Possible Hdd Failing

I have a Dell Inspirion 2020 All-in-One Desktop computer. It's been lagging lately and making a loud whirring noise coming from the back of the monitor...that's where all the gizmos are contained that would normally be in a tower.
So it was running hot as well. I went to the Dell website and ran their diagnostic program. It said something about read or write test failed (can't remember which one). At the end it said eminent failure and recommended replacing the HDD.
Of course it is out of warranty. My questions.
Where do I buy a new HD?
How much should I expect to pay for a decent HD?
How difficult is it to switch out the HD in an All-in-One?
Will I have to partition/format the new drive?
I am thinking of taking the computer to the geeksquad and let them do it, any thoughts on that?
Thank you for your input.

 

Here is some more info from the diagnostics done at the Dell site.

Result: Critical errors found.
Critical errors must be addressed immediately. Other diagnostics may be affected by these errors. Please follow the steps below to resolve your diagnostic results. You should run the diagnostics again once the critical issues have been resolved.

Recommended next steps
Clear results
Hardware failure
Replace Hard Drive
Your hard drive is operating outside of normal parameters and should be replaced. This system no longer carries a hardware warranty. Please review the options provided below to fix your computer.

 

if you go to the geek squad, let them know, in no uncertain terms, exactly what you want to happen. in the past, they have been known to basically ignore the customer and do what "they" think is best. new hard drives are cheap, and all you really need them to do is to take out the old hard drive, put a new one in, AND for them to give you back your old hard drive.
you will also need a USB-to-IDE/SATA adapter, which they will have.
the people at geek squad should know how to clone the old hard drive to the new one. you can always ask and see what they say.
but definitely insist on getting back your old hard drive no matter what they do.

basically though, once a new hard drive is installed, you can do one of two things... clone the old drive to the new one.
or do a new installation of windows, attach the old hard drive to the adapter, plug that into your computer's usb port, and copy your data files from the old to the new.

good luck with it.

 

Thank you harmless. I ran another test and it looks like things are just getting worse. I will keep in mind what you said.

 

@ trisha,

The Dell all-in-one will have a Service Tag number on a label on the computer. Go to the Dell Support site and enter that number then go to Drivers and Downloads and download the Service Manual (it will be in PDF format). If you're mechanically inclined, the manual will tell you what you need to do to replace the hard drive yourself.

The fact that things are running excessively hot indicates that there's heat trapping dust blocking ventilation. Get a can of compressed air and while you've got the computer's back cover off, give things a good air dusting (be careful with the fan(s) — keep it/them from spinning wildly as you spray the compressed air. If you don't you could burn out the fan's bearings.).

The Dell Service manuals saved me some serious money when my Dells (I have four of them) needed repairs or I wanted to upgrade the components that I could upgrade.

 

I would get that hard drive asap, as while it is working, you will be able to copy data, or, even the whole hard drive. Once it fails, you tend to be unable to access anything.
Doing it yourself ? Then take not of static electricity problems- Ensure plug is pulled out of wall socket-
Example
https://www.minicircuits.com/app/AN40-005.pdf
Replacing hard drive - dell 2020

Still up for it ?

 

Thanks for the info. I will d/l the pdf.

 

Thanks for posting the video, it took some of my fear away. As far as the static electricity problems are concerned, I have one of those things you attach to your wrist and the side of the tower. Where would I attach it on this? Just inside on some metal?
How do I clone the drive? What software would you recommend. I have an external hd that I think is 1 tb.

 

As far as the anti-static link is concerned, all I can say is WOW, now I am once again overwhelmed.

 

If you noticed in the video, the person didn't seem to be wearing a grounding strap. I haven't either when replacing RAM or HDDs/SSDs. Things are more sensitive to magnetism now.

Replacing the HDD in that 2020 all-in-one isn't too different from replacing it in my Inspiron 15-5555 laptop (except the base has to be removed to remove the back cover on the 2020). Glad the HDD isn't underneath the optical drive.

 

Your antistatic strap is all you really need- metal frame of the pc will be an earth point- but if a clean non painted copper piping/radiator is close , then even better. As Mdonah says, in that particular video, the user does not seem to be concerned (that is the problem if we become too confident) and that is why I pointed you in the direction of that 'overkill' pdf - That explains the 'possible problems that can be found at a later date, by not adhering to antistatic precautions. It is a bit overkill, but if you keep that in the back of your mind, just ensure you are 'de-staticated' all the time, and you should have no problems.
For copying the hard drive ,I use a gadget like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N4MMDFI?psc=1
I do not use the software that came with mine, as I find Mini tool Partition Wizard (free version for self use) works so well, and it will copy any size hard drive to any size hard drive- and it will adjust to fit -you need to read it in the writeup. http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/minitool_partition_wizard_home_edition.html
I am a little lazy, and have often used the fine rubber gloves that mechanics use, when doing mine - but I don't think that is really the way for you as a new 'explorer'- use the wrist strap.
OH, and wait about a few minutes, after shutting down the pc- the internal parts can be quite hot, and , when plug is pulledat socket, press the start button for about10-20 seconds, as this will remove any residual static from the internals.

 

Thanks for the great advise. I just got off the phone with Dell tech support, over an hour. Anyway he gave me many different options to go as far as price and installation. Highest price to have them come out to the house and install the hd and os is $250. If I mail it to them (I think the will give me one of those tags so I don't have to pay for shipping) it will cost about $149 and they will send me the media after they install. One of the problems is the computer was sold with Windows 8 and I did the upgrade last year to Windows 10. They can only install what the original system came with. He also said no cloning of my drive because the files are most likely corrupted. I mentioned maybe getting the warranty upgraded. So that will cost me about $300 and that includes them sending me the hard drive and media to install myself with their help. My warranty expired March 2016 after paying on it for two years and nothing going wrong. I got the warranty after the network card failed right before the original warranty ran out. Well, thanks for letting me vent about this stuff. Again, thanks for all the great advise and support. Forgot to mention, the tech had me run diagnostics again while on the phone with him. Two things failed, the hdd and the web cam.

 

I would think a new hard drive comes in at about $60 $75 Dell one here-- http://www.pcupgrade.co.uk/productdetails.asp?productid=13748&categoryid=544
Others here
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...TVPDKIKX0DER#HLCXComparisonWidget_feature_div
As you have already installed Windows 10 upgrade, your computer will be licenced on Microsofts server, so you should be able to update again, once Windows 8 is installed.
If your computer is still working, you should be able to copy the hard drive as I explained previously.
You could ask for recovery discs from Dell, only- quite reasonable normally.

 

Other recovery disc source
https://restore.solutions/en/dellinspironone2020/#dellinspironone2020win8recoveryiso - they also do a w10 version, there. (around$25)
They can show you how to retrieve your w8 key (still the same, although now on w10, as I understand that ,from w8 ,the key was embedded in the bios
Total cost this way-hard drive, and discs= about $100.Cheapest Dell $140- if no shipping costs.
You need to save any important data from the pc, before you change the hard drive, or, create your own image, or, copy the hard drive.
Some versions of Windows 10 would not operate my webcam on my Lenova- so it might not be the webcam- might need a driver for it, if it is available- mine eventually worked after Windows 10 updated again to a later version.

 

With Windows 10, once the original version was rolled out, you lost the possibility of using the recovery partition, after another version rollup.
I would use Balec advisor to collect all you coa's for anything you have installed to use when you replace the hard drive. It will be printable , so worth doing.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/belarc_advisor.html
Good luck, choose your options according to your confidence, or, your pocket.

 

She doesn't need to reinstall Windows 8. She can directly install Windows 10 and it will activate, if she cannot successfully clone the old drive before it's dead.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12440/windows-10-activation
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

 

That was a very useful set of links for the Microsoft Windows 10, and activation. I was pretty sure about that, but, if she can only get the ORIGINAL setup disks, from Dell, they will be Windows 8,with all its junk and other , some useful , bits, like drivers etc; The other link offers Windows 10 for it, but, I tried not to complicate it, so just showed the regular way, as I have done that successfully on other computers with the factory disks, and re-installing. Sometimes, I find people like stuff that we might uninstall, and like to start from what they know. It saves the novice finding any drivers that Windows 10 might not find (mind you W10 is very good at it).
Trica, As Just Playin says, you can download the Windows 10 iso, click on the + sign and use this part of the link Using the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) to install Windows 10 on a different PC (click to show more or less information)
This tells you how, and guides you through a free installation. Anything to save you paying out unnecessarily, and then reinstall anything, like Office etc: Hopefully you will have saved the coa's of anything you need, or, have the discs to re-install those that you might need.
Come back if you need more help- as there are many excellent geeks here at majorgeeks who should be able to see you through.