MAJOR Computer Problem

[Gil]

You could always install Windows on a seperate hard drive, so you can still access your old drive to get files off.

[Robert]

Or, if you have an external hard drive case to where you can put hard drives in, you can take the hard drive out of your computer with all your important files and put it in the external hard drive case. If you don't have one, I recommend getting an external hard drive case so you can save all your files and such and not loose all your data.. The cheapest that I know of is $50 from Staples or you can get them really cheap at Newegg.com. It's the only recommendation I have for you to save your important stuff..

Robert

[lfmusiclover]

Or, if you have an external hard drive case to where you can put hard drives in, you can take the hard drive out of your computer with all your important files and put it in the external hard drive case. If you don't have one, I recommend getting an external hard drive case so you can save all your files and such and not loose all your data.. The cheapest that I know of is $50 from Staples or you can get them really cheap at Newegg.com. It's the only recommendation I have for you to save your important stuff..

Robert

$50 for a CASE? You can practically buy a new drive for that price!   

[TWCToday]

You could always install Windows on a seperate hard drive, so you can still access your old drive to get files off.

Buy a cheap drive, and do this. Also three years on a Compaq is most likely starting to push on the old end. It may be worth it to upgrade to another computer. For about $280 I got a Compaq, Dual Core PC with 3gb RAM, DVD/CD RW. Im using it as a second server now but my point is the price to repair your computer vs purchasing a new one is small these days.

[Robert]

Or, if you have an external hard drive case to where you can put hard drives in, you can take the hard drive out of your computer with all your important files and put it in the external hard drive case. If you don't have one, I recommend getting an external hard drive case so you can save all your files and such and not loose all your data.. The cheapest that I know of is $50 from Staples or you can get them really cheap at Newegg.com. It's the only recommendation I have for you to save your important stuff..

Robert

$50 for a CASE? You can practically buy a new drive for that price!   

Yeah, that is kinda ridiculous, but if I had important files on my computer and need to save them, I would go for it...

[lfmusiclover]

You could always install Windows on a seperate hard drive, so you can still access your old drive to get files off.

Buy a cheap drive, and do this. Also three years on a Compaq is most likely starting to push on the old end. It may be worth it to upgrade to another computer. For about $280 I got a Compaq, Dual Core PC with 3gb RAM, DVD/CD RW. Im using it as a second server now but my point is the price to repair your computer vs purchasing a new one is small these days.

I don't buy into this philosophy at all. Age, like in humans, is but a number. If the computer does you fine, why spend the money? At three years old that computer is at least 1.5 Ghz, if not more. Unless your into architecture or some other resource hogging endeavor you don't need anything more than that. Bottom line: don't get rid of your computer just because its a couple years old.

[TWCToday]

You could always install Windows on a seperate hard drive, so you can still access your old drive to get files off.

Buy a cheap drive, and do this. Also three years on a Compaq is most likely starting to push on the old end. It may be worth it to upgrade to another computer. For about $280 I got a Compaq, Dual Core PC with 3gb RAM, DVD/CD RW. Im using it as a second server now but my point is the price to repair your computer vs purchasing a new one is small these days.

I don't buy into this philosophy at all. Age, like in humans, is but a number. If the computer does you fine, why spend the money? At three years old that computer is at least 1.5 Ghz, if not more. Unless your into architecture or some other resource hogging endeavor you don't need anything more than that. Bottom line: don't get rid of your computer just because its a couple years old.

Very true. I guess it all depends on what you use your pc for

[Gil]

Sorry, but I hardly consider my 33 MHz Macintosh LC 575 an outdated computer.

My dad bought his computer (complete set) in late 2002 for about $1200, has a 1.4GHz P4, 512 RAM, 80 GB Hard drive. That's over 6 years old, and it's got at least 3-4 years before even considering a replacement.

Computers are not disposable at this point in time. They should last a good 5+ years.

[Mike M]

I have a feeling it could also be a boot sector virus. I don't see how a three year old harddrive would fail already.

[Evan2015]

That does sound like a boot sector virus, 3 y/o HDs don't suddenly die like that


-Tech Dude

[Gil]

I have a feeling it could also be a boot sector virus. I don't see how a three year old harddrive would fail already.

Actually, there was a discussion about hard drives on another forum I go to. Most people agreed that OEM hard drives are of much lower quality do to the manufacturers buying in mass quantities.

[TWCToday]

I have a feeling it could also be a boot sector virus. I don't see how a three year old harddrive would fail already.

Actually, there was a discussion about hard drives on another forum I go to. Most people agreed that OEM hard drives are of much lower quality do to the manufacturers buying in mass quantities.

I can agree with that. Does your drive by any chance make any strange noises?

[Mike M]

It doesn't make any weird sounds like it's failing or anything.

[Gil]

It doesn't make any weird sounds like it's failing or anything.

It still is probably corrupt.

[Mike M]

Okay, tonight I ordered a Compaq recovery disk, because apparently they recommend you make the discs yourselves (what good that does these days), which is why there was no XP disc included. The harddrive also definitely needs to be replaced. It's only three years old, so it's surprising that it needs replacement already. This laptop's harddrive is more than a year older and it still works like a charm. Same with my 1999 PowerMac (albeit it's slow since it's only 12 GB).

I just hope I can at least still access the files on my old drive, I don't have most of them backed up anywhere (how stupid I am).

Hopefully I get this all fixed soon; I have several TWC/Weatherscan/WeatherPlus videos I want to share on YT.