What to do next? No hdd and no recovery disks

I have a friend's Sony Vaio VGN-FZ11M. Over a year old, if not 2. I need to fix it.

All looks fine except the HDD. I took out the HDD and tested it, it makes funny noises and 'click-click-click' noises which tells me the HDD has gone.

I want to buy a new HDD. Ok, but I have no recovery CDs nor (obviously) backup recovery partition. What is best/safest/easiest/quickest option I have?

I would assume to phone Sony direct tomorrow. What do you guys suggest?

 

You can always pull drivers from the existing installation, if the drive is actually accessible. If not, contact Sony or look at their online resource site. I am sure you can even scrape drivers together from around the net if you have the devices.

 

You can try contacting Sony and purchasing the recovery discs. They are usually about $20. You can order them from sony's web site. You don't even need to call. There is a good chance for them to still be available since the computer is fairly recent.

 

That sounds like the best idea so far... Also, I need a battery for this laptop in the UK. Any good links or prices? Many thanks.

 

Drive is not accessable, used USB Hdd enclosure to test, only makes funny noises and definetly sounds busted. I know where to get the drivers, but I would like the OS as well. Think will contact Sony. THanx

 

My bad, I totally blanked on the OS part, seems it would be important to use them drivers

Calling Sony will be the easiest.

 

If the drive is making noises, DO NOT try to recover any data from it yourself - each attempt at this stage will only make things worse.

Click on the DS link in my sig (The number is a discount #), there's an estimate form adn other options for you to consider if you still want the data recovered.

 

If there is data on the drive that you have to recover, you might want to try this old trick. Freeze the hard drive in a tightly sealed zip lock freezer bag with one of those little desiccant bags you often find packed with new electronic devices. Yes, I am dead serious, freeze the drive. Then be ready with everything you need to dump the data off to some other media. If you are going to try the drive back in the USB enclosure, have a large partition space available on another drive or have a stack of DVD's at the ready and something like Acronis to backup the partition. Then as soon as you take the drive out of the freezer, get it in the enclosure and start the recovery process. If it were me, the first thing I would do is a file copy of the My Documents, Pictures and Music folders. Then I'd try to image the entire C: partition.

This does not always work of course, but it has been known to allow one last gasp at getting info of an almost dead drive. Certainly worth a shot. Allow several hours, like 24, for it to totally freeze before you start. The colder you can get it the better, as it allows more time for the recovery.

Freeze you hard drive.

Gary

 

You can always get the recovery disc from someone...
The people can make recovery disc for you but you have to make sure that they have the same model laptop with you
Ask them to copy it for you and sent it to you..
Of Course you need to pay them.

I think this is better idea then buying it through Sony because Sony sell the recovery disc for around $60.

 

Yup I've heard of that method Very cool. But fortunately I do not need any info on my old harddrive. I bought new hdd so not bothered bout the old one. Thanks for your comments. I will phone Sony later today, I tried ringing our local one but its still closed!

 

No, technically you cannot do this. That would be copying copyrighted material and is illegal. Therefore it can't be discussed here on NBR. Also the disks from Sony are only about $26 not sixty.

Gary

 

All you need is a Windows disk. You can do a fresh install of Windows using the CD key on the bottom of your notebook. Then just download the drivers from the sony website.