computer hard drive

[chokkie]

I hope someone out there can help with this question. The hard drive to our desk top computer is completely cream-crackered now (we've had it 8 years now) and we've been advised to replace it - it's had several trips to the computer hospital in the last couple of years, so I think we are admitting defeat. My question is .... do we need to replace the complete tower containing the hard drive, or can we purchase just a hard drive for our friendly computer technician to install within the tower, thus keeping the original tower.

Neither Mr. Chox nor I really have the faintest idea about all this, so would appreciate a bit of advice, please.

We are both a bit on the devastated side when we realised that we might well lose all the stuff that we've got on the old decrepid hard drive - all those years worth of pictures, Word documents, etc. Really upset ....

Anyway, hope to hear from you soon re my query.

best wishes, and TIA

chox.

[Old_Geezer]

Just replacing the drive is perfectly possible. Fairly simple in fact. But you may wish to consider if the disk is that old, is it worth your while considering upgrading the lot ? It seems to be getting near a decade old.

[Old_Geezer]

BTW if the document files and picture files are that important to you, I trust you cave copied them to at least one back up drive somewhere ?

[Old_Geezer]

"have copied"
¯
(I do hate typos, especially when the site refuses to let one edit. Makes one look foolish.)

[baitress]

It will depend on your hard drive. Is it an IDE
or SATA. Also if it is the only hard drive you
will have to re-install your operating system,
i.e. Windows XP or Windows 7

[carlton23]

Old Geezer: I`m sure you know about the `Google Bar`, which allows you to rectify typo`s.

[carlton23]

I hope this will help.

ERASE ENTIRE HARD DRIVE: How do I Erase my entire hard drive(s) on my PC?
Eraser uses the 'Darik's Boot and Nuke' disk option to erase all your hard drives.
To use this option:
1. Place a floppy (or CD) in your a: drive.
2. Click on the Start button and then choose Programs->Eraser->Create Boot Nuke Disk.
3. Ensure 'Writing on Floppy' is ticked. Tick 'Formatting' if your floppy needs to be formatted.
4. Click OK. Result: Your Boot Nuke Disk has now been created.
5. Boot up your PC with the floppy still remaining in your a: drive.
Remember: If you wish to erase the Hard Disk of another PC, then bring this Floppy to the PC, insert it into the a: drive and Boot it up.
Also, if you need to if you need to boot from CD (because you don't have a floppy drive) then you will have to set your PC to boot from CD within the BIOS of the PC.
Result: All drives will now be erased (including the Operating System) IMPORTANT: USE WITH EXTREME CAUTION For a summary: 'Darik's Boot and Nuke' is a self-contained boot floppy that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers.
DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.
-------------------------------------
How do I reload the Operating System?
-------------------------------------
You will need to have the Operating System Recovery Disks at hand.

[VHG]

First, buy an external hard drive (from Tesco or similar) and copy ALL your personal files to that external hard drive NOW, before the hard disk in your PC crashes.

You should ALWAYS keep at least one backup of your personal files, more than one backup if possible.

Yes you can replace the hard disk, that is fairly easy (15 minuite job).

The big problem will come when you need to reinstall Windows and all the programs that you currently have on your computer.

Do you have a copy of Windows?

Do you have a copy of all the programs currently on your PC?

I have to say I agree with others, about time to buy a new "tower" (you can get one for about £300)

[scotman]

If you have not done so the first thing you need to do is make a full backup of all the data files you have created; pictures, docs etc.
Once you have all these safe you can fit another drive and reinstall the Operating System(assuming you have the discs) and then any programs that you have.
Personally I would buy as big a drive as you can afford and consider partitioning it at setup. This will enable you to keep track of things more easily.

[Wak]

Hi Chokkie, You sound rather hesitant about doing the change over to a new hard drive yourself?
My suggestion would be to firstly back up all your important files (photos, etc.) and other data to either CDs or DVDs ( as previously suggested by others) and then ask your friendly computer man if he can clone the old hard drive contents on to a new, larger hard drive which he would obviously supply and fit.
This way, you would just be simply transferring everything on the old drive (including programs, registry content, Boot-up files, drivers and other data) on to a newer, larger drive without the hassle of reinstalling all the original programs which would obviously need all the original installation CDs (if you still have them?).
You would also be keeping the original tower unit.
Have a word with your computer man and see what he thinks.

[Old_Geezer]

I have a google bar, I'm unaware it allows one to edit one's posts on the site here.

[carlton23]

Old Geezer, yes, just click on the `Check button` and it will underline your errors, click on these to correct, then click again to resume type.

[Old_Geezer]

Well thanks, that's all very well, but it isn't going to allow me to edit the post I just made. Prior spell check I can achieve in many ways. A typo isn't really a typo until it's posted.

[chokkie]

'morning everyone ... thanks so much for all the advice and suggestions re our tower/hard drive. We're currently in the process of mulling all this over, and will speak to our little computer mechanic man when we get back from hols. As far as backing up all our Word documents, etc ... er, um, well I think that's a lost cause - and that we might well lose a whole bunch of stuff, but our computer man is very reliable and good and he will definitely do his best for us. I think that, given the age of the tower itself, we will just bite the bullet and get a whole new one, including a new hard-drive. We've got all the disks for re-installation, so that won't be a problem.

Thanks again everyone for all your help,

Have a great Thursday ... Chox.