Hardrive Failure? or Software?

[BrothersKeep3R]

my old system, roughly 2 years old(my dad is currently using it) has failed to boot. unfortunately i wasn't thinking when i had it build and put the operating system on a raid 0 array.
Now Windows 7 is running startup repair. This only happened just then and so i don't know if it will succeed or not. However i would like to know if this is a hardware failure and also if the files will be recoverable.

Specs:
Windows 7 (64bit)
Intel i7 860
Radeon HD4870 1 GB
GIGABYTE P55-UD3 MB
4 x 2GB Transcend 1333mhz Ram
2 x 1TB Western Digital Black HDDs ( These are in Raid 0 and have the operating system on them....Silly idea i know im dumb >.< totally regretting it)

Any Suggestions would be great! thanks in advance.

 

[richc46]

Welcome
Use Ubuntu to back up your stuff now. If it is software problem Ubuntu will work. If hardware, especially hard drive, it may not.
Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer - How-To Geek

 

[BrothersKeep3R]

Thanks for the suggestion, i haven't done it yet but will try it ASAP. The startup recovery is still going should i leave it be?

 

[richc46]

If its started leave it alone. If it works great, if not save your stuff. We then have a lot more options to get this fixed.

 

[BrothersKeep3R]

Alright then, i have ubuntu downloading atm. Read the article too, seems very helpful. Anyway Dad only really wants to save his TV shows and whatnot(probably porn actually). Thanks for the help so far! I'll rep you.

 

[richc46]

Hey your a good guy. Thanks.

 

[theog]

If you have a External HD, you could copy & paste your data.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html
than copy & paste your data to new HD.

 

[BrothersKeep3R]

Thanks, but nothing i can really do now while i wait for startup repair to finish. Hopefully it will fix but im preparing for the worst. >.<

 

[BrothersKeep3R]

Bah! just woke up after 3 hours sleep -.-''. The startup Restore hasn't finished its been going for 7 hours i don't think it is working. If i try to cancel it it says that the recocery process cannot be canceled. Should i just leave it be or just turn it off and backup files using ubuntu now?

 

[BrothersKeep3R]

Unfortunately the unbuntu recovery failed as it could not even see the volume! i guess i should just UN-raid them and see which one broke. Any know an easy method of testing a faulty harddrive?

 

[richc46]

This should do
Test Hard Drive HD Diagnostic or this test Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

 

[BrothersKeep3R]

Thanks you guys again!
Theog thanks for the link, i was able to salvage some files using that method however i do not know if they are corrupt of not. xD It is still copying files.
Just bought an OCZ vertex 2 60GB for that comp as i don't think i'll be running RAID 0 again >.<.