Computer Hardware/Software Advice Thread

[dmention7]

Kind of a spin-off of the networking thread, but for more general Q/A concerning computer hardware and software.

I'll start: I think our laptop's HD crapped out after it took a header off the coffee table a few nights ago. In short, it gets about 90% of the way through the windows boot process (to the point where the desktop wallpaper appears, but nothing else) and then stops responding with HD light constantly on. Sounds like the HD is trying to access, but does not respond to any inputs, though the mouse cursor still moves. The BIOS's disk check utility says there is an error with the disk but isn't much help beyond that.

Anyways, with the price of small HDs being so low, I'm thinking I'll just order a new one instead of spending a lot of time futzing with it. Except for a few dozen ripped CDs there was no important data on there to worry about recovering. So, here's the question: is there any reason not to just grab whatever disk newegg is selling cheap? It's an older laptop that is mostly an internet machine these days, so a blazing fast HD wouldn't be of much use, and I'm only looking for 80-120GB.

[Workdawg]

I don't know if its a hard drive problem, but before replacing it straight up, I would try reinstalling windows. I don't know how dropping it would cause the install to get messed up, but I don't think damage to the hard drive itself would cause the problems your describing.

[dmention7]

I guess I was assuming that some physical damage to an area of the drive where windows data was stored could cause those kinda symptoms. Also, I'm not even sure I have a windows disk for it. Bought it a few years back as a refurb...

[asellus]

Before you go and take drastic measures, fire up a recovery CD and run checkdisk (chkdsk /f). It'll recover everything that it can. :)

But as far as new hard drives go, they're mad cheap. I got a western digital 80 gig (with the larger buffer size) in my car, cost $55. I've only had one problem with it, and it was actually my fault. That thing has taken a LOT of punishment.

[DrWebster]

In the event you need a new drive Jay, I have a 100GB Seagate laptop drive I could let go cheap. PM me if you're interested.

[holmstar]

If you have a Windows disk, throw it in and do a repair on your windows installation.

[dmention7]

Well, by some miracle I was able to locate a windows disk while cleaning yesterday, recovered data from a bad sector or something, and she's purring like a kitten. I was looking forward to turning it into a linux rig, but oh well. Guess I'll just have to wait till I get a case and PSU for my HTPC.

[asellus]

Computers shouldn't purr like kittens.

Is there a kitten in your pc?

[dmention7]

C'mon man, mixed metaphors FTW!

Also, no kittens... but there may be a large number of, shall we say, another synonym for "cats".

[cosmicspd3]

if you right click the C: in windows and go to properties, then the Tools tab, then error checking button, check both the boxes and say ok. it should reboot then scan for bad sectors, flag them so the OS wont use them anymore and then repair system files if need be. Otherwise you can boot off a OS xp disk and do a scan disk...same thing as above though.

[dmention7]

It might be some weird system configuration, but whenever I try to schedule a disk check through windows, it just ignores it and boots back up without scanning. *shrug*

[cosmicspd3]

ah then you should boot off the disk and do it. I can find instructions if you would like....

[dmention7]

Oh, I already got myself straightened out (see post #7)

[dmention7]

Question: I procured an upgraded NAS drive for work, and I'm wondering if there is a better way to migrate a couple hundred GB from the old drive to the new one, other than just hooking them both up and doing the mother of all copy/pastes?

If you care, here is the old drive (http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?pid=10844), and here is the new drive (http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?pid=10953).

Specifically, I'm curious about utilities that are designed to handle large file transfers over a local network (and that don't require much setup or technical wizardry)

[aviateur]

Jay, the best way is to hook em up on your network and just copy the data. If you've got a gigabit switch it shouldn't take long and even with 100Mbit you'll get about 10MB/sec which will do 200GB overnight.

[DrWebster]

Yeah, easiest would be to just hook both up and copy/paste.

Also, since this is for your work I hope you have the new NAS set up as RAID 1.

[dmention7]

Actually, I just realized that the new drive has the ability to mount external USB drives directly, and the old drive has a USB interface. So I'll probably just plug the old one into the new one, let them do their thing, and keep the traffic off the network in case anyone is working over the weekend.

And yes, the new drive is setup in RAID 1--that's the main reason I bought it. Previously we were doing nightly backups to a separate drive, which just seemed kinda dumb.

[DrWebster]

Actually, I just realized that the new drive has the ability to mount external USB drives directly, and the old drive has a USB interface. So I'll probably just plug the old one into the new one, let them do their thing, and keep the traffic off the network in case anyone is working over the weekend.

And yes, the new drive is setup in RAID 1--that's the main reason I bought it. Previously we were doing nightly backups to a separate drive, which just seemed kinda dumb.

Depending on what's stored on the NAS, you still may want to think about implementing some sort of offsite backup (for in case the building burns down or the NAS gets stolen, etc.).

[dmention7]

Yeah, I had thought about that too. Might still use the old drive for monthly/weekly backups in case of the above-mentioned events.

[dmention7]

I haven't explored too much of this yet, but is there a simple way to get rid of a windows installation existing on a partition with a second windows installation?

Long story short, I was attempting to repair a damaged installation, and unbeknownst to me, the method I used actually built a second installation (existing in a folder called Windows.0). I figured I could just delete the old windows directory, but there were a few files I couldn't access for whatever reason. It's not really a big deal except that during bootup it continues to give me the option of booting either of the installations... so is there a way to make the system stop "seeing" the old installation, or better yet, to completely remove it?

[dmention7]

nm, got it figured out

[Big Nate]

Fill us in on what you did to fix the issues. Please.

[dmention7]

After a bit of googling, I realized that there was an entry in the boot.ini file still referring to the old install, so on bootup the computer was letting me select. I just opened it up in notepad, deleted the line that referenced the old install, and it was all good.

Also, there were a few system files that were being absolutely stubborn about being deleted, despite the fact that they were definitely not in use, so I had to download a few random utilities to clean up the last shreds of the old install.

It still bugs me that the windows folder is called C:\Windows.0, and my user default user profile folder is User.0, but I'm not anal retentive enough to try and find a way to get all the folders renamed correctly (would likely involve a shit-ton of rejiggering settings). Enough to be bothered by it, but not enough to fix it... lol

[Big Nate]

Lets look at hard drive options.

external?
internal in an external case?
internal?
USB?
Sata?
Brand?
Links?

[DrWebster]

Lets look at hard drive options.

external?
internal in an external case?
internal?
USB?
Sata?
Brand?
Links?

What is your intended use for a new drive? The interface you choose depends on whether you want an internal or external drive, and the capabilities of your computer.

I've used many, many hard drives from every manufacturer, and my favorites are Western Digital and Seagate.

[Big Nate]

Lets call my use a back up and mass storage. Not for running my OS or every day files.


I like this one for my server. Seagate 640g (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148335)

[Jana]

I'd go with a good external hard drive. Both AJ and I have one for our computers that we use for backing up information we don't want lost. Plus it's great if you want anything portable (musics/photos). I bring mine to work if I want new music on my work computer versus burning cd's.

[AJ]

That being said, I've maxed mine out and would like to pick up a nice 1TB unit.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822101093 is something I think would be good for the price.

Any suggestions?

If I where buildnig a new computer I'd get a huge HD, but an external has so many benefits.

[Z-licious]

That being said, I've maxed mine out and would like to pick up a nice 1TB unit.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822101093 is something I think would be good for the price.

Any suggestions?

If I where buildnig a new computer I'd get a huge HD, but an external has so many benefits.

How about a 1.5TB for 105?

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/901186/

BAM! Just buy a $20 external enclosure.

[Big Nate]

Eddy that deal doesn't work for me.

[WhiteSpy9]

you can usually find a good deal on an external on www.buy.com
The deals seem to change day to day.

[AJ]

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?SCriteria=4425774&CartID=done&nextloc=

What would people say about this one?