Solved Disk quandary: works fine, but failing: can't backup, clone or restore

[paul1149]

I've got a Dell mini 1012 with Win7 Starter. The 160 SATA drive is well on the way out with over 2000 failed sectors. I've tried several ways to clone it, including clonezilla and rawcopy in sector-by-sector mode, and they all fail. Backing up from within the installation also fails, using easeus and win7, with Windows abruptly crashing.

I tried a chkdsk /r, and it froze at Stage 4, on file 4019. I'm running a SFC currently.

The odd thing is that the installation is working fine. I have added and deleted user accounts, done multiple uninstalls and installs, etc.

The Restore partition is on the drive, but it is just as corrupted as the C partition. And the Win7 coa is unreadable (which quite seems to be a case of planned obsolescence...).

Is there any way to clone this installation so I don't have to order recovery disks from Dell?

 

[SandeepP]

I've got a Dell mini 1012 with Win7 Starter. The 160 SATA drive is well on the way out with over 2000 failed sectors. I've tried several ways to clone it, including clonezilla and rawcopy in sector-by-sector mode, and they all fail. Backing up from within the installation also fails, using easeus and win7, with Windows abruptly crashing.

I tried a chkdsk /r, and it froze at Stage 4, on file 4019. I'm running a SFC currently.

The odd thing is that the installation is working fine. I have added and deleted user accounts, done multiple uninstalls and installs, etc.

The Restore partition is on the drive, but it is just as corrupted as the C partition. And the Win7 coa is unreadable (which quite seems to be a case of planned obsolescence...).

Is there any way to clone this installation so I don't have to order recovery disks from Dell?

Hi paul1149,

It seems hard-drive has completely failed and that is the reason you are unable to clone the partion from the hard-drive.

If the system is under warranty then please contact me through a private message with your service tag and contact information so I may access your system records.

And, if the system is out of warranty then you contact our Expired Warranty Support at the link below:

http://dell.to/12LmNBq

Hope it helps.

 

[paul1149]

Thanks Sandeep. From what I can figure, the drive has failed in non-critical areas, since Windows is operating fine. It's not under warranty, and without the coa I can't reinstall windows, so I'm leaning toward using the machine for parts.

 

[SandeepP]

Thanks Sandeep. From what I can figure, the drive has failed in non-critical areas, since Windows is operating fine. It's not under warranty, and without the coa I can't reinstall windows, so I'm leaning toward using the machine for parts.

Hi paul1149,

Thanks for your reply. I understand windows is working fine on the system however, it is matter of time before windows fail to boot as hard-drive has been detected with many error.

If your system was shipped with this Windows then there must be COA label on the laptop itself. Kindly check the label on the laptop and using that product key you should be able to install Windows on the system.

If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact us.

 

[whs]

I would try to image and restore with free Macrium.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

 

[paul1149]

Yes there is a COA, but unfortunately the COA MS or Dell supplies is not made to stand up to normal use, and is worn past the point of readability. That seems rather negligent, considering the critical importance of the key.

whs - I've tried easesus todo, hdrawcopy, clonezilla with advanced switches, parted magic, windows' own imaging - all to no avail. I don't believe this disk is clonable.

 

[whs]

Don't try to clone the whole disk. Make individual images of each partition. Maybe that works. If you could post a picture of your Disk Management, that would help.

 

[SandeepP]

Yes there is a COA, but unfortunately the COA MS or Dell supplies is not made to stand up to normal use, and is worn past the point of readability. That seems rather negligent, considering the critical importance of the key.

whs - I've tried easesus todo, hdrawcopy, clonezilla with advanced switches, parted magic, windows' own imaging - all to no avail. I don't believe this disk is clonable.

Hi paul1149,

Thanks for your reply. I believe your system is bootable and using the same product supplied with the system.

Please check the link below which would help you find the product key used by the system:

Where to find my WIndows 7 Product Key

If you are able to find the same then save it to a place where you can access it in times of need.

Hope it helps.

 

[paul1149]

whs - that is a good idea. I think I tried it before, but in any case I have tried it again, and still am stuck. The partition won't clone or back up. It hangs on bad sectors, whether I'm doing a sector-by-sector backup or not. I whipped out seatools in a repair attempt and the drive failed a Long Generic.

Sandeep - I believe the windows key in the registry is not the same as on the COA and will not work, but if I can boot the machine up again it's worth a try.

 

[whs]

Did you run a chkdsk X: /r where X is the partition letter.

 

[paul1149]

whs: yes, it hung. Details in first post.

Sundeep: The PK in the registry failed to activate. Not the first time I've seen this. Somehow MS has segregated it from the COA key, and only the COA key works.

 

[paul1149]

The partition won't clone or back up. It hangs on bad sectors, whether I'm doing a sector-by-sector backup or not.

A little more detail. The partition above that wouldn't clone is the C drive, the main windows installation. What apparently would clone, though, is the factory restore partition. I thought I was in the money. But when I set it Active and booted to it it said "no operating system", so apparently the partition is deficient.

 

[SandeepP]

whs: yes, it hung. Details in first post.

Sundeep: The PK in the registry failed to activate. Not the first time I've seen this. Somehow MS has segregated it from the COA key, and only the COA key works.

Hi paul1149,

Thanks for providing us this information. Please contact me through a private message and provide me your service tag and contact information so I may access your system records.

I would check the details and let you know if we can send out the MPI card for you.

 

[paul1149]

Thanks, Sandeep. Please see PM.

 

[SandeepP]

Thanks, Sandeep. Please see PM.

Hi paul1149,

Thanks for your message. I have replied to you on the same. Kindly provide us with the information requested so we can advise you further.

 

[SandeepP]

Hi paul1149,

Its great to hear that replacement USB stick has resolved this issue to your satisfaction. Please mark the thread as resolved so other users can also benefit from it.

Feel free to reach out to us.

 

[paul1149]

Yes, the install media worked perfectly. Thanks very much!

 

[SandeepP]

Yes, the install media worked perfectly. Thanks very much!

Hi paul1149,

Thanks for marking the thread as solved. I am sure many other users would also benefit from it.

Glad to be of assistance to you. Feel free to reach out to us for any issues in future.