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Resolved Hard Drive Failure, so what next?

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by jdblue1976, 2012/04/14.

  1. 2012/04/14
    jdblue1976 Contributing Member

    jdblue1976 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    The HDD on my desktop crashed. Partition Wizard surface test fails, sometime. I think it might be heat related.

    System Info
    Asus P5B-E motherboard, running Windows XP Media Center
    3 HDD
    Boot Drive (failed) WD 320GB
    WD 1TB
    Samsung 750GB
    I've got the original XP discs.

    I'm looking for what people think I should do next. Advice vs. "How to "

    Reload XP MC on one of the remaining HDD?
    Get a new drive and load it on that?
    Upgrade to Windows 7?

    I was going to use Partition Wizard to copy off the data but it says it's going to delete data on the target drive. (not good.)

    Thoughts?
     
    jdblue1976,
    #1
  2. 2012/04/14
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    If you can't slave your Data from the drive - your choice.
    XP support will cease 2014.
    If your comp will handle W7 - might pay to make the change with a new HD.
    Cheers Neil.
     
    retiredlearner,
    #2


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  4. 2012/04/14
    jdblue1976 Contributing Member

    jdblue1976 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Probably a good opportunity to upgrade to Win 7, agreed.

    Installing it on a new HD could be easier, I guess. Plus it wouldn't disturb my existing data.

    Just wanted to explore all options before I jump into this.

    Any other opinion?
     
    jdblue1976,
    #3
  5. 2012/04/15
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Hi jdblue1976. A agree with Neil. I think installing Windows 7 on a new harddrive is a good choice. Plus you could install the 64-bit version of windows 7 which should give your computer better performance.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #4
  6. 2012/04/15
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Before you consider the option of Win 7 make sure that your hardware, software is up to it .....

    Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
     
    PeteC,
    #5
  7. 2012/04/15
    jdblue1976 Contributing Member

    jdblue1976 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks for the advise. I checked the Win 7 requirements and it looks to be good to go, but I not sure about 64 bit. I don't think I have a 64 bit processor, but I'll double check that first.

    I'll have to find all the drivers for the peripheral stuff which is always fun. I heard Vista drivers work if you can't find Win 7 drivers.
     
    jdblue1976,
    #6
  8. 2012/04/15
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    More often than not the case :)
     
    PeteC,
    #7
  9. 2012/04/15
    dnmacleod

    dnmacleod Well-Known Member

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    I'll bet that you do have a 64 bit processor as they've been around for a long time now. If you're in any doubt get SIW
     

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    dnmacleod,
    #8
  10. 2012/04/15
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    FWIW, GRC's little 115K SecurAble utility (nothing to install) will quickly tell you which CPU you're running and its bit-length.
     
    SpywareDr,
    #9
  11. 2012/04/15
    jdblue1976 Contributing Member

    jdblue1976 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I brought up the BIOS and yes it's a 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo 64 bit CPU. I couldn't remember from when I had it built (2007-ish) if I went 64 or not.

    Since I'm doing all this I guess I should look into upgrading the CPU to a Quad.
     
    jdblue1976,
    #10
  12. 2012/04/15
    jdblue1976 Contributing Member

    jdblue1976 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    BTW: To save money ($80) I'll buy the Upgrade version of Win 7. But this means I'll have to reinstall XP first. (Oh joy) Plus I'll have to keep this discs around just in case I have to do this again.
     
    jdblue1976,
    #11
  13. 2012/04/15
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Not necessarily - Win 7 has built in disk imaging software.
     
    PeteC,
    #12
  14. 2012/04/15
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Actually you won't have to reinstall Windows XP at all. Take a look here, Clean Install with an Upgrade Windows 7 Version.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #13

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