Cloning Laptop HDD

[QuackPot]

So my laptop HDD had a error warning a few weeks ago and now I need to press F1 when I want to boot it up (after pressing the power button), but can if I bought a new2.5" HDD would it be possible to clone the contents of the old HDD to a new HDD via my desktop and use the old laptop HDD in an external enclosure and use it as an external HDD?

 

[Creer]

Sure you should be able to do that but...
Please note that if your old HDD gave you warning it may mean that soon your hdd will not even start.
To be sure check SMART of your drive.
If there will be many bad sectors then you should start looking for a new drive - seriously.
In that case do data backup of all needed files you have on this drive to another drive/CD/DVD/USB drive to be able in future restore them on brand new HDD.

 

[QuackPot]

Sure you should be able to do that but...
Please note that if your old HDD gave you warning it may mean that soon your hdd will not even start.
To be sure check SMART of your drive.
If there will be many bad sectors then you should start looking for a new drive - seriously.
In that case do data backup of all needed files you have on this drive to another drive/CD/DVD/USB drive to be able in future restore them on brand new HDD.

Would a simple reformatting of the C drive fix the errors? So is a completely new disk needed?

 

[Creer]

It depends on your SMART HDD analyze.
Almost all hard drives these days has limit of the bad sectors (it's called Reallocated Sector Count) which can easily handle, but if your bad sectors reach this limit and still counting (you have to observe this number regularly)... it will be better to start lookning for the new drive since your old one can at any time not start again.
You can install freeware HD Tune (v2.55) to check SMART of your HDD (Health Tab).
Please note that if it is a hardware issue with your hard drive then reformat doesn't help.

 

[thefabe]

You might also want to find the manufactuer of the drive and go to their site and run their diagnostic tools on the drive. If it's some kind of virus and not something failing in the drive you'll just be imaging it to your new drive
Fabe

 

[QuackPot]

I did see a 320GB WD drive for £31 last night and I'd probably do a completely fresh install when I get the new drive tbh. But I am wanting to use the current HDD as an external HDD which is why I'm wondering if I was to reformat it in an enclosure if all would work well?

 

[SIW2]

I got one of these from amazon a few weeks back - great value - working very well so far.

Can't recall if it was the same trader as this - free delivery too Seagate OEM 500GB Barracuda 3.5 inch 7200.12 Internal Hard Disk Drive (7200RPM, SATA, 16MB Cache): Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Might get another one.

Think it's gone up a quid due to vat increase.