Heya Guys I Seriously Need Help Because When I Get My New Hard Drive I Dont Want To Lose My Operating System But I Shouldn't Should I Because Its Basically Like Upgradin Your Hard Drive ??



My 80GB (Original Hard Drive) Which Is Somehow Fuc*ed Up And Died On Me So Basically I Lost All My Documents And Programs. I Had Which Is A Pis*Take. The Problem With It Is That It Just Wont Show Up On BIOS Or When I Turn On My Laptop I Keep Getting The Same Error Saying Something Like "Operating System Not Found" And Have My Laptop To Run A Simple Diagnostic Everytime I Turn It On And It Does And It Picks Up Everythin Else Apart From My Hard Drive.

The Hard Drive Which I Will Order The Minute I Found The Correct Information On Here Thanks To You Guys !!! Is Hitachi Travelstar 5K160 at PC World - Buy cheap 2.5inch Hard Drives (OEM) - Hitachi Travelstar 5K160 160GB 2.5" PATA Internal Hard Disk Drive
And I Just Want To Find Out Before I Place The Order That I Wont Lose My Operating System When I Put In The New Hard Drive Cause I Have Done Many Things To My Previous Computer Which Involved Upgrading Graphics Cards And So On But Never Messed With Its Hard Drive I Just Installed More Hard Drives On It And Never Messed With The Main Hard Drive !!(C

Thankz Guys
Crazy Axis !!

P.S. Is There Anyway To Salvage Any Of My Information From My Busted Hard Drive Or Not ??

If your present hard drive does not even show up in the bios it is already
lost - along with the operating system and all files on the drive.

When you get the replacement drive you will have to install an operating
system and begin anew.

You "may" be able to recover what is on the old drive if you send it to a
company like Drive Savers or On Track Data Recovery. Be prepared to spend a
small fortune.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience


"Crazy Axis" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:857534ebbf745accc516740e1ef21998@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

>
> Heya Guys I Seriously Need Help Because When I Get My New Hard Drive I
> Dont Want To Lose My Operating System But I Shouldn't Should I Because
> Its Basically Like Upgradin Your Hard Drive ??
>
> My 80GB (Original Hard Drive) Which Is Somehow Fuc*ed Up And Died On Me
> So Basically I Lost All My Documents And Programs. I Had Which Is A
> Pis*Take. The Problem With It Is That It Just Wont Show Up On BIOS Or
> When I Turn On My Laptop I Keep Getting The Same Error Saying Something
> Like "Operating System Not Found" And Have My Laptop To Run A Simple
> Diagnostic Everytime I Turn It On And It Does And It Picks Up Everythin
> Else Apart From My Hard Drive.
>
> The Hard Drive Which I Will Order The Minute I Found The Correct
> Information On Here Thanks To You Guys !!! Is 'Hitachi Travelstar 5K160
> at PC World - Buy cheap 2.5inch Hard Drives (OEM) - Hitachi Travelstar
> 5K160 160GB 2.5\" PATA Internal Hard Disk Drive'
> (http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/sto...ory_oid=-31457)
> And I Just Want To Find Out Before I Place The Order That I Wont Lose
> My Operating System When I Put In The New Hard Drive Cause I Have Done
> Many Things To My Previous Computer Which Involved Upgrading Graphics
> Cards And So On But Never Messed With Its Hard Drive I Just Installed
> More Hard Drives On It And Never Messed With The Main Hard Drive !!(C
>
> Thankz Guys
> Crazy Axis !!
>
> P.S. Is There Anyway To Salvage Any Of My Information From My Busted
> Hard Drive Or Not ??
>
>
> --
> Crazy Axis
>
> *Xbox360 GamerTag: -Crazy Axis-*
>
> * Halo 3*
> * Call Of Duty 4 *
> * Rainbow Six Vegas 2*

Hi,

Do you have a laptop with recovery discs, or a pc with proper MS install dvd?

If you have a laptop, it's not unusual to upgrade , i.e. buy a bigger hd - the same is true of pc's.

Shouldn't invalidate your license - tho. a mobo upgrade would mean calling MS to activate after reinstall.

You will need reinstall media, though.

siw2

As a long shot, you might try attaching the hard drive to a different disk
controller on the motherboard, assuming that it has more than one. Also,
try a different cable from the disk to the motherboard. Finally, try a
different power connector to the drive. If you are very lucky, the hard
drive is itself OK and one of these changes will restore it to operation.
You could also place the hard drive in an external USB enclosure and try to
read it on a different PC.

If none of the above works, then the hard drive is really dead.

There are professional data recovery services that can take a hard drive
apart and mount the magnetic platters (disks) in a test fixture and then
salavage data. These services are expensive, but dependning on the value of
your personal data, maybe they would be worthwhile. Most offer a cheap
diagnostic, to determine whether they can recover data, then charge more (a
lot more) for the actual recovery service. But, do not expect them to
recover installed programs or the operating system, only individual files,
and probably not all of them.

As for your next PC (current PC box with new hard drive and new operating
system), consider the following to avoid a similar problem in the future:

(1) Parition the hard drive in at least two pieces, maybe more.
(2) Install the operating system on the first partition.
(3) Also, install programs on the first partition.
(4) Invest in some disk imaging software, such as Acronis or Norton, and
plan on making disk images of the first parition only to an external USB
disk. Request that the image be split into convenient pieces, such as 200
to 650 Meg. (Most modern imaging software has this as an option.)
Occassionally copy the image to CD ot DVD. The reason for spliting the
image is to allow easy storage on several CDs or DVDs.
(5) Store all personal files on the second (or higher) partition.
(6) Backup your personal files every time you change them, using windows
explorer, XCOPY at a command prompt, etc. Occassionaly write personal files
to CD or DVD.
(7) If you have an office, not in your home, or a safe deposit box, store
the CDs/DVDs there. But, be sure to keep them cool and in the dark. For
example, do not store them in a car parked in the sun.

"Crazy Axis" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:857534ebbf745accc516740e1ef21998@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

>
> Heya Guys I Seriously Need Help Because When I Get My New Hard Drive I
> Dont Want To Lose My Operating System But I Shouldn't Should I Because
> Its Basically Like Upgradin Your Hard Drive ??
>
> My 80GB (Original Hard Drive) Which Is Somehow Fuc*ed Up And Died On Me
> So Basically I Lost All My Documents And Programs. I Had Which Is A
> Pis*Take. The Problem With It Is That It Just Wont Show Up On BIOS Or
> When I Turn On My Laptop I Keep Getting The Same Error Saying Something
> Like "Operating System Not Found" And Have My Laptop To Run A Simple
> Diagnostic Everytime I Turn It On And It Does And It Picks Up Everythin
> Else Apart From My Hard Drive.
>
> The Hard Drive Which I Will Order The Minute I Found The Correct
> Information On Here Thanks To You Guys !!! Is 'Hitachi Travelstar 5K160
> at PC World - Buy cheap 2.5inch Hard Drives (OEM) - Hitachi Travelstar
> 5K160 160GB 2.5\" PATA Internal Hard Disk Drive'
> (http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/sto...ory_oid=-31457)
> And I Just Want To Find Out Before I Place The Order That I Wont Lose
> My Operating System When I Put In The New Hard Drive Cause I Have Done
> Many Things To My Previous Computer Which Involved Upgrading Graphics
> Cards And So On But Never Messed With Its Hard Drive I Just Installed
> More Hard Drives On It And Never Messed With The Main Hard Drive !!(C
>
> Thankz Guys
> Crazy Axis !!
>
> P.S. Is There Anyway To Salvage Any Of My Information From My Busted
> Hard Drive Or Not ??
>
>
> --
> Crazy Axis
>
> *Xbox360 GamerTag: -Crazy Axis-*
>
> * Halo 3*
> * Call Of Duty 4 *
> * Rainbow Six Vegas 2*

Great ,So Basically I Cause I Still Have Warranty On My Laptop If I Sent It Them I Should Be Able Get A New Laptop Or I'll Basically Have To Buy A Whole New Laptop With Operating System And Everything Farkin Brilliant

So Theres Basically Nothing I Can Do Then ?

And No It Didn't Come With Recovery Disks Cause Windows Vista Has It All Built In Now Doesn't It The Only Discs I Got Is The Driver Disk And The Windows Vista Introduction CD Or DVD

Thankz A Lot
Crazy Axis

At The Moment Cause My Sister Has Got A New Laptop And Has Still Got Her Old One I Just Stole Her Main Hard Drive (C: Drive) And Slammed (Not Literally) That In Mine And Its Workin Fine Even Though She Has Vista Home Basic And When I Load Up My Laptop It Shows Vista Home Premium werid ???

Originally Posted by Crazy Axis

Great ,So Basically I Cause I Still Have Warranty On My Laptop If I Sent It Them I Should Be Able Get A New Laptop Or I'll Basically Have To Buy A Whole New Laptop With Operating System And Everything Farkin Brilliant

So Theres Basically Nothing I Can Do Then ?

And No It Didn't Come With Recovery Disks Cause Windows Vista Has It All Built In Now Doesn't It The Only Discs I Got Is The Driver Disk And The Windows Vista Introduction CD Or DVD

Thankz A Lot
Crazy Axis

Hey Crazy Axis,

All is not lost, You say that you didnt get any recovery disks with your lappy this is a pain but quite normal. You do have some options, one is to contact the manufacturer and to ask for a recovery disk, to use with your new hdd. Another is to turn your closed laptop upside down and look for the microsoft license sticker with the activation code,
This code may allow you to use a vista cd (borrowed) to install the same type of vista as you had before ie Basic, Pemium, onto your new hdd, you will then need to activate vista after the install.
I say this may work as there are different types of license and I dont know which you have.

You say that your sister has an old lappy, I presume that this is the hdd that you borrowed and that it worked. This is also an option as long as this version of vista is only on one PC Ie. your lappy, but you may need to re-activate this one copy for it to work properly. (this is maybe the best option) Dont forget the code for this vista is under the old lappy

Lastly you can do a combination that may or may not work. That is old hdd complete with Preinstalled vista but you change the license key to the one found under your lappy

I hope this helps pooch

I Suppose I Could Send It Back But Then Again I Was Going To Buy A New Hard Drive For It Ages Ago But Then Went On Holiday And When I Got Back My Laptop Was Somehow Fuc*ed ?? And Then I Thought The Best Thing I Could Do Was Get A New Internal Hard Drive. I Like The Idea That "Pooch" Suggested Because Then I Can Just Spend Around 20£ On A 160GB That My Friend (The IT Techi) Can Get Me Cheaper.

I Suppose Sending It Back Is Worth It But I Need My Laptop Back As Soon As Possible Cause I Have To Give My Sisters Hard Drive Back As Soon As Possible As Well So

And Getting An External Hard Drive I Dont Actually Need One Now Cause My Dad Went And Brought An NAS Drive Which Is 1TB So Now We Back Up Everything To That lol