Comments on: Hard Drive Crashed @#*&!!!

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 22 May 2009 08:47:07 +0000

Thanks for the tips. I totally agree with using backups especially online backups because any external backup could be damaged as well.

For me Safecopy backup, safecopybackup.com, is a perfect fit. I can backup all my files from both my Mac and Pc with just only one account. I can also backup my USB drives and share files as well. It’s a very nice product and a good way to keep my files safe.

By: BullS

BullS — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:52:09 +0000

You could use CaRBonite…just $50pr yr.

The BSOD is not the HD problem, it is the OS ..and all you have to do is reinstall a new version of Windows…just do not reformat.

I do recovering data all the time.

By: My220x

My220x — Tue, 19 May 2009 06:32:44 +0000

Ah I completely forget you can boot into a Linux distro and copy files.

By: Domain Superstar

Domain Superstar — Tue, 19 May 2009 05:04:22 +0000

I use Mozy as well as an external hard drive. I also have been thinking about using DROBO (drobo.com) which although expensive seems very effective (and it looks cool ).

By: Rodney

Rodney — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:59:16 +0000

I feel your pain. My hard drive crashed last week (Tuesday) and I’m waiting on a replacement hard drive from Dell.

I can get into Windows for a few minutes before everything locks up, but luckily, I have everything backed up through Carbonite.

When the hard drive arrives I’ll have to spend some time reinstalling the different software I have on my computer, but as long as I have my main data files, I should be good.

By: Mike CJ

Mike CJ — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:31:05 +0000

Oh Patrick, I can’t believe you didn’t back up dude, but glad you got the data back.
Strangely enough I also had a fried hard drive a couple of weeks ago.
Worth recounting what I did as it worked. Windows just gave me the blue screen of death, so I tried to boot up from CD using Ubuntu, and it worked. I was able to copy all but the really damaged parts of the data across the network to another PC, then install my new drive and copy it all back across.

By: Chef Patrick

Chef Patrick — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:30:56 +0000

You just said it “told me to do in the case of a BSOD that has not completely ripped your computer”. I’m not tech savvy and have NO idea if the hard drive was completely fried. It wouldn’t boot in safe mode or any mode for that matter.

If you have important data, no matter what the cost it is better to be safe than sorry!

By: Ross

Ross — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:25:45 +0000

Actually my brother is a computer tech and this is what he told me to do in the case of a BSOD that has not completely ripped your computer.

In your case this could have been the problem but in all reality is the comp tech really gonna tell you he can fix it in under an hour?

Call up Geek Squad and tell them the problem and likely they will charge you $300 plus for just a clean install.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:11:22 +0000

This restore Windows option is “possible” only under very specific circumstances. If the BSOD was caused by an error in the windows installation itself then maybe.. I still don’t trust doing it that way and in Chef’s case with a fried hard drive, that option definitely would not have been the way to go. If it’s broken, won’t boot and you are not an expert in data recovery I would always advise leaving that work to the professionals. Having all of your business data hanging in limbo is a lot bigger deal than if it were your 10 year olds computer with games on it.

Of course we could debate this all day long but in the end none of it matters if you back up your data, which is the point of this post

By: Chef Patrick

Chef Patrick — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:09:26 +0000

No offense but you have no idea what the computer tech did. Please don’t speculate on something unless you were there watching him.

As far as re-installing windows I do not suggest this to anyone unless that is what you’ve been advised to do from a computer technician. If you do not care what information is stored on your hard drive then give it a try, you run the risk of losing everything.