Computer problem...part II

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jagular
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Jagular

Jagular

Active member
A bunch of you guys were very helpful in the last question I had. My computer crapped out and I ended up taking it to CompUSA to get fixed as it wouldn't even turn on at one point.

I got a preliminary report from the a tech (not the one actually working on the machine :rollleyes: ) at CompUSA and he asked if it would be ok if they formatted the hard drive and reinstalled the OS (Win98se). I said NO!!!! There is data on there that I don't want to lose. I know...my bad for not having a more current backup.

So here is my question. If it comes down to that being the only option, can I boot up the machine in safe mode (assuming I still can when they get done with it) and do a backup of certain data to my second hard drive, then format & reinstall the os & other programs on the master drive and then restore the data to the freshly formatted HD?

Or, what if I had them install a new 40GB HD (which I wouldn't mind having anyway) and make an image of my current HD to there (I think it would still fit), then format the master HD & reinstall OS & then move the image from the new HD (less Windows 98) to the new HD?

I guess what it comes down to is I don't want the HD wiped before I can do a little work first, if I even can. I could recover, painfully, if it was all lost, but I really would prefer not to.

Or any other ideas?

Any help is appreciated...thanks in advance :)
 
really kind of depends on if the hard drive is toasted or if some unrepairable data error occurred on the drive- if you can get the machine to read the contents of the drive then you shouldnt have a prob recovering data from it- if you can install another drive (fresh) and do a fresh install of windows- so you dont have to boot from the questionable drive- maybe then you can set the questionable drive as a secondary and read/transfer files from it to some backup medium- if its the mobo or something else- then even better for the chances of retrieving your data

-good luck
 
Hi

If another system is available, you could try taking the hdd out of the 'defunct' system' and putting it into the other system. Maybe then you could save your data (depending on how much you have, that is...) on CDs or the other system's hdd.

Good luck...
 
forget safe mode.
Windows is probably the problem, it usually is..
Use your boot disk in boot into dos.. From there you should be able to save your data.. granted the drive isnt fried of course.

Never-EVER bring your computer to a compusa tech.. what the hell were you thinking.

Do you have possesion of the computer now?
 
LMAO @ demensia

I know...I know... (re: CompUsa) I just didn't know where else to take it around here.

Yes, I have my baby back.

My plan is (does this make sense)?:

1. Save what data backup I have on my backup HD (13GB) to a directory on the main (80GB) HD.

2. Format the 13GB HD

3. Install Win 98se on 13 GB HD (I know this would be the perfect time to upgrade to XP, but I can't afford to pop for it right now)

4. Make 13 GB HD the master and the 80 GB the slave (opposite of what it is now)

5. Boot up computer make sure it's running hunky-dory

6. Back up what ever data or proggies from the 80 GB drive I don't want to go searching for again keeping in mind the 13 (or less) GB limit.

7. Format the 80 GB HD

8. Install Win 98se to 80 GB hd.

9. Change 80 GB back to master HD

10. Boot up computer to see if it works

11. Go on mad dash to find the most recent drivers for all my devices :mad:

12. Install programs

13. Restore data/programs from 13 GB drive

14. Get the hell recording again.

Anyone see any problems with those steps? I'll probably start tonight (keeping fingers crossed that my HD wasn't already formatted :eek: )

Plus a couple quick questions:

1. Is it better to take out all of the pci cards before the fresh operating system is installed and then add them one by one letting the OS detect them & install the drivers etc?

2. Any other things I should be thinking about? (I've never done this before) :D

Thanks again & wish me luck :D
 
ewwww what a mess! I been there to bud. I think your onto it with your own suggestions. Sounds like the boot sector was trashed. I hope they didnt loose any of your data other than the OS.
I would start with a bones machine, then add the cards in one at the time with the software. If it chokes somewhere along the line then you may have found a problem you didnt know you had to start with.
 
Jagular,

You eloquently described the process I'll be going through when I upgrade my PC. :) Yes, your plan makes very good sense to me.

The only point of difference is that I've been advised to partition my 80GB drive with a relatively small partition for the OS and programs with the larger one for audio data. This can be open for discussion.

I'll probably ditch my 6.4GB drive with the old case & MOBO. I'll lob in my previous video card and an old AWE64 Gold, maybe someone I work with will be interested in it...

--
BluesMeister
 
Thats alot of steps.
Heres what I would do.

Install your 80 GB drive as Primary Master
Install your 13 GB drive as Primary Slave
Boot using a windows boot disk, if you dont have one let me know.

issue the following commands:
a:>C:
c:>mkdir olddrive
c:>D:
d:>XCOPY D: C:\OLDDRIVE /s /e

This will copy the entire contents of drive D: to the olddrive directory.

Now you want to check c:\olddrive and make sure all is well.
d:>C:
c:>cd olddrive
c:\OLDDRIVE>dir/w

check around in there and make sure all your subdirectories are there.

Now your backed up man.
You can wipe the drive if you need..
c:\OLDDRIVE>format d:

switch the drives, and install windows.
 
Thanks a lot Toki, BluesMeister & demensia again. Very helpful. I'm going in. Cover me :D

I won't finish it tonight, but I'll at least get started.

See ya on the other side :D
 
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