HDD connection failure

J-FRO · 4 Feb 2011 at 10:32

This morning my PC refused to start, but my dell diagnostic lights told me that there was a problem connecting to my HDD.

I've noticed since I recently installed my new OCZ 600W modular and my 5770 that it has seemed to be making more noise than it usually does, as far as I can remember.

Could this be an indication that my HDD is also on the way out? If so, then I can only assume that my whole rig is probably going to implode this year. But I won't be able to afford a new one until about April - in which I most definitely will be building my own (Most likely re-using my graphics card, PSU and network card at least, will it be possible to hold onto my Q6600 and OC it in a new rig?)

If it does mean my HDD is on its way out (its a Hitachi HDS721075KLA330), is it possible for me to buy a new one, transfer everything over from the current one and then use the new one to boot it up provided my OS is installed on it?

The current one is also almost full may I add, 127GB free of 683GB and a partition of 14.9GB free as well which I can't seem to remove but is too small for me to have installed windows 7 32-bit Ultimate on.

Cheers

Philtor · 4 Feb 2011 at 10:35

Download the Hitachi Drive Fitness Test and run it.

King Damager · 4 Feb 2011 at 10:36

Bit of an interesting one that it could be the Harddrive... Ticking tends to be the obvious sign of a dying HDD.

If it is a dying HDD, then it should be possible for you to transfer everything to a new harddrive. You could do a direct copy (I believe) with something like Norton Ghost, not sure how that works, but don't think you'll even need to install the OS on the other drive. However you should also be able to install the OS on the new HDD and stick it as primary drive, and then read the data off of the second disk and copy over.. Not quite sure how it works out though having never done it before, but from what I've read that's my understanding on the matter.....

kd

J-FRO · 4 Feb 2011 at 10:37

I need to put this on a disk right? Could put it on my USB stick an run it of that

Philtor · 4 Feb 2011 at 10:41

Yeah it's a bootable CD you create for it to run. Don't think you can do it with a USB pen.

J-FRO · 4 Feb 2011 at 10:48

Virtual Clone Drive should do it, ill give it a bash first. Don't have any blank discs

Edit: tried and failed, will have to get some blank discs and run it.

Will also look into this Norton Ghost software, I'd rather do a straight boot from a new drive tbh. Would even nip it up to a new 1TB HDD.