Hard Drive Failing

[grandpamike]

Recently, I have gotten the message, Winodws detected a hard disk problem
Back up your files imm to prevent loss, and then contact the comp manufacture to determine if u have to repair or replace the disk. What I have done is, create a disc image on an external HD, and also d/l and created Gateway Recovery Disc <3 discs> and the Gateway apps and drivers disc. Where I am confused is, whe the drive finally goes, and I install a new HD, how do I use the image and discs I have to enable the new drive to be able to boot up into Windows 7, which I think would be there by virtue of what I have collected <image + recovery discs>. The question I have is, what would be the correct sequence of getting the OS and all the files needed to enable the drive to work correctly. I am sorry if I am not explaining this correctly, but maybe someone can give me nformation on how to do this.

Thanks in advance.

 

[strollin]

If you used the built-in Win 7 program to create your system image, you should use the built-in program to create a repair disk. You can boot from the repair disk to restore the system image you created.

You actually don't need the Gateway Recovery discs, if you use them to recover your system it will be restored back to the way it was when it left the factory. The system image will restore your system back to the way it was the day you made the image.

 

[grandpamike]

I used a program from Macrium called ReflectFree, the question was, in the image of the drive I made contain the OS as well as all of the files, programs drivers etc ?

 

[strollin]

I used a program from Macrium called ReflectFree, the question was, in the image of the drive I made contain the OS as well as all of the files, programs drivers etc ?

Yes. The image that Reflect makes is an exact image of your disk, complete with OS, Programs, drivers, etc...

Within the Reflect program there should be the ability to create a boot disk which you can use to boot the computer in order to do the restore.

 

[grandpamike]

Yes it does have a restore, but where I am confused is, when I replace the HD, how do I get the image I backed up onto the new drive ? When I start it, does it look for an OS and if it cannot find one does it give me some type of instruction on how to migrate the image I made to the new HD.?

 

[strollin]

You need to make a bootable disk. Look under "Other Tasks" on the Menu of Reflect, there is an option "Create Rescue Media". That option will help you create a bootable CD that you can use to boot from and do the restore in the event that you are unable to boot from the hard drive in your machine.

 

[grandpamike]

It may be too late for that. Woke up this AM, and had the following: Restarted, and the monitor just kept flicking, no loading.Tried another restart, with a different monitor, and got the opening Gateway Logo, then nothing, just stopped working. I assume that this is due to a complete HD crash.

 

[strollin]

Bummer. You may still be able to recover the image to a new hdd. Use the Gateway discs to restore the system back to factory, then install Reflect, create the Rescue Media, then boot from the Rescue Media and restore your image.

 

[grandpamike]

Well, here is what I just got on startup:

Reboot select proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot device and press a key

Which I think is the drive is completely gone as it cannot boot into C:

 

[strollin]

Since you need to replace your hdd, consider replacing it with an ssd and you will get a nice performance boost.

One you get the new drive installed, follow my instructions above to be able to restore the image. You will need the new drive to be as large or larger than the original drive.

 

[grandpamike]

It is an older Gateway, so I am not leaning towards a SSD, it now has a 1.5 TB HDD, and I will look for a 2TB one to replace it. I appreciate all of the help you have given me, but have another question, would I need to change any pins or any other settings to go from 1.5 to 2TB drive ?

 

[strollin]

I'm not sure what you mean when you say change pins but no, you won't need to change any settings. Just make sure it is the same type (I assume SATA) and if this is a desktop you will need a 3.5" drive, if laptop, 2.5" drive.

I think when you say pins you may be referring to the older IDE drives that had jumpers that needed to be set for Master/Slave. SATA drives don't use those jumpers.

2TB should be a good replacement for the 1.5TB you had.

 

[grandpamike]

That is what I meant by pins <I am old>I really appreciate all of the help you have given me. Thanks again.

 

[grandpamike]

Here is where I am today, I booted hitting Alt F10 to get into the repair system part, ran it, but about 1/2 way through, it stopped letting me know that there was a disc problem. Cancelled that, did a reboot with the Recovery disc in and hit f12 to make sure that it would load from the cd, got the following, Loading files, then to a screen that gave me a choice of what I want to do, only problem is that the options were all greyed out only thing that I could do was exit. Sigh..Just wanted to ask you again, if I put in a new HD, will the recovery discs that I had made work with the new HD and install that drive back to factory with the OS and all other programs that came with the computer ? Or, do I have to buy an OS and do a clean install then rum Macrium restore ?

 

[strollin]

That's what should happen with the recovery discs. I think why all the options are greyed out is because your hdd has failed.

 

[grandpamike]

Bit te bullett, took the PC to Fry's, and while I was talking to the tech, he opened the case up, took out the HDD, tested it, and found it be be no good, and installed the new HDD that I bought yesterday. Will pick it up tmrw after they install the OS and check it for any other problems. They charged me $59.99, well worth it after fooling around with it. He thinks that the image file I had created might be able to be used on the new drive, but said, that even if it does not, it would not affect the new one. Thanks again for babysitting me <G>

 

[strollin]

You should be able to now install Reflect and restore your image.

 

[grandpamike]

The first thing I did was install Reflect and make a Rescue Disc, then I made an image file of the existing disc that I got back from the tech. Now, I am hesitating to do a restore from the original one I made before the crash, thinking, if something goes wrong, what then ? I will probably do it today and, fingers crossed, all goes well, that is why I made the initial image to protect me in case it does. Another concern is, when doing a virus check on the drive before, it only got to 67% finished, and it had found 1 Trojan, which I cleared, but wonder if it is possible that any sort of malware could be the reason the HDD failed ?

 

[strollin]

That Trojan it found is new (new hdd, new OS) so couldn't have been an issue with old hdd. Either the shop returned it to you with the Trojan or you somehow downloaded it since you got it back from the shop.

There's no guarantee that something won't go wrong during the restore or even that the image file is good so it's wise for you to have created a new image. Images are a way to help protect yourself but things can still go wrong. Reflect is a very reliable imaging program so you should be OK.

I've been imaging drives for many years and have encountered very few problems.

 

[grandpamike]

No, the trojan was a found on the old HDD not the new one, maybe I explained it incorrectly, but, in any case, I will attempt the restore today, fingers crossed, will let you know the outcome.