Friends,
My basic questions, detailed below:
1. Would it be unwise to try to use a failed harddrive again as my main
system drive, if it checks out OK with CHKDSK and actually boots?
2. Otherwise, would it be a good/bad idea to copy ALL files from the old
drive, including system files, to a new, bootable drive. (I assume this
would require booting from a special diagnostic CD, since otherwise Windows
would lock some files)

My main concerns: I don't want to reuse the drive if it's too flakey, and I
wouldn't want to copy system files if some of them are likely to be corrupt.

Details:
I'm running XP SP3 on a Toshiba laptop. The 3-year old Hitachi IDE harddrive
crashed this morning

Symptoms:
--The system would hang during boot (...and the speakers gave off a
fire-alarm type of sound!)
--Could boot to safe mode, but after scheduling CHKDSK to run on reboot and
rebooting, it hung again, and couldn't
even get into safe mode.

I used Toshiba's restore DVD to restore the system to a different drive,
then hooked up the old drive with a USB cable and ran "CHKDSK /r" from the
command line. The only errors found were that some free space was marked as
allocated. I'm able to access the drive.

I do have a good document backup, but it's tempting to try to use the old
drive to avoid the moderate hassle of reinstalling a lot of programs and
redoing all my settings.

I am running a virus scan, but am 99% certain that nothing will be detected.

Thanks for your insights!

patanjalimuni wrote:
> My basic questions, detailed below:
> 1. Would it be unwise to try to use a failed harddrive again as my main
> system drive, if it checks out OK with CHKDSK and actually boots?
> 2. Otherwise, would it be a good/bad idea to copy ALL files from the old
> drive, including system files, to a new, bootable drive. (I assume this
> would require booting from a special diagnostic CD, since otherwise
> Windows would lock some files)
>
> My main concerns: I don't want to reuse the drive if it's too flakey, and
> I wouldn't want to copy system files if some of them are likely to be
> corrupt.
>
> Details:
> I'm running XP SP3 on a Toshiba laptop. The 3-year old Hitachi IDE
> harddrive crashed this morning
>
> Symptoms:
> --The system would hang during boot (...and the speakers gave off a
> fire-alarm type of sound!)
> --Could boot to safe mode, but after scheduling CHKDSK to run on reboot
> and rebooting, it hung again, and couldn't
> even get into safe mode.
>
> I used Toshiba's restore DVD to restore the system to a different drive,
> then hooked up the old drive with a USB cable and ran "CHKDSK /r" from the
> command line. The only errors found were that some free space was marked
> as allocated. I'm able to access the drive.
>
> I do have a good document backup, but it's tempting to try to use the old
> drive to avoid the moderate hassle of reinstalling a lot of programs and
> redoing all my settings.
>
> I am running a virus scan, but am 99% certain that nothing will be
> detected.
>
> Thanks for your insights!

1) Did you use the hard disk drive manufacturers diagnostic utilities to
check the hard disk drive and do a low-level (zero-write) on the entire
drive followed by the more rigorous (destructive) testing and it passed
those?

2) You would have to use a cloning/imaging utility. Most new hard disk
drives (retail) come with this utility for you to use.

What backups do you have in place anyway?

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Hi patanjalimuni,
By far and away, most hard-drive "crashes" or
read/write failure is caused by software errors and not a hardware issue
with the drive (I say again most - not all). Since after running CHKDSK /R
you seem to be able to access the drive with no problems it's my guess that
you will not have a reoccurrence. Regularly run chkdsk from the command
prompt (and if needs be chkdsk /f and reboot) on system partitions to avoid
build up of any problems.
--

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.


"patanjalimuni" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Friends,
> My basic questions, detailed below:
> 1. Would it be unwise to try to use a failed harddrive again as my main
> system drive, if it checks out OK with CHKDSK and actually boots?
> 2. Otherwise, would it be a good/bad idea to copy ALL files from the old
> drive, including system files, to a new, bootable drive. (I assume this
> would require booting from a special diagnostic CD, since otherwise
> Windows would lock some files)
>
> My main concerns: I don't want to reuse the drive if it's too flakey, and
> I wouldn't want to copy system files if some of them are likely to be
> corrupt.
>
> Details:
> I'm running XP SP3 on a Toshiba laptop. The 3-year old Hitachi IDE
> harddrive crashed this morning
>
> Symptoms:
> --The system would hang during boot (...and the speakers gave off a
> fire-alarm type of sound!)
> --Could boot to safe mode, but after scheduling CHKDSK to run on reboot
> and rebooting, it hung again, and couldn't
> even get into safe mode.
>
> I used Toshiba's restore DVD to restore the system to a different drive,
> then hooked up the old drive with a USB cable and ran "CHKDSK /r" from the
> command line. The only errors found were that some free space was marked
> as allocated. I'm able to access the drive.
>
> I do have a good document backup, but it's tempting to try to use the old
> drive to avoid the moderate hassle of reinstalling a lot of programs and
> redoing all my settings.
>
> I am running a virus scan, but am 99% certain that nothing will be
> detected.
>
> Thanks for your insights!
>

That fire alarm sound is nothing to do with your hd, it's coming from your
BIOS and it could be your cpu overheating, check for dustbunnies on your case
fans and CPU Fans.

the other question about an Hd, if it's proven you have a Going bad HD, copy
the files immedietly off the drive, and stop using it, it's not a question of
if it will fail, but when as all drives will fail, plan for the worst,
you'll never be sorry.

"patanjalimuni" wrote:

> Friends,
> My basic questions, detailed below:
> 1. Would it be unwise to try to use a failed harddrive again as my main
> system drive, if it checks out OK with CHKDSK and actually boots?
> 2. Otherwise, would it be a good/bad idea to copy ALL files from the old
> drive, including system files, to a new, bootable drive. (I assume this
> would require booting from a special diagnostic CD, since otherwise Windows
> would lock some files)
>
> My main concerns: I don't want to reuse the drive if it's too flakey, and I
> wouldn't want to copy system files if some of them are likely to be corrupt.
>
> Details:
> I'm running XP SP3 on a Toshiba laptop. The 3-year old Hitachi IDE harddrive
> crashed this morning
>
> Symptoms:
> --The system would hang during boot (...and the speakers gave off a
> fire-alarm type of sound!)
> --Could boot to safe mode, but after scheduling CHKDSK to run on reboot and
> rebooting, it hung again, and couldn't
> even get into safe mode.
>
> I used Toshiba's restore DVD to restore the system to a different drive,
> then hooked up the old drive with a USB cable and ran "CHKDSK /r" from the
> command line. The only errors found were that some free space was marked as
> allocated. I'm able to access the drive.
>
> I do have a good document backup, but it's tempting to try to use the old
> drive to avoid the moderate hassle of reinstalling a lot of programs and
> redoing all my settings.
>
> I am running a virus scan, but am 99% certain that nothing will be detected.
>
> Thanks for your insights!
>
>
>

the term disk crash
is subjective.

is the disk faulty/
defective as in
mechanical failure

or did the file system
crash as in data
corruption?

-------------

hard drives are calculated
to last / live a number of
hours.

so if your hard drive's
life cycle has not been
used up within the 3 year
period,

then run a chkdsk /p
and reload the o.s. if
the results of the check
prove favorable.

afterwards, since you
have the option to buy
hardware

then buy an external
drive to keep copies
of your user files, in
case you crash the o.s.
again or you physically
loose the drive.

microsoft also provides
25 gigs of free space
to store user files on
its skydrive service.
--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>

"patanjalimuni" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Friends,
> My basic questions, detailed below:
> 1. Would it be unwise to try to use a failed harddrive again as my main system drive, if it checks out OK with CHKDSK and actually
> boots?
> 2. Otherwise, would it be a good/bad idea to copy ALL files from the old drive, including system files, to a new, bootable drive.
> (I assume this would require booting from a special diagnostic CD, since otherwise Windows would lock some files)
>
> My main concerns: I don't want to reuse the drive if it's too flakey, and I wouldn't want to copy system files if some of them are
> likely to be corrupt.
>
> Details:
> I'm running XP SP3 on a Toshiba laptop. The 3-year old Hitachi IDE harddrive crashed this morning
>
> Symptoms:
> --The system would hang during boot (...and the speakers gave off a fire-alarm type of sound!)
> --Could boot to safe mode, but after scheduling CHKDSK to run on reboot and rebooting, it hung again, and couldn't
> even get into safe mode.
>
> I used Toshiba's restore DVD to restore the system to a different drive, then hooked up the old drive with a USB cable and ran
> "CHKDSK /r" from the command line. The only errors found were that some free space was marked as allocated. I'm able to access the
> drive.
>
> I do have a good document backup, but it's tempting to try to use the old drive to avoid the moderate hassle of reinstalling a lot
> of programs and redoing all my settings.
>
> I am running a virus scan, but am 99% certain that nothing will be detected.
>
> Thanks for your insights!
>

Hi DatabaseBen,
I find this very interesting, please, could you
give us more information on the "free" skydrive service? I am fascinated
that I might be able to use this as backup space...
--

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.


"db" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:CA11C63C-CC00-4424-B880-(E-Mail Removed)...
> the term disk crash
> is subjective.
>
> is the disk faulty/
> defective as in
> mechanical failure
>
> or did the file system
> crash as in data
> corruption?
>
> -------------
>
> hard drives are calculated
> to last / live a number of
> hours.
>
> so if your hard drive's
> life cycle has not been
> used up within the 3 year
> period,
>
> then run a chkdsk /p
> and reload the o.s. if
> the results of the check
> prove favorable.
>
> afterwards, since you
> have the option to buy
> hardware
>
> then buy an external
> drive to keep copies
> of your user files, in
> case you crash the o.s.
> again or you physically
> loose the drive.
>
> microsoft also provides
> 25 gigs of free space
> to store user files on
> its skydrive service.
> --
>
> db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
> DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
> - Systems Analyst
> - Database Developer
> - Accountancy
> - Veteran of the Armed Forces
> - @hotmail.com
> "share the nirvana" - dbZen
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>>
>
> "patanjalimuni" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Friends,
>> My basic questions, detailed below:
>> 1. Would it be unwise to try to use a failed harddrive again as my main
>> system drive, if it checks out OK with CHKDSK and actually boots?
>> 2. Otherwise, would it be a good/bad idea to copy ALL files from the old
>> drive, including system files, to a new, bootable drive. (I assume this
>> would require booting from a special diagnostic CD, since otherwise
>> Windows would lock some files)
>>
>> My main concerns: I don't want to reuse the drive if it's too flakey, and
>> I wouldn't want to copy system files if some of them are likely to be
>> corrupt.
>>
>> Details:
>> I'm running XP SP3 on a Toshiba laptop. The 3-year old Hitachi IDE
>> harddrive crashed this morning
>>
>> Symptoms:
>> --The system would hang during boot (...and the speakers gave off a
>> fire-alarm type of sound!)
>> --Could boot to safe mode, but after scheduling CHKDSK to run on reboot
>> and rebooting, it hung again, and couldn't
>> even get into safe mode.
>>
>> I used Toshiba's restore DVD to restore the system to a different drive,
>> then hooked up the old drive with a USB cable and ran "CHKDSK /r" from
>> the command line. The only errors found were that some free space was
>> marked as allocated. I'm able to access the drive.
>>
>> I do have a good document backup, but it's tempting to try to use the old
>> drive to avoid the moderate hassle of reinstalling a lot of programs and
>> redoing all my settings.
>>
>> I am running a virus scan, but am 99% certain that nothing will be
>> detected.
>>
>> Thanks for your insights!
>>

"Tim Meddick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Hi DatabaseBen,
> I find this very interesting, please, could you
>give us more information on the "free" skydrive service? I am fascinated
>that I might be able to use this as backup space...

Is your Googler broken??

http://www.google.com/search?q=skydr...S284US284&aq=t

Cute! However, I wondered if you had anything to say about it since you
brought up the subject but, hey! I'll go away and google for a bit....
--

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.


"Mike Torello" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Tim Meddick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Hi DatabaseBen,
>> I find this very interesting, please, could
>> you
>>give us more information on the "free" skydrive service? I am fascinated
>>that I might be able to use this as backup space...
>
> Is your Googler broken??
>
> http://www.google.com/search?q=skydr...S284US284&aq=t

Apologies to db - I thought (assumed) it was him answering, as I addressed
the post to him.
--

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.


"Tim Meddick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Cute! However, I wondered if you had anything to say about it since you
> brought up the subject but, hey! I'll go away and google for a bit....
> --
>
> Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.
>
>
> "Mike Torello" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> "Tim Meddick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>>Hi DatabaseBen,
>>> I find this very interesting, please, could
>>> you
>>>give us more information on the "free" skydrive service? I am fascinated
>>>that I might be able to use this as backup space...
>>
>> Is your Googler broken??
>>
>> http://www.google.com/search?q=skydr...S284US284&aq=t
>
>

"Tim Meddick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Cute! However, I wondered if you had anything to say about it since you
>brought up the subject but, hey!

HUH? You're senile. That was my first post in this thread.

>I'll go away and google for a bit....

Take your time...


>--
>
>Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.
>
>
>"Mike Torello" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message