Quick Computer Question

russellb6666 · Post by **russellb6666** » 2004-02-26 06:20pm

My hard drive has started grinding at start-up and that has me really really worried about my data staying ok so does anyone know of good *cheap* data transfer software I can pick up? a new hard drive I can get easily but I would rather not have to deal w/ all the b.s of having to re-install all my shit.

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2004-02-26 06:24pm

You could just get a new drive, copy everything too it then rename it to the old drive's letter (if using winblows, and after removing the old one ofc) and it should work out.

russellb6666 · Post by **russellb6666** » 2004-02-26 07:10pm

darthdavid wrote:You could just get a new drive, copy everything too it then rename it to the old drive's letter (if using winblows, and after removing the old one ofc) and it should work out.

So I could get new drive install windows on it and just copy all my stuff by drag and drop?? I think that would work but i'm just wondering about all the assorted drivers for stuff and if they would transfer ok or not??

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-02-26 07:20pm

they make external USB backup drives that you can purchase for around $200, up to roughly 160 gigs of storage, iirc.

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2004-02-27 03:38am

STOP USING THE DRIVE! If its making actual griding noises, then the heads are coming into contact with the magnetic plates. NOT GOOD. This is gouging ruts into the media, destroying any data in its path. Keep in mind that most drives have motors that spin at 5400 or 7200RPM. Thats pretty damn fast.

Now if its just going "chee chee chee clunk" repeatedly (which this is what I highly suspect its doing) then its not so bad. Your drive is trying to read a sector it can't find, and its hanging up. That was a bit problem on the IBM 75GXP line, and was later fixed in the firmware. However, a simple low-level format fixed this problem. If this is the case, then you can still use the drive without loosing any data. However, if its doing this, then its getting time for a new drive.

Honestly dude, its just better to just install Windows on the new drive, plug the old drive in and copy what data you can off of it.