My M1530 crashed and I need some free technical advice.

This may be the wrong forum but I will ask anyways...

Sit rep: (vista 32bit) Installing game, screen froze, turned off PC, gets to MS loading bar, blue screen flickers, startup repair does not work, does not recognize OS (even with disc), did HDD check, HDD is ok, Dell thinks the OS is corrupt . Now I know I can just wipe my computer and reinstall the OS but I really need all my data because a lot of it relates to school and my external HDD is also bust not to mention the 100gb of music.

Dell wants to charge me $120 to do a parallel installation of Vista and then back my data to an external HDD (I feel like just breaking my computer and sending it to Dell... ugh!). My dad's PC guy says this is stupid and wants to charge me "a couple hundred $'s" to get all my data off with a better method. My friend says they are both clowns and I should just buy an IDE to usb cable and get all my data off that way, back it up and then wipe my PC. My dad's PC guy then says that this is not guaranteed and might require "special software" only he has and might not work. (I feel like he just wants my money... which he probably does.)

Who is right? I know there are a lot of undefined variables here that may affect my situation but I am no tech wiz but my friend sounds like he is making the most sense. What do you guys suggest?

Thanks for your support.

 

You could boot off an Ubuntu Live CD(or similar) and backup your data to an external harddrive or network.

 

You can download hirens bootcd and put it in a thumb drive, boot windows xp from the thumb drive and backup your data that way, you will need of course and external drive or somewhere to put the backed up files.

gl

 

Buy a new hard drive and an external case > put your hard drive in the external case and install OS on new hdd > once OS is loaded and all set plug in the external and find your files

 

Reinstall the O/S using the install DVD. It won't wipe your data. Just don't erase the drive when asked.

 

Your friend is right, except that you need a SATA (not IDE) to USB cable (and obviously another computer to which you can save all your data). Assuming the hard drive is in working condition and your data intact, it is basically guaranteed to work.

 

None of this is neccessary. You can overwrite an existing O/S installation and all your data will still be there.

 

Yes if you get the cable depending on ur drive it might be sata or ide you can get a cable that will work with both to conect with usb conect to another coputer perfurably with vista and you should be able to see all the files and folders copy your documents pics music and faverets to a portable drive also if you use Office Outlook for mail copy the .pst file if other program for mail search google on what files or folders u need to back up then reinstal the drive in your computer formate and clean instal of vista then restore your back up files from the portable drive

 

I'd be careful with that if I were you. You are much better off backing up the data before messing with even more system files.

 

DriveSavers statement:

The Bottom Line

"Is your data important to you? Don’t be a victim of low prices and false promises. Before choosing a data recovery service, demand proof of their technology, security and experience. If they can’t prove it, you may lose it—forever!"

Not bad advice.

Greg's right - never assume that anything you do will result in your files being recoverable. No offense Studio, but assuming than an OS reinstall won't corrupt or write over his data files is just irresponsible at best. As a rule there isn't much you can't recover, so don't ever assume you can't recover your files, but it comes down to how valuable the files are and how much it's worth to you. In the end it really should be only anything that you cannot replace either at all, or without a significant investment to replace.

I'm sure by now the reason that you should backup files BEFORE you do anything like this are apparent, so I won't go further with that. Lesson learned.

The guy who told you "he has the only software" is full of it - anyone who would be so arrogant as to even suggest something like that isn't worth the time of day and at best isn't trustworthy. He's the kind of person who would swap a motherboard when you've got Power Setting problem just to get your money.

RECOVERY TIPS

Some are partially correct in that your best option is to attempt a recovery from a bootable DVD or Flash Drive, but that assumes you're familiar and experienced at what you're doing. If not, you could actually wind up doing more harm than good. Since you're in this position to begin with, I'm going to assume (unlike the others) that you don't have the experience or knowledge. If you did you probably wouldn't be in the fix you're in to begin with. If you do think you're up to it, send me PM and I'll send you a list of some good programs for data recovery.

If you click on my DriveSavers Agent link in my Signature, it'll take you to an Estimate sheet for drive data recovery. Since yours isn't a failed drive it won't cost as much. Also, use the number in my sig for the estimate (put it in the Account Code field) to get a discount. There isn't anything they can't recover - fires, floods, earthquakes, you name it and whatever a drive has been through they've been able to recover files from it. Even completely failed drives, formatted drives.

You can also call them toll free at 800.440.1904. They have different service programs and can even get it back to you within a day or two if you need it that bad.

The programs I recommend I'll send you but won't post - techs need to keep some resource assets to themselves, but I don't go so far as to say I'm the only one who has them. I can't believe anyone would even say that to someone - what an arrogant a$$hole.

 

Above is absolutely correct. Here is the adapter I have http://fire-wire-1394-ilink.stores.yahoo.net/usbtosaoride.html

Works for all 2.5" & 3.5" IDE & SATA drives. You will need a 2nd PC to be able to access the drive and copy your files to.

Tell your Dad his "PC Guy" is trying to rip you off. I'd certainly question if he hasn't ripped your Dad off already.

 

I know this is asking a lot but would someone be willing to help me through installing linux on my computer (me=total computer newbie)? Maybe do it over aim? I really don't want to 'f anything up and since time and money are of the essence this seems like the best option. If you are interested please send me a PM. Thanks.

Any other suggestions?

 

if you want to go the bootable linux cd route, follow this guide:

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/wind...backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

although I'd suggest the same as everyone else.. get an external case (or sata-to-usb adapter), hook up your hard drive and copy off the data. It doesnt sound like your hard drive is that screwed up (maybe a corrupt boot partition or something? some corrupt boot files?).

you said your external is jacked up anyway, might as well take this opportunity to upgrade your existing hard drive and get a new external drive while you're at it.

 

I'm going to pile on here, just for emphasis. Go out and spend $20 on an external enclosure. Pull the drive from the notebook and use the enclosure to copy the data to another system or drive. Getting a new HD isn't a bad idea as well (keeping the old HD as a spare or for external storage) but it's not absolutely necessary so long as you have some other system available to store the data from you original drive.

It's by far the cheapest and easiest solution. Just do it.