My hard drive died - what to do? Help!

[arjunajane]

So not happy!
My laptop froze the other night, when I came back to it a couple hours later and tried to restart it, it had just..well, died! Its less than 2yrs old, aarghh!

I took it back to where I bought it, and the tech guy confirmed that the hard drive had died and would need replacing...Fortunately, its under an extended warranty, so they will replace it no questions, thats not the issue.
The problem is this is our first computer and I am a dummy who never backs up my stuff - my Fiance is in the middle of exams, all his study and assignments are on there - all our photos, music, documents - it doesn''t even bare thinking about!

And, most importantly, all my diamond stuff, lol!

My questions are:
Do I try to run the recovery disks myself and try to copy all my stuff?
Or should I just hand it over to the people who take care of the warranty and ask them to retrieve what they can?

I have spoken to different people who ran their recovery disks with mixed reviews - one was able to get back some of their stuff, another it wiped all of their hard drive, but got them back to Windows and working again. I don''t want that to happen!
Is there any way I can find out "how corrupted" the hard drive is? As in, just a little bit, or is it a lost cause?

Also, if I do the recovery and Windows starts working again, will they still be obliged to replace my corrupted hard drive? Or do I run the risk that they will say "Well its working now so need to replace it.."

Sorry about all the questions! I am hoping anybody with some tecy knowledge can help me please!

 

[Kaleigh]

Storm will know, I''ll email him for you.

 

[strmrdr]

impossible to tell without looking at it.
If it still spins up and hasn't had a head crash some data can usually be recovered with simple tools and software.
Anything beyond that requires the service of a recover lab which starts at round $1000.
The problem with just letting anyone mess with it is they may damage it beyond recovery.

These guys are the best and the only company I trust:

http://www.ontrackdatarecovery.com/

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 6/12/2008 10:24:42 PM
Author: strmrdr
impossible to tell without looking at it.
If it still spins up and hasn't had a head crash some data can usually be recovered with simple tools and software.
Anything beyond that requires the service of a recover lab which starts at round $1000.
The problem with just letting anyone mess with it is they may damage it beyond recovery.

These guys are the best and the only company I trust:

http://www.ontrackdatarecovery.com/

I was hoping you would help Strm - thanks for the link, I will contact them via Livechat and hopefully they can instruct. - I presume they're only in the US though? I'm in australia

Would you advise then not to run the recovery disks myself?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 6/12/2008 10:57:23 PM
Author: arjunajane

Date: 6/12/2008 10:24:42 PM

Author: strmrdr

impossible to tell without looking at it.

If it still spins up and hasn''t had a head crash some data can usually be recovered with simple tools and software.

Anything beyond that requires the service of a recover lab which starts at round $1000.

The problem with just letting anyone mess with it is they may damage it beyond recovery.


These guys are the best and the only company I trust:


http://www.ontrackdatarecovery.com/

I was hoping you would help Strm - thanks for the link, I will contact them via Livechat and hopefully they can instruct. - I presume they''re only in the US though? I''m in australia

Would you advise then not to run the recovery disks myself?

Which recovery disk?
The one that came with the computer isn''t what you need.
Its just an install disk and will try and wipe the drive.
They may be able to attempt a remote recovery or you can send it to them.
Remote recovery is a lot less expensive.

 

[strmrdr]

Here is a data recovery service in AU.
I have no idea if they are any good or not.

http://www.cbltech.com.au/

 

[arjunajane]

Thanks Strm - I have good news (I think).
I spoke to the company that will be replacing the hard drive under the warranty.
For a fee of $199, they will back up all the data on the old hard drive externally before starting the repair.
Its not cheap (imo), but I guess its worth it.

Strm, here is the link, any chance you could be kind enough to look and see what you think? ie. Is this a pretty standard fee etc? I know you can''t really comment on the actual company..
http://serviceexpress.com.au/services.aspx#data

What I''m concerned with and they don''t really address this - what if most of the HD is damaged, and they can only recover a few files - then I end up paying $199 for ..not much! Any thoughts?

tia!

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 6/12/2008 11:53:04 PM
Author: arjunajane
Thanks Strm - I have good news (I think).

I spoke to the company that will be replacing the hard drive under the warranty.

For a fee of $199, they will back up all the data on the old hard drive externally before starting the repair.

Its not cheap (imo), but I guess its worth it.


Strm, here is the link, any chance you could be kind enough to look and see what you think? ie. Is this a pretty standard fee etc? I know you can't really comment on the actual company..

http://serviceexpress.com.au/services.aspx#data


What I'm concerned with and they don't really address this - what if most of the HD is damaged, and they can only recover a few files - then I end up paying $199 for ..not much! Any thoughts?


tia!

that's not what you need that's only if its just windows is corrupted but the drive is ok.
Because of the nature of your disk failure I'm about 90% certain they will not get anything back and all you will get is a way overpriced external drive with nothing on it using their service as presented.
You need a recovery lab.

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 6/13/2008 12:17:50 AM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 6/12/2008 11:53:04 PM
Author: arjunajane
Thanks Strm - I have good news (I think).

I spoke to the company that will be replacing the hard drive under the warranty.

For a fee of $199, they will back up all the data on the old hard drive externally before starting the repair.

Its not cheap (imo), but I guess its worth it.


Strm, here is the link, any chance you could be kind enough to look and see what you think? ie. Is this a pretty standard fee etc? I know you can''t really comment on the actual company..

http://serviceexpress.com.au/services.aspx#data


What I''m concerned with and they don''t really address this - what if most of the HD is damaged, and they can only recover a few files - then I end up paying $199 for ..not much! Any thoughts?


tia!

that''s not what you need that''s only if its just windows is corrupted but the drive is ok.
Because of the nature of your disk failure I''m about 90% certain they will not get anything back and all you will get is a way overpriced external drive with nothing on it using their service as presented.
You need a recovery lab.

Yeah, thats what I was worried about.
Why can''t anybody in customer service actually listen ?! Grrr

I have requested assistance from that first place you linked, they had an Australia option - so hopefully at least they can advise.

In the future, what do you think is the best way to back up? Is an external Hard drive a better idea than just using USB''s/discs?

Thx again for your help !