Help - Computer just $hit the bed

BertBeagle · 09:12 PM

Help Needed

I had hit send on an email with about 3 meg of photos attached. Then my desktop just gave me a blue screen saying it was dumping memory. I shut it off. Now it will not boot. It is an HP that is about 5 years old.

I don't have the recovery disc or any of the system discs it came with (don't ask). I tried the system or Windows cd that came with my lap top but it did not work in the desk top.

What to do next? I don't want to loose the content of the hard drive.

Help much appreciated.

SlowToady · 10-19-2007, 09:13 PM

Dumping memory just means it was writing the contents of the memory to a file on disk, a "memory dump." It be examined to determine what likely caused the Blue Screen.

Is it giving you an error when you try and boot? If so, what error?

We need a LOT more information to help you quickly and efficiently.

BertBeagle · 10-19-2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlowToady

Dumping memory just means it was writing the contents of the memory to a file on disk, a "memory dump." It be examined to determine what likely caused the Blue Screen.

Is it giving you an error when you try and boot? If so, what error?

We need a LOT more information to help you quickly and efficiently.

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I am not very knowledgeable - I am a user only and not a "mechanic" with the computer.

I did not see an error message. The "dump" jumped out at me and I hit the power button. Later when trying to boot with the Windows XP disc that came with my laptop it gave me an error, I believe, 7. But I can't be sure.

slodave · slodave's Garage

Most likely, the hard drive failed. Memory could cause this as well, but HD is my guess. There is a chance, that a tech shop could "Ghost" your drive to a new one or buy a new boxed HD and it should have software to do this. The more you try and fix your computer, the more damage you can cause to the HD.

Dave

BertBeagle · 10-19-2007, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slodave

Most likely, the hard drive failed. Memory could cause this as well, but HD is my guess. There is a chance, that a tech shop could "Ghost" your drive to a new one or buy a new boxed HD and it should have software to do this. The more you try and fix your computer, the more damage you can cause to the HD.

Dave

Thanks Dave

I will take it to someone and see what can be done.

Am I safe to install a new hard drive into the failed computer? Could another component have contributed to the hard drive failure - if that is what happend?

slodave · slodave's Garage

At five years old, you may want to consider a new computer. I like Dell and they do have some inexpensive but good models. I just installed 4 Dell Vostro 200s at a small shop this past week. They were about $400.- and are Intel Core 2 Duo processors. There should be no problem putting a new HD in your existing computer.

HDs do wear out. They have heads that touch the platters. At some point, something has to give. Like I mentioned, it could also be memory, but that would not cause your HD to fail, but it could cause BSOD and prevent the computer from booting.

My money is on the HD

.

Dave

BertBeagle · 10-19-2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slodave

At five years old, you may want to consider a new computer. I like Dell and they do have some inexpensive but good models. I just installed 4 Dell Vostro 200s at a small shop this past week. They were about $400.- and are Intel Core 2 Duo processors. There should be no problem putting a new HD in your existing computer.

HDs do wear out. They have heads that touch the platters. At some point, something has to give. Like I mentioned, it could also be memory, but that would not cause your HD to fail, but it could cause BSOD and prevent the computer from booting.

My money is on the HD

.

Dave

Thanks very much for the time and help.

The computer does not see a lot of use - mainly surfing the net in the evenings and holding pictures. My laptop is the work computer. The desk top was an inexpensive HP computer I bought for a relative who does not need it any longer. She only used it for email. It has not had a hard life. I have been using it for about 2 years.

SlowToady · 10-20-2007, 06:31 AM

+1 on the hard drive. Getting data off a failed drive can be expensive, so you'll have to weigh the pros and cons of that. You said it's just used for surfing the net and pictures, so I guess the data is super important, but if it is, you should send it to a specialist.

Anyway, at new computer prices, I'd likely just buy a new one instead of getting a new hard drive.

dad911 · 10-20-2007, 06:43 AM

You can buy an external usb enclosure for the hardrive (about $25) put your old hard drive in the enclosure, connect it to the laptop and see if you can read your data.

At five years old, I would buy a new computer.

BertBeagle · 10-20-2007, 07:37 AM

Thanks, everyone, for the help.

The main things of importance on the hard drive are all my pictures - family, work, the 356 restoration I am in the middle of on and on.

Can anyone recommend a good place to retrive the data? I have had computer failures at work and have never found anyone around here that I felt comfortable with giving the hard drives to. In this case, to save pictures, I would send it to someone who came highly recommended.

I think first I will try the "gost" idea. I believe at work we have the equipment to do that and at least one person with the know how.

The advice is much appreciated.

SlowToady · 10-20-2007, 08:56 AM

Again, if the data is very important to you, I'd exercise great caution. Regular ghosting and data recovery methods (via software) require that the drive is running, as in spinning, to get data off it. If your drive has just taken a **** on you, every time you power the drive up you are reducing the likelihood of getting anything off of it.

By putting the drive in an external enclosure and trying to copy files off it normally, you're playing with a ticking time bomb. It's that much closer to being totally screwed, to the point where you can't salvage ANYTHING off of it.

I saw "work" in there under pictures and "356 restoration." To be honest, I'd probably send the drive off to a data recovery specialist and have them retrieve the data. It's more expensive, but in the end it's more reliable and you stand a greater chance of getting most of your data off it. I used to know of a few really good places, but have since forgotten the names. Search google for "hard drive data recovery specialist" or something along those lines, and you'll find something. Call them, ask them how they do it. Remember that you probably want to avoid companies that use SOFTWARE methods.

I know I'm advocating the more expensive method, but sometimes it's worth the $$ to have it done right. Call some companies, get some quotes, evaluate if you think it's worth it or not, and go from there. If you're not terribly concerned about the pictures, sure, try and software ghost it. If you absolutely have to have that data, send it out.

And definitely buy a new computer.

BertBeagle · 10-20-2007, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlowToady

Again, if the data is very important to you, I'd exercise great caution. Regular ghosting and data recovery methods (via software) require that the drive is running, as in spinning, to get data off it. If your drive has just taken a **** on you, every time you power the drive up you are reducing the likelihood of getting anything off of it.

By putting the drive in an external enclosure and trying to copy files off it normally, you're playing with a ticking time bomb. It's that much closer to being totally screwed, to the point where you can't salvage ANYTHING off of it.

I saw "work" in there under pictures and "356 restoration." To be honest, I'd probably send the drive off to a data recovery specialist and have them retrieve the data. It's more expensive, but in the end it's more reliable and you stand a greater chance of getting most of your data off it. I used to know of a few really good places, but have since forgotten the names. Search google for "hard drive data recovery specialist" or something along those lines, and you'll find something. Call them, ask them how they do it. Remember that you probably want to avoid companies that use SOFTWARE methods.

I know I'm advocating the more expensive method, but sometimes it's worth the $$ to have it done right. Call some companies, get some quotes, evaluate if you think it's worth it or not, and go from there. If you're not terribly concerned about the pictures, sure, try and software ghost it. If you absolutely have to have that data, send it out.

And definitely buy a new computer.

Thanks very much - that sounds like very good advice. I am going to start searching. Among other thing on there that I want is a archive of hundreds of email over the years pertaining to my 356 (356 Registry) and a big archive of bookmarked web info. Things just keep popping up that are important.

Much appreciated.

slodave · slodave's Garage

I have to disagree with SlowToady. I recover data from HDs all the time, using Norton's Ghost. While it is true that the more you power-up the drive, the more of a chance for a complete failure, but it sounds like ghosting will work for you and would be less expensive. Leave the drive alone, until you find someone to ghost it for you. It really is not that hard.

Dave