Computer problems

gzecc · May 12, 2015

I had one older working (XP)computer. My sons gave me a newer laptop (windows 7)for my birthday.
I brought both computers to my local computer repair company to copy the data from the old to new to have redundancy. After many weeks of calling them to get an update, them telling me the hard drives are giving them trouble I eventually pick them up and pay $300 for two new hard drives. I am told everything is fine.
I get them home, and there is no old data. They just left out that information. They now say the data wouldn't transfer because of a failing hard drive.
What would you computer guys do to try and retrieve business docs and pictures from the last 5 yrs?

Jags · May 12, 2015

A bit confused. Are you simply trying to copy the "my documents" folder from XP to the "Documents" folder in Win7?
If so it doesn't get any easier than a thumb drive. Plug it in and copy the entire folder from XP and then move it over to Win7 and dump it into the documents folder.
I think I must be missing something...

semipro · May 12, 2015

If the old hard drive was truly failing there are companies that specialize in recovering data from such drives. Its costly though.
There are also programs that may be used. If you can install the old drive in your new computer you can then try to recover data using such a program.

DougA · May 12, 2015

First, never go back there. Too many places won't make any extra effort to do the job correctly. So sad when it involves your personal treasures.

There are a number of data recovery software options. Most involve a fair bit of work if the drive is indeed corrupt but it can be done. I have R Studio and Stellar Phoenix but not married to either. A comparison is here and the best is pretty cheap. http://data-recovery-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

A lot depends upon whether your old corrupt drive is the old IDE or the newer serial. The 1" wide ribbon cable means it's IDE, smaller is serial. Either way, I would buy a hard drive adapter and plug that into the USB port of your new laptop. Then, see if the drive has anything on it. If not, then buy the recovery software. DO NOT format or add anything to the drive.
I suspect the store formatted your drive by accident and the data will still be there, just a PITA to recover. Most times when a tech makes a mistake like that, they cover it up, making it more difficult to correct.

If all of that sounds difficult, then search out a data recovery specialist and explain what happened. Chances are they can recover the stuff fast and without a huge cost unless the drive is truly screwed, in which case the cost will be high. They will always quote first.

heat seeker · May 12, 2015

I know it's after the fact, but please do backups in the future. I agree with DougA's assessment.

Jags · May 12, 2015

gzecc said:
I had one older working (XP)computer. My sons gave me a newer laptop (windows 7)for my birthday.

This is why I am confused. It sounds like you simply want to copy data from one computer to the next. Or - are you having hard drive failure?

DougA · May 12, 2015

Jags said:
This is why I am confused. It sounds like you simply want to copy data from one computer to the next. Or - are you having hard drive failure?

The problem is that he took it to a computer store to do the transfer and the tech screwed it up and now they say the drive is corrupt.

You'd be shocked how many times this happens. Most of these stores have poorly paid geeks who are working on 3 computers simultaneously while listening to bad music on their ear buds and searching for porn. When I have a serious problem that I can't solve, I drive past a dozen computer repair stores to go to a decent one that is 30 miles away.

Jags · May 12, 2015

DougA said:
You'd be shocked how many times this happens.

After being the IT Manager for my company (14 locations with ~140 end users) for 20 years - very little shocks me anymore. :confused:

DougA · May 12, 2015

BTW, I forgot while I was typing that most hard drive problems are actually cable problems. I started mentioning cables, then got sidetracked. The first thing I have learned to do when a HD is causing problems is to replace the cable, then back up anything that needs it. Both types of cables have very thin wires in them and prone to problems when moved. The newer sata cables have poor connectors. For 5 bucks, switch them out first.

gzecc · May 13, 2015

Jags said:
This is why I am confused. It sounds like you simply want to copy data from one computer to the next. Or - are you having hard drive failure?

Yes, I wanted old data copied to newer computer and keep both working for redundancy. They were both working when brought in. They told me the hard drives were giving them problems and had to replace them. They just didn't tell me that all my old data was left on the old hard drive they removed. This I found out when I got home and powered up. Then they tell me when I call in. Very bad customer service.

Jags · May 13, 2015

Do you have the old drives? If not - well...sorry.

maple1 · May 13, 2015

Jags said:
Do you have the old drives? If not - well...sorry.

My question also.

If not, I would go back there & demand them back. Then go from there. Chances are your data is still there.

This sure does sound like a place to stay away from....

laxin213 · May 13, 2015

I've worked in IT for 10+ years. As jags mentioned you can use a flash drive for simple data transfer. Plug it in and make a copy of your data by dragging and dropping. You should be doing this frequently so hat you don't lose anything. Keep anything important in 3 places. A flash drive in your safe or safe deposit box with important data is a good idea.

From what I read, you have your old hard drives back or do you looking at the replies ??. If you do, buy the items linked below, and plug in your old hard drives to your current working machine. I can help with how to do the plugs, do each drive one at a time, and each drive needs 2 cables - 1 for data 1 for power. If you don't have them demand your old drives back

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=12-119-244

Dr.Faustus · May 13, 2015

I own a computer repair company. I doubt the hard drives were failing in both machines, especially if they worked when you brought them in and both of them booted into windows. If I were going to do the copy for you and the xp machine would not boot, i would remove the hard drive from the xp computer and connect it to the usb port with an adapter to a known working computer. This would let me browse the xp drive without relying on the drive being bootable. It would also eliminate a problem with the cable (although thats less of a problem in laptops vs desktops).
for a truly failed hard drive, There is always the old freezer trick. Put the drive in the freezer overnight, plug it in still ice cold and if it works try to pull off as much data as you can before it stops working forever. I've had good luck with that. Sending off to data recovery is prohibitively expensive.

Having to replace the drives in both computers is unlikely. are you sure they replaced them and not just reinstalled windows? 300 to replace the disks in both computers with new disks and install windows on them is a good price.

gzecc · May 14, 2015

They replaced both drives. I do have the old drives. I was waiting to get my laptop working before reinstalling the old desktop hard drive and try to copy some files. This is a reasonable strategy?

Hogwildz · May 14, 2015

get yourself some portable hard drive cases, and transfer the info via USB, then use the old drives for whatever.

maple1 · May 15, 2015

gzecc said:
They replaced both drives. I do have the old drives. I was waiting to get my laptop working before reinstalling the old desktop hard drive and try to copy some files. This is a reasonable strategy?

Get a hard drive dock.

Here's an example:

http://ca.startech.com/HDD/Docking/...ocking-Station-for-25in-or-35in-HDD~UNIDOCK2U

That one will do either SATA or IDE drives, and I happen to have one of those. Works very well. That's just an example, you can get them a lot cheaper if you only need SATA. Then it's easy to transfer files, & you don't have to mess around with drive enclosures or mounting drives in a computer or re-installing them. Just plug the dock into a USB port of a working computer (and plug the power cord into a power outlet), insert the bare drive into the dock (or plug it into it if it's an IDE drive), and turn the dock on. It will show up on the computer as another drive. Then just drag & drop what you want to the working computer. This also makes it very easy to use a bare drive (or multiple drives) for periodically backing up your computer. I think there are also other adaptors that do it a bit differently, maybe only using a cable between the drive & computer.

Of course, it would need to be a functioning drive. If the drive has truly gone bad, this won't work - I had one last week (an old drive I had kicking around) that just did the 'click click' thing when I plugged it in. I guess that's why it was stuffed in a box on the shelf with 'bad' written on it. Didn't try the freezer thing though.

And, if the drive does show up when you power it up but appears to be blank/wiped, that is another issue - but you may still be able to find some data on it with the right program. I used one once, free download, but I forget what it was called. Maybe Recuva?

I am very curious what you do find out on the old drives though.

CaptainK · May 15, 2015

Get the drives back. . Then Spinrite. www.grc.com

CrufflerJJ · May 15, 2015

Not to be too harsh, but to blame ANYBODY other than you for expecting data off a 5 year old hard drive is a bit extreme. Hard drives are mechanical devices. Devices fail, often at the worst time. "Business docs" suggests that the files are somewhat important. Don't trust any single device. Back them up, either to an external hard drive, or some sort of online backup service (i.e., Carbonite). To do otherwise is just asking for trouble. Store some backups onsite (at your home/business), and at least one set offsite (safe deposit box or online).

Computers are great until they fail. In the "olden days", you could get another set of prints if you had the negatives. Too many people expect the pictures of their "special moments" to exist FOREVER on their computer. Sorry, but if a mechanical failure doesn't trash your data, then a virus could do it.

Lesson learned, I hope.

maple1 · May 15, 2015

Sounded a bit harsh to me.

I've got a few 5+ year old drives I use for backup, still working fine.

And both of his drives and computers were working when they went to the 'experts'.

Lecture likely not required...

CrufflerJJ · May 15, 2015

Never mind then. Enjoy the preventable/avoidable loss of data.

Color me insensitive and uncaring.....just ask my kids!

In ~30 years of personal desktop computer use, I've not yet lost data as a result of a drive failure, but did lose a bit of data from a virus that wiped my hard drive about 15-20 years ago. Luckily, I had multiple backups (back in the day of Fastback software & floppy backups). If my computer puked now, I'd probably lose a couple weeks of noncritical stuff.

To blame a sacrificial computer geek for the loss of data is a bit disingenuous. The computer USER is responsible for data security/retention.

The issue at hand is not the longevity of hardware itself (i.e., hard disks). The issue at hand is a user's willingness to back up data, even on a brand new hard disk. With the current backup options available (remote cloud vs local hardware/software choices), data loss is SOLELY the user's fault.

Plan for hardware failure, and implement MULTIPLE backups to prevent the loss of critical data in the event of such failure.

It's like buckling your seat belt each & every time you get into your car. If you get ejected from the vehicle during a rollover crash and get crushed/killed due to the lack of seat belt use, is it the auto maker's fault? Nope - it's the fault of the user.

Jags · May 18, 2015

CrufflerJJ said:
To blame a sacrificial computer geek for the loss of data is a bit disingenuous.

If you didn't notice...the "user" took it to the "professional" to have the data transferred. At the point that the "professional" took on the job it became HIS responsibility as that was part of the "service" that was agreed to.

Don't get me wrong - I am a firm believer of backups, but if I were the "user" you can be sure that I would be holding the "professional" accountable. I have a long history of being the "professional". Bringing in two working machines and handing back both machines with new drives when all that was asked for was data transfer smells fishy. I could speculate as to how/why this happened but I don't know the facts. One thing I will tell you is that the Geek screwed up.

gzecc - if there is anything more that we can help with please shout out.

gzecc · May 26, 2015

maple1 said:
Get a hard drive dock.

Here's an example:

http://ca.startech.com/HDD/Docking/...ocking-Station-for-25in-or-35in-HDD~UNIDOCK2U

That one will do either SATA or IDE drives, and I happen to have one of those. Works very well. That's just an example, you can get them a lot cheaper if you only need SATA. Then it's easy to transfer files, & you don't have to mess around with drive enclosures or mounting drives in a computer or re-installing them. Just plug the dock into a USB port of a working computer (and plug the power cord into a power outlet), insert the bare drive into the dock (or plug it into it if it's an IDE drive), and turn the dock on. It will show up on the computer as another drive. Then just drag & drop what you want to the working computer. This also makes it very easy to use a bare drive (or multiple drives) for periodically backing up your computer. I think there are also other adaptors that do it a bit differently, maybe only using a cable between the drive & computer.

Of course, it would need to be a functioning drive. If the drive has truly gone bad, this won't work - I had one last week (an old drive I had kicking around) that just did the 'click click' thing when I plugged it in. I guess that's why it was stuffed in a box on the shelf with 'bad' written on it. Didn't try the freezer thing though.

And, if the drive does show up when you power it up but appears to be blank/wiped, that is another issue - but you may still be able to find some data on it with the right program. I used one once, free download, but I forget what it was called. Maybe Recuva?

I am very curious what you do find out on the old drives though.

Would this suffice?
http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Exter...id=1432664710&sr=8-1&keywords=hard+drive+dock
I have a seagate barracuda 7200.12 250gb

DougA · May 26, 2015

As long as your old drives are SATA, then it will work.

gzecc · May 27, 2015

DougA said:
As long as your old drives are SATA, then it will work.

I don't see SATA. Its a Seagate, barracuda 7200.12 250 GB. PN 9SL131-302

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