Recover files from crashed laptop

I think that HD is just a compatible one. If this HD fails the test then I'll look to be sure about the buying from ACER. I may be wrong but I believe I read where people bought a replacement drive from a retailer and their recovery discs would not work on the HD. A generic copy of Vista would fix that aspect. The acer Support site just putting in 5720 gives a list of drivers which will work fine (no serial number needed). http://support.acer-euro.com/drivers/notebook/as_5720.html

Ok, Puppy has no HD built in utility that I can find. So let's see if you can download and install one and if that becomes a problem you can go back to AustrAlien's post for the Seagate SeaTool's software that should be able to test any brand drive.

Click the Browse icon to get a list of Internet browsers. Choose either Firefox or Opera. A box will appear to the side asking you which version just pick the one with the highest number. It will install and give you a couple of windows where you hit OK.. When done click Browse again and it will open the Internet browser. Go to this website http://brainwavedesigncentral.net/mike/index.php?dir=utilities/&sort=name&order=desc and download GSmartControl...pet file. It will open with the installer and install the program. You should then have GsmartControl under Menu>System>SystemStatus and Control. Start the program, right-click on your HD and select Preform Tests and run the short test.

If you don't have internet on that laptop let me know. You should just be able to connect it to your ethernet/LAN wire and get internet access.

 

I haven't configured it to my wireless router, I didn't know what my ESSID was :confused

I'll have another go, I may be some time...............

 

Can you just take the cable from your desktop and plug it in for a few minutes that should give you internet with no configuration?

Or we can just get SeaTools and burn a CD and boot from that. Might be simpler. http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.j...toid=480bd20cacdec010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD Scroll down for the ISO and burn to CD using Imgburn and "Write Image File to Disc" option.

Boot from it and run the Short Test see what shows up for the Smart status.

 

Ok, I'll take the second option, my ethernet cable is upstairs and desktop is downstairs.

 

It ran automatically, I'm assuming it was the short test.

It says

Smart is supported and enabled
Smart has not been tripped

 

While in SeaTools write down the Hard Drive model number so we can get the make and size. Something like B00512S9IW. (Which is the model you linked to from Amazon which might be a true Acer drive now that I look at it.)

Edit: Go ahead and run the extended/long test. If that passes then the drive is good but the filesystem is corrupted.

 

Righto.

It's a Seagate ST9160821AS

 

It's only a tiny bit through the test and it's already flagged up that it has failed an important diagnostic test probably because sectors are hard to read.

I don't get why it's so knackered. I've taken much better care of it than I ever did my desktop and that's still going strong (I hope I haven't just jinxed it by saying that)

Seagate has asked me if I want it to fix the errors it's detected?

 

Say yes, if the drive is too bad it will just give up and trip the SMART status.

I usually buy Western Digital drives and their utility is very good. We'll see how SeaTools does at fixing errors, I can't say from experience.

 

It says it passed after repair. What's next?

 

If you haven't already run it twice do run the extended one more time just to make sure it finds no more errors.

 

It's found loads of errors again

and it's failed the 'important diagnostic test' again

 

I've run it 3 times now and each time it finds around a 100 errors and say's it's failed and then passed once repaired.

 

Does it give you an eight digit code on the failure screen? If it does then the drive is bad.

You don't need any new version, I just want to know if you got a code.

http://www.seagate.com/staticfiles/support/seatools/seatools-test-codes.html

 

Not one of those codes, it just says 'your SeaTools test code is ACE6C550' and says to save the code if I am planning a warranty exchange. It says some other stuff about warranty, the bit about failing the diagnostic test and then at the bottom says they recommend I consider repairing the problem sectors and refers to help topic 'bad sector found'.

 

I'm sorry that link is for when you think you have a bad drive but the software doesn't give you a code and you want to pick your own code.

That you got a code pretty much says the drive is bad.

I don't think there are any real options except replacing the drive and getting either a Vista/Win7 DVD; or getting a HD from Acer and the Acer recovery discs.

You could see if there is any change in booting from the HD but I doubt it.

 

Ok well thanks for all your help over the last few days. I'll probably not get the Acer stuff because if it still doesn't work then they are pretty useless for any other purpose. and I don't think it would work out much cheaper. As long as I can still get the drivers it should be ok I suppose.

Thanks again

 

Ok, sorry that there is not much else to do. It is a combination of things. Since your recovery data is on a HD with bad sectors it is most likely damaged which makes recovery iffy even if there was a way to get recovery started on a new HD.

If you ever get your current Vista CD working you could try a chkdsk on that recovery partition. If that checked out you could delete the Vista partition , create a couple of new ones and try the recovery from there. I did see a thread about that which would be interesting to test but it would not necessarily work or give you a reliable laptop.

Let me know the HD and installation disc you choose just out of curiosity. Good Luck!

 

well I probably will try running it again when the laptop has cooled down, I'll let you know if I get anywhere. As for a new hard drive, (and while you're there for me to pick your brains ) since you recommend Western Digital and they are cheaper than the acer one, I was looking at this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digital-Internal-Playstation-Compatible/dp/B003VWDNCQ/ref=dp_ob_title_ce, do you think it is compatible, Would 500gb be a problem?

And I'll probably get Vista on ebay, can't afford 7.

 

From what I can see that drive would be fine. There are several sites selling 500gb for the 5720 so the larger capacity should not be a problem.

Just to let you know I buy Western Digital just because I have had very few problems with them. Others will say the same about Seagate. So the brand is really up to you.

Make sure you get a new copy of Vista from Ebay, you don't want any activation problems with a sketchy version.

 

Thanks for the advice, I just found this actually http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Microsoft-Windows-7-Home-Premium-Full-Version-Stan-/320749673837?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item4aae2b9d6d#ht_1603wt_932, If I used it would I be able to create my own recovery disks when It's activated? Seems like a cheap way to get 7.

 

That is an OEM version which ties it to one computer. So you get one license for that machine. When that machine dies the license goes with it. It is generally a good deal but in your case it depends on how old that laptop is and how long you think it will last.

A retail version can be used on a new machine if that one dies but of course costs more.

I know this has been discussed before many times but I don't pay a lot of attention to the specifics. If anyone knows the specifics about versions please jump in with any advice.

 

Good point, maybe I'll pick up a bargain 7 on ebay anyway.

Well thanks again for your time and expertise! I'm off to buy some hardware.

:wave

 

Hi Sach2,

You asked out of interest what hard drive and OS I was going to get. I got this http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/harddrives-internal/2.5inchharddrive/novatech/nov-nbhs32.html and brand new (sealed) windows 7 from ebay.

I expect I'll be back when the installation goes horribly wrong!