Where to get it fixed?

skye

So to follow on from my last thread can anyone recommend someone / somewhere to fix my computer? I live just outside Wicklow town....If someone could come to the house that would be great, or recommend a shop for me...See thread for problem.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054920398

Thanks in advance

MunsterCycling

Just a thought but what make is your disk that died and when was it manufactured (it will be on the label on the disk), IIRC isn't there a disk facility up your way?

Someone confirm this plaese, how long are the warrenties from the various disk manufacturers?

skye

Make is: Western Digital WD800
Manufactured 13th Oct 2004

hopeful

Had a quick look on WD site for warrenty info. Most drives carry a one year warrenty, some three years and a few 5 years.

Worth checking though...they have an online tool to do this HERE You will need the serial of the drive...should be on a sticker on the drive.

skye

Thanks for that hopeful - unfortunately it doesn't qualify....any suggestions for a repair?

CiaranC

Repair/Salvage from failed hard drives is really expensive. Get a replacement, and backup next time.

hopeful

If you want/need the data on the drive it is going to be VERY expensive as it will mean a specialist job ONTRACK have a good reputation...but pricey!.

If you just want to replace the drive you can buy one for €100 or less and fit it yourself or get a special friend to do it Its not hard to do and folks here would certainly help you through it. Also if you keep an eye out on the For Sale board loads of cheap drives come up for sale all the time.

dub45

skye wrote:

Thanks for that hopeful - unfortunately it doesn't qualify....any suggestions for a repair?

Just a long shot -given that the alternatives are expensive - is there any possiblity of trying the disc in a friend's computer? you would probably need to change it from master to slave - just a little thingy at the back - but if it worked there it might allow you to acess the data you need.

skye

There's really only one thing on it that I desperately need...it's paper work for my honeymoon and I don't have the womans email address to get it replaced...There are other bits that I will hate to loose like photos etc. but can let them go. And I know - should've backed up - all well and good with hindsight - a lesson learnt. Thanks guys for the help.

dub45 - could try that. Where is the little thingy at the back?

skye

hopeful wrote:

If you want/need the data on the drive it is going to be VERY expensive as it will mean a specialist job ONTRACK have a good reputation...but pricey!.

If you just want to replace the drive you can buy one for €100 or less and fit it yourself or get a special friend to do it Its not hard to do and folks here would certainly help you through it. Also if you keep an eye out on the For Sale board loads of cheap drives come up for sale all the time.

Could you tell me what I should be looking out for?

turbop

hey where bouts in wicklow do ya live ?

turbop

If you live in wicklow im willing to try ur disk in another PC,or check it out for ya

skye

Hiya turbop..Thanks for the offer that would be great!! Sending you a Pm now with details...

Zoned

Try putting the drive in a freezer bag with as much air out as possible and throw it into the freezer for about an hour.

I tried this once and got a few minutes out of the drive, enough to get a few important files off.

skye

Seriously?? Willing to try anything just to get that info....

Zoned

yeah indeed, do a google for hard drive failure freezer and see what pops up....
It works but aparently not for all failures... I have tried it once and it worked for a while.

lokk here for an example....http://www.meetmyattorney.com/slink/mt-archives/000275.html

skye

Ok will give that a go in the morning....if per chance it starts up what should I use to quickly grab all the stuff I want? Have an ipod...believe this will store for me - do you know if this is the case?

Zoned

It should do.... i dont have one so cant comment really ....

A USB Memory stick would be perfect for the job....

Good Luck.

skye

Thanks!! Will let you know how it goes.....

skye

Well you won't belive it but the freezer trick has worked!!!:eek: I am so delighted I can't tell you!! Thanks to you Zoned...will be forever grateful. Have now figured out how to and loaded all my gear to my ipod - all is safe and well - just waiting now for the final death. Thanks again to one and all for all the help given - fair play to yous!!;)

dub45

The moral of the story is backup important data!

Now the real problem begins:) New hard drive - new install.....

skye

Will be back for that one me thinks!!;)

conzy

I cant beleive that worked:eek:

Anywhoo, An Ipod isnt the safest place to store Important data, by a new HDD on komplett

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=308742

This drive is one of the best IDE drives and its only €72

hopeful

Glad to hear you got your data off the disc. I'd heard of the freezer trick before but have never tried it myself.

And no one ever does backups until they have had a disc go bang on them so don't feel bad

skye

Well, it's kicked the bucket again - don't care now as I go what I needed off it...Thanks for the link conzymaher - just bought one of those....Another quick question - when it arrives can I just put in into the computer and away we go or do I need to do some work?

andy1249

Freezer bag trick ........brilliant , I must remember that one . Glad to hear you get your data back , thats excellent.

On the other thread I posted about repairing XP , well with the new drive its going to be similar , you insert the XP disk , boot from CD , follow the screen , only this time it should see a hard drive with unpartioned space , basically the new drive ,
Choose create partition ,
Make this the size of the whole drive ,
Then format the partition , NTFS is best , dont choose quick format , take your time and format properly ,
Then XP should install ,
Its straightforward after that , just follow instructions.

skye

Ok but as I explained in my other thread my sis-in-law has bloody lost my XP disk....Can I use any windows disk or will it have to be that particular one?

andy1249

Tis a new hard drive , so any XP disk will do so long as you have the number to put in when it asks you for it.

skye

Great - thanks again...