Options for Replacing a Failed Hard Drive

Question

I kept getting a blue screen whenever I tried to start my computer saying 'Unmountable Boot Volume.'  I searched this forum and found out enough to run a diagnostic on the hard drive which came back Failed 7.  I also found out enough to know this this is bad and that I need a new hard drive.   However, I would like to find out more about what I actually need and what I can get away with.  For example, I already have an external hard drive.  Can I just use that as my only hard drive?  Are there disadvantages to doing that?  Also, I would like to know what I can do to save the information on my failed hard drive.  It's not too much, just replacable software plus music and pictures that I would appreciate not having to replace.    Some forums mention something about performing a recovery.  However, I have not found a forum that explains how to actually perform one.  Should I perform a recovery (if possible) or should I try and transfer what I can after installing a new hard drive?  If a recovery is best, how do I go about doing that?   Thanks in advance for your help.

Hobbes84k · Answer

Sorry,   Dimension 3000 and Windows XP.   Kyle

shesagordie · Answer

Hobbes84k

It would handy, to post the computer model and version of windows.

Bev.

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Please don't send me questions about your system by DCF Messenger.
Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.

ejn63 · Answer

You need an EIDE drive and you'll need the XP CD, so call Dell if you didn't buy it when you bought the system. To attempt recovery, reload Windows (with the faulty drive OUT of the system), and then unplug your CD drive and plug in the faulty drive in its place. See what you can recover. To answer the other question - no, you can't function with just an external drive.

Message Edited by ejn63 on 03-18-2007 10:11 AM

Hobbes84k · Answer

Thank you for that.  That is a great start.   I tried looking up EIDE is but I got lost by all the acronyms and their meaning.  Am I correct in assuming that EIDE refers to a connection capability that allows for large transfers?  It appears that EIDE is only offered on products made by Western Digital.  Are there comperable acronyms for products made by other companies.  For example, I found a cheap hard drive 'Maxtor Ultra ATA/100.'  Would that do the same thing?   Thanks

ejn63 · Answer

EIDE = ATA = Parallel ATA = ATA66/100/133. Unless you know the Maxtor is a post-Seagate takeover model, buy something else.

Storage, Drives & Media

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