Hard Drive Failure ... Surprised Myself on Recovery

[jebatty]

Only the 2nd time in 32 years of PC's, but yesterday morning when I turned the computer on it failed to boot, and then the dreaded blue screen. I had the Win 8 sytem discs, ran diagnostics, and the hard drive failed the test.

Fortunately, I had the foresight to have image software and everything backed up on an external HD. So, I bought a new internal HD for the computer, figured out how to get the old one out, installed the new HD, reloaded the Win 8 system from the discs, and then restored from the image backup -- all programs, data, etc. Didn't have to reload anything. This all took a long time, but much, much less time and trouble than if I had needed to reload all the programs. As far as I can tell, I lost very little, just a little bit from the last image backup which fortunately was just one day earlier.

And as soon as I was done, I ran another image backup. Being well prepared was a life saver.

 

[maverick06]

what did you use to mage the original image? windows?

 

[jebatty]

Win 8 is the system, and I don't use any of the Windows backup software. I bought Acronis True Image 2013 after reading the reviews. True Image backup goes on an external USB 3.0 hard drive, Right now I alternate two fulll backup sets, incremental, one on Mon am and the other Wed am. I may add a Sat am backup set. After five incremental backups, the next is a full backup and then incremental again, etc.

Pretty easy to use but still a little confusing. In the final analysis, all I can is that it worked. I held my breath as I did the restore, not sure of what the outcome would be. Everything looked and operated as it did before the restore.

 

[maple1]

Acronis is great.

I have a HD dock here, and every month or so (and before & after any software install) I clone my HD to a spare that I plop in the dock. I have 3 spares that I rotate every time I do that. I also picked up a couple computers off Ebay the same as my desktop, so depending what bad thing happens next, should be up & going with minimal effort.

Do you leave your external HD plugged in all the time? I used to do that but the external I had just quit working all together for some reason - think it was a Maxtor.

 

[jebatty]

I do leave the USB HD on all the time. The Acronis backups are automatic, run early in the morning. I also have two other USB 2 HD's which I don't use, but it might make sense to set up one of those as bootable with the operating system and Acronis loaded and ready to go to work.

 

[webbie]

Mac OS has "time machine" in the OS, which is an excellent backup program - I have one drive in my mac pro which serves as that backup. I remove it about once every 6 months and store it off-site. I also use Mozy (internet backup) for most of the very important directories and folders.

Much of my stuff is on the hearth.com server anyway, which get's backed up over the net (EMC) daily...

I had an HD crash about 12 years ago and lost a LOT, including about 4 months of quicken, quickbooks, my invoices, etc. - that was a complete PITA, so now I don't take chances with my QB and such (that is backed over the net plus time machine)...

Glad you were able to get up and running again so easily...

Oh, things seem a bit easier these days because Apple will reinstall my OS anyway (no disks needed) and many of my applications were bought from either the Mac App store or Amazon download store, both of which can install again easily...

 

[scajjr2]

I too second Acronis as a great backup & restore program. I back up my computers to our home NAS (have 2 Synology Diskstations 1 with a 3Tb drive the other has 2 2Tb drives, all are Western Digital Red series) and also to 2 different USB external drives, one gets taken to work so it's off site if anything happens to the drive(s) at the house (fire, theft, drive dies).

Backup, backup and then backup again. And copy all those pics off your cameras, phones and tablets. You'd be surprised at how many people don't and then something happens and they're gone.

Sam

 

[jebatty]

Off-site backup storage and greater redundancy is the next thing I need to tackle. I also have a Click-free Backup drive which I am using for daily data backups between Acronis backups, now scheduled for Mon, Wed and Sat.

 

[Dave A.]

Earlier this year, I had a system failure with Win7, where the OS wouldn't boot. Never found out the cause (possibly picked up something?). What happened was it tries to load windows, can't and reboots and after it loops a few times, it then kicks you into a graphical interface for recovery giving several options. (My recollection of the details isn't all that clear--including the name for it "recovery mode"? not sure). But none of the alternative boots, safe mode, safe mode with prompt, previous system that worked, etc -- none worked. (Btw, also had tried to restore old configs, "system restore", but kept getting an error message)

Fortunately it was Win7 Ultimate (same features as Pro) with the image backups, which I'd set up to do automatically once a week. So it gave the option to restore from image backup but I needed a new hdd (couldn't overwrite what I was using). Didn't want to wait to order from newegg (where I normally buy), so I picked one up at Best Buy -- a seagate. The image restore went fine (though for some reason only the last backup was available--others greyed out). New drive with win7 booted. Whatever data was missing, was available from the old hdd.

But I'm not so sure about this new seagate disk. It was an older model, and looking at the user reviews for it on newegg, there were a lot of problems with it--lot of bad ones, early failures. And the thing that is disturbing about it, is that the drive access light never goes off, which I never had before. In fact actually with this new seagate, the first few times it booted, it seemed like on every other boot, I would have the light on issue, the other times it was normal. But now it's on all the time. So I'm concerned about an early failure and am going to buy a new disk, at least to have on hand in case there is a failure. The Seagate diagnostics would not work, not sure what the conflict is. And even booting from a seagate diagnostics cd would not work-- I have some add on card, that loads it's own bios, that confused the seagate diagnostic disc. I probably could get it to work removing the card and all of that, but regardless, I just don't trust this seagate hdd.

The thing is if/when there is a hdd failure, it's going to be worse than the last time, because even though I couldn't get into Windows, I could load the recovery mode from the hdd. Without the hdd, things are different. So the question is, if anyone knows, is recovery mode (with access to image restore) available on the win7 install dvd or on a win7 recovery dvd/cd, which I made and have around. I think it is, so I wouldn't have to reload win7 manually from dvd, or anything like that.

 

[NateB]

Dave A did you check for a firmware update for your hard drive?

For everyone who is worried about their hard drive crashing, please get a ups and leave your PC run 24/7 reboot weely. The hardware in your hard drive will last much longer. Not forever but much longer. IMO

 

[Dave A.]

There doesn't appear to be a firmware update -- nothing shows up for my model on the seagate site.

Have a UPS. Sort of have to reboot about every 10 days -- my hauppauge tv tuner card wintv software for recordings stops working after about 10 days -- haven't found a fix yet.

Was reading some more of those Newegg user reviews on the hdd, and noticed how those who had warranty claims (3 yr warranty) had their hdd's replaced with a rebuilt hdd with only a 30/90 day warranty -- apparently industry practice now. You go to the Seagate site and first thing you see is "data recovery services" -- they must make a fortune on that -- kind of a disincentive to make the drives any more reliable.

Starting to think it may be time for a raid array.

 

[NateB]

There doesn't appear to be a firmware update -- nothing shows up for my model on the seagate site.

Have a UPS. Sort of have to reboot about every 10 days -- my hauppauge tv tuner card wintv software for recordings stops working after about 10 days -- haven't found a fix yet.

Was reading some more of those Newegg user reviews on the hdd, and noticed how those who had warranty claims (3 yr warranty) had their hdd's replaced with a rebuilt hdd with only a 30/90 day warranty -- apparently industry practice now. You go to the Seagate site and first thing you see is "data recovery services" -- they must make a fortune on that -- kind of a disincentive to make the drives any more reliable.

Starting to think it may be time for a raid array.

Is there any reason you are not using your original drive? I know the OS died, but if you format it you should be able to use it.

Also have you ever tried ORB.com for your tuner card. I have not used it for a year or so, but it is a great service if you watch or record television.

 

[maple1]

I just spent a couple hours making another clone of my c: drive (two actually) with Acronis and adding another gig of memory. When I tried out the clone in another (identical) computer I had on the shelf, it told me I had to re-activate Windows. (Running XP - yes I know it's old but I like it and will run it until I can't any more). Last time I did that (early summer?), I could put the HD in a shelf computer and it booted right up same as my original drive. Why would I now need to re-activate Windows on a cloned drive? Just starting to do some googling...

 

[Dave A.]

The first drive where win7 wouldn't boot was just an older drive that when I got this new one, which is faster, the windows performance index went up, so am just using it as a data drive (in a caddy)-- and I still haven't gone through it yet to clean it off and see what needs to be saved (there is a second partition on it). Anyway, would rather have something better/faster for the system drive.

The orb tv seems to be a device you have to buy (they say they're out of stock), rather than free software. But that's got me thinking. I do have two alternatives to the wintv:

1. MS Media Center, which I have but never set up to record tv -- I had a feeling it would be too simple--pick a show set it to record, not allowing the kind of tweaking in recordings (a few minutes before, a half hour longer, have a program go dormant for a few weeks, etc) I can do with wintv. But I should at least look at it.

2. XBMC, which is my media player -- hooked up from the computer to the big screen tv (with extended desktop display), I can use a remote/remote keyboard, with that. The new version has tv recording capability. But I ran into problems setting it up, with sql, and just put it aside. So if a media center doesn't work out, I could go back to setting up the XBMC tv recording.

Still, am hoping to maybe eventually solve the problem with wintv. And actually, without that problem I'd have no desire to reboot that frequently.

Edit: I guess I misunderstood you with the orb.com. You meant to use instead of my tuner card, rather than other software to use with my dual tuner card. I don't think the problem is with the card, am pretty sure it's the software.

 

[Dave A.]

When I tried out the clone in another (identical) computer I had on the shelf, it told me I had to re-activate Windows.

That's the problem, it knows it's not the same computer, from serial numbers (or some hardware difference, like the memory). You'd be okay with the clone on the same computer.

 

[NateB]

The first drive where win7 wouldn't boot was just an older drive that when I got this new one, which is faster, the windows performance index went up, so am just using it as a data drive (in a caddy)-- and I still haven't gone through it yet to clean it off and see what needs to be saved (there is a second partition on it). Anyway, would rather have something better/faster for the system drive.

The orb tv seems to be a device you have to buy (they say they're out of stock), rather than free software. But that's got me thinking. I do have two alternatives to the wintv:

1. MS Media Center, which I have but never set up to record tv -- I had a feeling it would be too simple--pick a show set it to record, not allowing the kind of tweaking in recordings (a few minutes before, a half hour longer, have a program go dormant for a few weeks, etc) I can do with wintv. But I should at least look at it.

2. XBMC, which is my media player -- hooked up from the computer to the big screen tv, I can use a remote/remote keyboard, with that. The new version has tv recording capability. But I ran into problems setting it up, with sql, and just put it aside. So if a media center doesn't work out, I could go back to setting up the XBMC tv recording.

Still, am hoping to maybe eventually solve the problem with wintv. And actually, without that problem I'd have no desire to reboot that frequently.

That is a shame about orb it was a website that let you stream your media anywhere on the web. You could even watch your live TV from anywhere, but it looks like they got bought out by someone "concast" so the service is over. ohwell

Media center is cool and you can stream with that if you set it up. if you want real fast HDs go for a solid state drive. It is amazing how fast your pc will get.

The reboot time is subjective, I do it when the pc gets slow.

 

[maple1]

That's the problem, it knows it's not the same computer, from serial numbers. You'd be okay with the clone on the same computer.

But I have put the clone in another computer with no issues before - computers identical, except I assume for serial numbers. Just this past summer.

 

[Dave A.]

They use some kind of algorithm, I believe, where it allows just so many changes, reloads, and then activation is triggered, that's my understanding anyway.

 

[NateB]

when you restore a drive and it says you need to contact Microsoft it is no big deal just call the number you don't talk to a person it give you a number and your back in business.

I know someone who used the same windows 7 key 20 plus times and it always works. Not that I recommend stealing but for backup restore its good to know its not a difficult process

 

[Dave A.]

I meant to mention, I don't want an SSD, besides in order to restore my drive from the image (with the win7 backup program) the new drive has to be at least as large as the old one (1T).

Also, am not talking about streaming live tv. I'm time shifting (and recording for editing and archiving certain programs) with this device and software.

 

[Dave A.]

I have a copy of XP loaded in vmware as a virtual machine to run some of my older software which won't run on win7. So a couple times (after making some changes) activation has been required. You get a message "do you want to activate on line now" (or something like that). I say okay, and that has worked without a problem -- no need to call, as far as I know.

 

[maple1]

I have a copy of XP loaded in vmware as a virtual machine to run some of my older software which won't run on win7. So a couple times (after making some changes) activation has been required. You get a message "do you want to activate on line now" (or something like that). I say okay, and that has worked without a problem -- no need to call, as far as I know.

Thanks for all the help.

I tried to activate online but it wouldn't connect. After swapping around some Cat5 cables here, I finally got on the internet with it but it still wouldn't connect. Now that has me thinking the bad connection was on the MS end and that maybe Microsoft took down their XP online activation servers? Really dreading the day I have to stop using XP - I also have some older software that will not likely take kindly to a OS 'upgrade', and this XP machine has been purring like a pussycat for me for years now. I have no practical reason to go to 7 or 8, and for me it would be a step back. Or more like falling backwards off a cliff.

For now I'll just keep backing up & cloning like I have been, I guess, and worry about the re-activation thing when I really need to. Right now I have two working identical computers so I should hopefully be OK for a while yet. The one that wouldn't work today was one of another pair I had on the shelf that should be identical to the working ones.

Frickin computers....

 

[Dave A.]

I know I read recently that XP support (updates) was due to end soon -- next year I thought. But what's supposed to happen if they ever close the activation servers down is that they would provide a way to turn off activation requirements in the program, activation would no longer be required.

I don't think that's happened yet. Try calling. They can't obsolete the software like that, there'd be a pretty big stink, I would think... hope

 

[Dave A.]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/250774/will_i_be_able_to_activate_xp_after_2014_.html

 

[Dave A.]

Earlier this year, I had a system failure with Win7, where the OS wouldn't boot.

Well, that just happened again, Win7 wouldn't boot, only this time it was able to repair itself and reload (was sure not to happy, and started up the other computer in the meantime). When I got in, PC Tools firewall, saw a new network (which I had to approve) and then said system files had been tampered with and to run antivirus software. Updated and ran malwarebytes and did a quick scan, everything okay. Am running a full scan on C now.

What preceded this was that the system just died in place (happened a week or so ago also) went to the computer, it was on but blank screen, no keyboard or mouse response, no disk activity, so had to turn it off and on.
(for some reason the reset button wouldn't work either).

I'm suspecting a hardware issue.