Whirlpool

god one problem after another..first its my desktop, now my laptop.

anyway, i turned on my laptop this morning and cant book vista. stopped at this black screen with my mouse pointer only.

i called dell and they told me to run a few test and as a result they claim its a faulty.

question is, anyone know what software computer stores use to backup faulty hdd?

If the drive is mechanically faulty, then your chances of recovering anything are slim.

If it's just Windows that's crashed, then you can fit the drive into another computer as a slave, then copy your files back onto another drive.

Another option would be to get a Live CD Linux distro such as PCLinuxOS 2007 and try that way, however what I've just mentioned requires a bit of understanding to do from start to finish.

(sorry I can't elaborate too much ... got the flu, can't do a lot today).

i think theres just a few sector damage...i think. not sure, i asked the dell person what i can do to get my data, and that's what she suggested.

anyone know any computer stores in melb that can do it???

Here check this out:

www.payam.com.au

Hope it helps.

^ have u used the service yourself? seems very expensive.....

3riC writes...

question is, anyone know what software computer stores use to backup faulty hdd?

One of these on hand can get you out of trouble if you have access to another PC:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/USB-2-0-to-SATA-IDE-Hard-Drive-HDD-Converter-Cable_W0QQitemZ260251452438QQihZ016QQcategoryZ31495QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Just plug it into a USB port. No need for a case or any of that other crapola.

Here is a photo of my backup drive:
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj60/OzziMozzi/2-HDD.jpg

Mozzi

i did thought about getting a case for my faulty hdd and try plugging it into my desktop thru usb...

u guys think it'll detect it?

3riC writes...

now my laptop

i turned on my laptop this morning and cant booT vista. stopped at this black screen with my mouse pointer only.

mmm
strange
ive got a client today with just that issue

toshiba laptop
vista os

the issue is the lappy uses hard drive security in the bios so it needs to be fixed in the box

ill look at in the morn but it may be a common issue that we just need to find resolution for

http://www.google.com.au/search?sourceid=navclient-menuext&ie=UTF-8&q=black+screen+with+my+mouse+pointer+only

keep in touch

D

Mozzi writes...

One of these on hand can get you out of trouble if you have access to another PC:

These look good but with the cost of shipping it is about the same price as a box.

wst700x writes...

These look good but with the cost of shipping it is about the same price as a box.

Yes, $18 for the ability to put almost ANY HDD on a PC is a good deal.
The time will come when you wished you had one of these.

one page that looks promising

http://winvistaforums.com/windows-vista-support/10090-boot-problem-blank-screen-cursor-only-3.html#post11240

D

MitH writes...

the issue is the lappy uses hard drive security in the bios

That could be a tricky one. Let us know how you get on with that.

Mozzi writes...

the ability to put almost ANY HDD on a PC is a good deal.

You are right of course.....my need for connect any hdd came a long time ago. My solution, though not elegant, does work.

http://img152.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0293st9.jpg

Despite all the talk here in these forums about how important it is to backup data, people still don't do it. It is difficult for me to feel any sympathy for you. If you must have the data off that disk it can be done but will cost a fortune.

http://www.payam.com.au/

I hope others here who don't backup read this.

hughjorgenn writes...

If you must have the data off that disk it can be done but will cost a fortune.
http://www.payam.com.au/
I hope others here who don't backup read this.

or try here
http://www.recoverdata.com.au/

nice guy fast work

back to the op

ive been reading up and the f8 option looks positive for this issue but i need to read up more

D

MitH writes...

back to the op

http://forums.microsoft.com/technet/showpost.aspx?postid=2413565&siteid=17&sb=0&d=1&at=7&ft=11&tf=0&pageid=2

After trying everything else that anyone had suggested on this thread, I found that we must put in the Win Vista Ultimate disc, that we installed this OS with and when it boots into the install GUI, don't tell it to install, but go to the repair option and select your Win Vista... After a while it asked me if I wanted to restore to an earlier point and I believe that I said Yes, but now I am second guessing myself, only because after I hit yes, it didn't ask me anything else about when to restore it to or anything, but it sat there for some time and said that it was repairing itself and after a while it said that it was finished and that we would restart and hopefully it would be fixed. Well, since I just get this eary feeling when a microsoft product is attempting to fix itself, I wasn't holding my breath. What to my suprise, it freakin' worked! My beautiful wallpaper came rushing up while waterfalls, fountains and geisers of utter glorious data once again danced at my fingertips... for my Baby was not dead! Vista, I hate to love you, and I love to hate you.

looks positive

if only my client had made the recovery vista disks......

D

I'd be getting a device such as the ones already mentioned. I highly doubt theres anything wrong with the HDD, proberly just a corrupt install. If you have actually Vista disks (or can get a hold of some) you could try a few of the repair options, includeing boot fix.

rickyc12s writes...

I'd be getting a device such as the ones already mentioned.

but

MitH writes...

the issue is the lappy uses hard drive security in the bios so it needs to be fixed in the box

so it cant be moved out.....

D