Computer HDD eating itself?

[Razor505]

Computer HDD about to die?

When I turned on my computer today all i heard was a loud scratching noise, so I shut the computer down immediately, because I think the HDD is going to destroy itself. When I turned it on later it says "Missing Operating System", should or I get a new HDD, or try to restore it?

P.S.: The computer is a pre-built from Acer, with a Seagate HDD with 1TB

 

[Layback Bear]

If your hard drive is making any mechanical noises its gone. Try to get off the data you want to save and get a new hard drive. Trying to repair the hard drive may do more damage and you will not be able to retrieve your data.

 

[bassfisher6522]

Yep...sounds like a major HDD failure. When you turned it back on was the noise still present when you received that error message?

 

[Kaktussoft]

It looks like it's a faulty disk. Many important stuff on disk? Do you already have backups?

First step to do is download partition wizard bootable CD. Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online (the download on bottom). burn it, then boot from it. Is your system partition lost? Is your computer unable to start? Choose Bootable CD to help you.

Still partitions on disk? Post results

Try this How to perform disk surface test with partition manager software - Partition Wizard?

Post results

 

[Razor505]

Yep...sounds like a major HDD failure. When you turned it back on was the noise still present when you received that error message?

It did not made any sound when the error message showed up.

 

[Razor505]

If your hard drive is making any mechanical noises its gone. Try to get off the data you want to save and get a new hard drive. Trying to repair the hard drive may do more damage and you will not be able to retrieve your data.

How do I retrieve my data, because I cant get it to start.

 

[Razor505]

It looks like it's a faulty disk. Many important stuff on disk? Do you already have backups?

First step to do is download partition wizard bootable CD. Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online (the download on bottom). burn it, then boot from it. Is your system partition lost? Is your computer unable to start? Choose Bootable CD to help you.

Still partitions on disk? Post results

Try this How to perform disk surface test with partition manager software - Partition Wizard?

Post results

I did have backups but they are just files and not windows images. The URLs you posted don't work.

 

[Kaktussoft]

It looks like it's a faulty disk. Many important stuff on disk? Do you already have backups?

First step to do is download partition wizard bootable CD. Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online (the download on bottom). Burn it, then boot from it. Is your system partition lost? Is your computer unable to start? Choose Bootable CD to help you.

Still partitions on disk? Post results

Try this How to perform disk surface test with partition manager software - Partition Wizard?

Post results

I did have backups but they are just files and not windows images. The URLs you posted don't work.

The URLs work. Can you access internet? They should work. If not... try on another computer.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Hard Drives 1TB Hard Drive 500GB Iomega Desktop Hard Drive 3TB Toshiba Desktop External Hard Drive : So you have 2 internal drives?

 

[Razor505]

Hard Drives 1TB Hard Drive 500GB Iomega Desktop Hard Drive 3TB Toshiba Desktop External Hard Drive : So you have 2 internal drives?

Those are my external drives the Seagate I mentioned at the top is internal.

 

[Razor505]

My computer now some how starts up, and now I can log in and everything is working. I placed the Magic Partition into a CD and burned it as CD/DVD, but everything is starting up slow. Also I am doing a backup of the whole drive. What should I do now? Should I get a new HDD or SSD and restore the windows image? If so, how do I do it?

 

[Razor505]

Any help please, I don't really know what to do now, since windows backup failed at 57%.

 

[Golden]

Hi Razor,

Can I just check something? Do you already have backups of your user files (music, photo's, documents etc.), or are you still trying to access them, in order to back them up?

Regards,
Golden

 

[Razor505]

Hi Razor,

Can I just check something? Do you already have backups of your user files (music, photo's, documents etc.), or are you still trying to access them, in order to back them up?

Regards,
Golden

I have an old image file from last year in my Toshiba HDD, but I am trying to copy all my files into my Toshiba, because half of the HDD is broken.

 

[Golden]

OK. If you are currently booted into the old dying HDD (which it sounds like you are), just copy the critical user files using Windows copy & paste to an external USB or other device. It sounds like you are already doing that, right?

 

[Razor505]

OK. If you are currently booted into the old dying HDD (which it sounds like you are), just copy the critical user files using Windows copy & paste to an external USB or other device. It sounds like you are already doing that, right?

Yes, I am currently moving all my files from docs, pictures, music, etc into my other HDD. But which files are the most important user files?

 

[Golden]

By user files I mean docs, pictures, music etc. (those cant be replaced if they are lost). The system (the Windows installation) can be re-created with ease at a later date once you have a new HDD.

Do you have MSOffice installed? How about other paid software? If so, do you have the software product/licence keys (incl. this Windows 7 installation) safely written down somewhere? If not, let us know and we can help retrieve it off this HDD.

Do not reboot your computer until you have copied off everything that is needed.

 

[Razor505]

By user files I mean docs, pictures, music etc. (those cant be replaced if they are lost). The system (the Windows installation) can be re-created with ease at a later date once you have a new HDD.

Do you have MSOffice installed? How about other paid software? If so, do you have the software product/licence keys (incl. this Windows 7 installation) safely written down somewhere? If not, let us know and we can help retrieve it off this HDD.

Do not reboot your computer until you have copied off everything that is needed.

So when I get a new HDD or SSD, how do I re-install windows, because this is a pre-build computer. Also should I make a copy of the programs on my computer, like from the Program Files (x86), my Firefox addons, and my bookmarks?

 

[Golden]

Easy.

Firstly, make sure you have the product key on the COA sticker affixed beneath the laptop.

1. Download the correct version of the Windows 7 ISO from this location
2. Write it to a 4GB USB flash drive using this tool.
3. Boot from the USB flash drive, and install Windows as you usually would.
4. Use the product key from the COA sticker to authorise the installation.
5. Update Windows fully.

Done.

This is a useful guide:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

You cannot copy the programs from \Program Files - that will not work - you will need to install the programs from scratch again. Use this tool to gather licencing information for the installed software:
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

If you had a more recent system image (such as a Macrium image) it would be easier, but I'm not sure that is possible given the health state of the HDD and the Windows backup failure you mentioned earlier.

 

[Razor505]

Easy.

Firstly, make sure you have the product key on the COA sticker affixed beneath the laptop.

1. Download the correct version of the Windows 7 ISO from this location
2. Write it to a 4GB USB flash drive using this tool.
3. Boot from the USB flash drive, and install Windows as you usually would.
4. Use the product key from the COA sticker to authorise the installation.
5. Update Windows fully.

Done.

This is a useful guide:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

You cannot copy the programs from \Program Files - that will not work - you will need to install the programs from scratch again. Use this tool to gather licencing information for the installed software:
Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit, for software, hardware and security configuration information on your computer. Software license management, IT asset management, cyber security audits, and more.

If you had a more recent system image (such as a Macrium image) it would be easier, but I'm not sure that is possible given the health state of the HDD and the Windows backup failure you mentioned earlier.

To choose the Windows OS, do I select the Windows 7 x64 SP1 (media refresh) or the Windows 7 x64 SP1 (old) or the RTM?