New Hard Drive what do I do next?

srich

Hi All

Im not the brightest when it comes to computer stuff so bare with me.
I have taken my laptop to a repair shop apprently it needs a new Hard Drive. quite costly £80 + £35 for a product key as the code has worn off does the price sound fair?

Ayway once this is done what do I need to do next. Ive been told that everything on the laptop may be lost they will try and save what they can. So when I get the laptop back what do I need to do? I'm with o2 for broadband will I need to reinstall there software I have no idea were the cd is, and can I connect without the ethernet cable or do I need them too. Also what about programmes like word will they still be on when I get it back or will I need to reintall these to?
Thanks for your help
Steve

dg1dd1ngs_2

What reason did they give for you needing a new hard drive?

srich

Well the laptop was failing to boot, he listened to the hard drive when he turned the power on and he said he cant hear anything from the hard drive, it went off when i was on the internet on Friday night, it crashed then just went off and when you turn it on you just get a black screen.

dg1dd1ngs_2

Ok well a new laptop hard drive, I have seen a 250gb one for £40 so the £80 may be a little steep.

The £35 he is charging for a product key, is this because you don't have a Windows disk? Did he tell you the code has worn off?

You could probably do this yourself and save some money but I guess you wouldn't have contacted a professional if you did so it may not be the best option :-)

When you get the laptop back you will need to install your O2 software, you will probably be able to download it from the O2 site.

You will need to install your office software again too. Unless you give him the disk and ask him to do it for you.

macman

You don't need to use any 02 software or CD to connect to the internet, your existing O2 router holds your password and username already. That's all you need.
If you are using a desktop email application such as Outlook Express, you will need to set that up again with your account details.
You will need to re-enter your wireless encryption key if you want to connect wirelessly, or you can use ethernet.
All after-market programs (such as MS Word) will need to be reinstalled.
Did you not keep a back up of your important data?

Hammyman

srich wrote: »

Well the laptop was failing to boot, he listened to the hard drive when he turned the power on and he said he cant hear anything from the hard drive, it went off when i was on the internet on Friday night, it crashed then just went off and when you turn it on you just get a black screen.

If you CANNOT hear anything from the HDD, thats usually a good sign. Its when you can hear things they're !!!!!!ed.

Hammyman

dg1dd1ngs wrote: »

Ok well a new laptop hard drive, I have seen a 250gb one for £40 so the £80 may be a little steep.

I bought a 500GB Western Digital Scorpio Black (high performance 7200RPM jobbie) for £48 on Monday.

dg1dd1ngs_2

Hammyman that's a bargain mate! I'll be contacting you for bargain components from now on :-)

googler

Surely if the HDD is at fault, when the OP powers it up, he/she will get BIOS or POST messages, then a message saying

No Operating System

when it tries to load the OS from the HDD ..........???

That's what happened on mine when I took the old HDD out and installed a fresh one with no OS.

OP, it's not difficult to install a new HDD. With a little persistent googling, a look at visual guides on YouTube, it's within the grasp of anyone.

Personally, I think the repairer is hoodwinking you. First saying the HDD isn't working at all, then promising to 'get as much back' from it as possible. That doesn't work for me, I'm afraid.

What do you have in the way of install disks for your OS or other applications? You may find your product key on the packaging for the OS.

DO you have another computer (the one you typed this thread on?). If so, I'd recommend removing the HDD yourself from the laptop, and putting it in a USB caddy (£10 from Maplin or Amazon) and connecting it to another machine to see if you can get your data from it.

Did the repairman say you would get your original drive back separate from the laptop when it's returned to you? If not, I'd insist on it.

CoolHotCold

AS far as the price goes, if everything is legit then thats no problem and actually pretty good.

Depends if the hard drive is knackered, also depends what make of system it is. It might very well be a faulty hard drive or the repairer might be hoodwinking you.

birkee

Googler says it, where is the BIOS boot screen images? Find another repairer!