edge of the case to discharge any static that's built up. Then, unplug the power and IDE (very wide flat ribbon cable) from the drive at the back, and set about unscrewing the holding screws in the side of your hard drive - there will probably be 4 - 2 on each side. Then, the drive should slide out of it's bay.

Good luck!

bigbadgoggs

annie-c wrote:

Ok, thanks, now I know what it looks like, and I have screwdriver to get the back off the tower.... but how do I get this bit out???

Thanks for your patience!

Hi Annie Good for you - have a go.

This link will give you an idea of what to expect/look for..

http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading/install-hard-drive.htm

This one shows you how to remove a drive

http://www.fonerbooks.com/r_hard.htm

Good Luck!