Hardrive about to fail

[astroron]

Hi computer files :hi:


I have receive a message on my Computer that there is a fault on my hard drive and it could fail,Back all files.

(1) As it is only a *Three Month Old* computer does this come under Warranty.:shrug:

(2) Besides backing up my files what other options are open to me,:question:

(3 Is it fixable over the internet or is it a repair at the computer shop or will I have to get a new hard drive :question:
I have never backed up anything before :rolleyes:
Will a DVD disc be OK and what happens after I have backed up my files will I have to uninstall everything:question:
The computer came with no disc so is it a download from the internet:question:
Cheers:thumbsup:

[jjjnettie]

A warranty job for sure Ron.
So many laptops dying atm. Must be something in the electricity??

[gary]

Hi Ron,

Could you tell us all a little more about the message that appeared?
First thing to eliminate is whether it is simply a piece of malware that produced
a bogus message or whether the hard drive really is beginning to fail and the
message is legitimate.

If it the hard drive that is failing, then it will be covered under warranty.

Is this a desktop or a laptop?

The not so good news is that when disks are sent away under warranty, they
won't be repaired and sent back to you. You will simply receive a replacement.
Since you don't have a copy of the OS on DVD, it sounds like you may have a laptop.
These days most come with an installation image preloaded on the disk.

You could backup to DVD but you would probably need a very large number of them.
A better option is to purchase an external DVD drive that has USB connect.
Since the floods in Thailand where some of the major hard disk manufacturing
plants were damaged, the price of drives has been going up but you should
still be able to purchase an external 1TB drive for anywhere between $99 and $160.
Even our local Post Office sells them these days.

If it is simply a bogus message from a piece of malware, I would recommend
you download a copy of Microsoft Security Essentials and run a full scan.
It is free from here http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/security-essentials

By exploring the system logs that accessible from the Control Panel, we should be able to walk
you through to check whether the OS has been legitimately logging hard disk errors.

To prepare yourself for trying to get a system image to backup, also read this -
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-AU/windows7/Back-up-your-programs-system-settings-and-files

[gary]

Hi Ron,

Good to chat on the phone.

As per our phone conversation, pity to hear the drive is failing and
good luck with the backup.

[michaellxv]

Most new computers that come without a copy of the install DVD's have an option for you to burn your own recovery DVD's which will allow you to restore the system to as you bought it.

You still need to arrange backup of your own files, but sounds like you have that part under control.

[Barrykgerdes]

That sounds more like a virus setting you up for some later skullduggery.

However I have had HDD's fail in the first few weeks. I buy from a cheap computer supplier and when the discs are unpacked it is surprising the number that have "repaired" on them so I suspect that there are many warranty failures.

If you have important work on a computer you should always have at least one backup on an external storage facility. External HDD's are cheap these days and comlete images can be stored very easily.

I just had a major computer failure (my main server). It took me nearly a week to get fully operational again because my OS image was not compatable with the new processor So I needed to re-install from the original disk and rebuild the OS partition but all the other data was recovered from backups.

From past experience I always put the operating system and programs that integrate with it on the smallest partition practical and all else on other partitions. It makes recovery much quicker and easier from a major failure.

barry

[jenchris]

I recommend Macrium Reflect (Free Download). It produces an image of the hard drive that can be reloaded onto the laptop in one piece - it includes the boot sector and all files- I've actually had to use it and it was laughably simple.
I backup the whole drive to an external disk every3 months. Just for peace of mind. I backup personal files monthly. I'd hate to lose a bundle of images I'd be mortified