Computer Dead?

[CronoTriggerfan]

Well, I came back from Chicago this weekend, and much to my dismay, my damn computer is dead. So much for surge protectors. Anyways, it boot up the first time, but all my files were gone except programs, and it started as if there was a fresh Vista install. After that, it automatically boots to a black screen with only a cursor. Ubuntu live CDs function just fine.

I'm assuming, based on this limited diagnostic run, that my hard drive is cooked. Can I safely assume that and buy a new one, or are there any other options as to what's wrong that I should consider before dropping the dough for a new HDD?

[Skyone]

Just dealt with this yesterday.

DO NOT INSTALL ANY NEW PROGRAMS/CREATE ANY NEW FILES.
File Scavenger 3.2, get it, run it from an external hard drive or something.

Of course if that doesn't work, and the hard drive doesn't read/write properly; it's fried.

[CronoTriggerfan]

Okay, I have File Scavenger 3.2 loaded up onto an external HDD. Should I just make this drive the primary, or what? Their how-to is fairly confusing, and some steps seem to assume that I can still use Windows Explorer, which I can't. I'm lost.

[Bay_Wolf]

I've never used the program Skyone recommended but I do know SpinRite is pretty reliable for repairing hard drives.

Regards,
Bay_wolf.

[Skyone]

SpinRite is much like File Scavenger, yeah.

All you need to do is target your primary drive on which you lost your files, and run a quick scan.

If you're lucky, it'll pop up with all of the deleted files. If you aren't, those files got like magnetized or something.

After it lists all the files, (mass) select the files you want, and go to the Recover tab.

[CronoTriggerfan]

SpinRite is much like File Scavenger, yeah.

All you need to do is target your primary drive on which you lost your files, and run a quick scan.

If you're lucky, it'll pop up with all of the deleted files. If you aren't, those files got like magnetized or something.

After it lists all the files, (mass) select the files you want, and go to the Recover tab.

Yeah, I get that, but how do I boot File Scavenger from the external HDD without having Windows installed on the drive?

[Skyone]

You plug the external into the computer with the missing files.

It still boots into Vista, no?

[Dr. KillGood]

Put the HDD in the freezer!!!

No really, do it.

[HotDog-Cart]

Surge protectors don't work. Simple as that. They can only block a certain voltage, yet most surges are over that voltage. What you need is a Single Curcuit Protection Plug. My boss uses them. Its like a HUGE black box with only 1 outlet on it. Its nearly impossible for a surge to mess with those things. :3

[Ben Cebhrem]

Put the HDD in the freezer!!!

No really, do it.

I doubt that'll help with recovering files. That's meant more for an ailing HDD, and is meant as a last ditch effort to getting files off. That is, a HDD that will boot as normal, and after a few minutes have issues.

Good suggestion, just a bit early in the process.

[CronoTriggerfan]

You plug the external into the computer with the missing files.

It still boots into Vista, no?

Well, it kinda boots; it skips over all the standard boot screen and the user account login and just throws me into a desktop environment with a cursor and a black screen where I can't do anything.

The way it seems to want me to do it is have two SATA harddrives, set a new one up as a boot drive and install windows along with FileScavenger, and have the broken drive plugged in as a data drive and scan it from there. Problem is, my OS ISOs were all on that HDD, and I don't have any extra harddrives that could be used for this, anyways.

[lifeisbetterwithketchup]

Do you live in Michigan? My aunt lives there, and she just got her modem and router fried in a surge.