If HD is failing it could go before I finish typing.
The drive you get is your option, but if space is not a problem and you are satisfied, you can just replace what you have
If under warranty, try to go that route.
If you have a system image, you can just use the most current. I think if it were mine I would just reinstall so all the old problems are history.
"all the old problems are history."
Besides the drive failure, I didn't really have any problems (that I know of, I guess something I was unaware of could have been leading to the drive failure). I just figure loading from the image will take about half an hour, and all my configurations and stuff will be already there, where if I install from scratch I'll have to install all my programs again, my configurations, transfer documents, and redo my MC7 configurations (I had to manually add each channel to the listing, and remap their numbers, which by itself took 2+ hours), so that's a day or two worth of work. As an American, I always like the simple route (and figured it was the reason why I was making system images from the get go). But if there is a possibility the system image could pass on corruptions I wouldn't mind reinstalling from scratch (though I wouldn't like it, ha)..
Thanks again for all your help!
The final decsion is yours of course; but are you sure there is no malware or virus? Are you sure there is not corruption etc.? I think you know the pros and cons, its your decsion and I will try to help, regardless of the decision.
But, yes you are 100% correct, that is what the image is for.
OK, it ran and said "Errors found - the drive has been repaired. error/status code:0223" View test results doesn't give any more information about what was repaired. But now, when I try to boot to the drive, I just get a blinking cursor after POST. I guess I am going to try to get the win7 disk out again, and try to repair the install, but I have to go to work so that won't be for anther 9 hours before I can work on it further. I'll also look into starting the warranty process. anyone with experience with that, what to expect? Do i have to ship first, etc..
Were you running Western Digital Data Lifeguard bootable CD scan?
It appears it repaired the HD. It might also have lost your data when it moved data off the bad sectors to resurface them. This is why it prompts you to back up your data (not an image).
I hope you followed Rich's advice to copy off the data (not an image) so it is safe. If not you can try to recover your files by booting the Win7 DVD or Repair CD: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console Or use a data recovery software like Recuva.
I was running "Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for DOS (CD)". The drive didn't have any data, outside of the OS and my installed programs, so if I have to reinstall on a new hard drive, I don't feel like I've "lost" anything. Besides, I have an image of the drive from 2 months ago. So what I copied earlier today was just a few minor documents and downloads, and some local program data (firefox profile and such). I didn't copy the entire drive's contents, so I'm not sure if that link will help me.
I would run Data Lifeguard full CD scan again, followed by chkdsk /r run from the WIn7 DVD or Repair CD: Disk Check
If these clear the HD, then it may be ready to return to service if no performance problems are evident.
I would wipe the HD before reinstall using this method: SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
I ran the scans (both from the WD CD and from CMD CHKDSK) and they were both clean. I then tried to "repair startup" and that didn't work. I then tried from the CMD to do a bcdedit /FixBoot, and that gave me an error "an unknown command was specified" but then I tried bootrec /fixboot, and that was successful. (remember, before all this I would just get a blinking cursor after POST). Now, it loaded right back into my OS. How stupid, on a scale from 1 to 10, is running like this? should I keep it up until I can get a new drive, and hope it doesn't fail even worse in the mean time, or should I take the time to wipe it and re-install, even though I'll be getting a new drive as soon as one ships... oh, and should I try imaging the drive as it is, or should I stick with my June backup?
Last edited by blotsome; 12 Aug 2010 at 00:21. Reason: one PS
Run it for awhile to see how performance pans out.
It depends on whether the HD repair damaged system files. It may run fine, or maybe you should clean reinstall to reach for better performance.
The HD can be assumed to be sound if it passes all tests. But always keep your data backed up anyway.
I've submitted an advanced RMA with WD. Will they accept a drive which their diagnostic has repaired, or do I need to cancel the RMA and wait for it to fail even worse... I think I remember last time chkdsk running that it had 100kb of bad sectors (if that is a determining factor or not).
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