How to Verify if Hard Drive is Dead or Alive?

Le_Kirk

Now you've quoted it for later reference, I have clicked the pork luncheon meat button.

NiftyDigits

I don't see any link to SPAM there. Bootrec.exe is part of the Windows RE.

Le_Kirk

Oops, there is no UNSPAM button otherwise I would hit it.

_gav_

Do they want to retain their existing documents? I fear your Windows Vista install on the same HDD could have severely hampered your good intentions! Hoping you didn't do a HDD format or partition delete before the Windows Vista install!??? If you did, then it's good night to their files/documents.


I suspect the root cause problem was a faulty boot record which can be quickly fixed with the correct tools that are already mentioned. However, with Windows Vista now also in the loop, this could prove fun.


Good luck.

chunter

How to Verify if Hard Drive is Dead or Alive?
spin it right round baby, right round.

pennypincher3562

_gav_ wrote: »

Do they want to retain their existing documents? I fear your Windows Vista install on the same HDD could have severely hampered your good intentions!

Good luck.

Thanks, Gav. It's not my laptop, and the owner wasn't bothered about losing the few documents they had - so I went for the 'nuclear option.' :T

Thanks

pennypincher3562

I've successfully created a bootable USB drive with Windows 8.1 on it. However I don't have a Windows activation key. Doh.

I am pretty sure the owner of the laptop won't have the activation key either.

Any ideas where I can get a legitimate key at the lowest cost? Are the keys sold on Ebay legitimate?

Thanks.

Fightsback

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

I've successfully created a bootable USB drive with Windows 8.1 on it. However I don't have a Windows activation key. Doh.

The activation key should already be embedded in the system's firmware (BIOS) so it is not required.

NiftyDigits

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

I've successfully created a bootable USB drive with Windows 8.1 on it. However I don't have a Windows activation key. Doh.

I am pretty sure the owner of the laptop won't have the activation key either.

Any ideas where I can get a legitimate key at the lowest cost? Are the keys sold on Ebay legitimate?

Thanks.

No key necessary.

_gav_

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

I've successfully created a bootable USB drive with Windows 8.1 on it. However I don't have a Windows activation key. Doh.

I am pretty sure the owner of the laptop won't have the activation key either.

Any ideas where I can get a legitimate key at the lowest cost? Are the keys sold on Ebay legitimate?

Thanks.

*IF* you used the correct version of Windows 8.1 then no key should be necessary, as it should be within the BIOS.....that's a big if! Did you install the exact same version that was on there before?