OK, so the hard drive went out on me again for the third time ever since I got that HDD from Dell. I've just noticed a recurring pattern - this happens when there are like 18-20 GB left on the disk. The computer freezes and when I try to reboot, it says "error loading os" and there is no way for me to get the computer up and running w/o reformatting the whole drive (no it wouldn't let me do "restore w/o reformat" option because there is something wrong with my partitions). I'd have to reconfigure BIOS to start up with the recovery cd. Well, my theory is that Dell sent me a bad drive to begin with. The first time this happened, I called them up and they said it's most likely some kind of master boot virus so I shook it off (albeit frustrated at the data loss) and reformatted. After the second time, I did the same. Today, the drive went again for the third time. I think whenever the drive reads/writes over the region where there are 18-20 GB left, there is a defect over there that screws up the partitions. The drive is just sitting there right now - I didn't reformat it so I can't use the computer right now. I'm still under Dell's warranty period where they would replace the drive for me. But, do you think they should be responsible for incurring the cost of data recovery as well? I mean, I understand if I dropped the laptop or if lightning struck the house and magnetized the drive but that isn't the case - I received a bad drive to begin with and I lost work-related data and other sentimental things (yea I should have backed up files but it would have been too much) on a Dell approved drive to which I placed my trust. What do you think? I tried calling them but I keep getting the run around - gonna try again in a bit. Thanks for listening to my rant.

 

did you boot with a dos boot disk and run the command

FDISK /MBR

just reformating will NOT clear a virus that is in your master boot record. However, if the drive is defective, Dell is responsible to replace your drive.

 

I'm pretty sure it's not a virus as I've run comprehensive scans with McAfee and Norton using latest add-ons. If it is defective, I know Dell has to replace my drive but what I want to know is if they should also be liable for paying for data recovery (done by Action Front, Drive Savers, On Track, etc. since they don't do recovery in-house).

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SiDriver
[B]I'm pretty sure it's not a virus as I've run comprehensive scans with McAfee and Norton using latest add-ons.

 

List what kind of dell system you have as well as what kind of harddrive. I might be able to help you then.

 

Yea, they are going to replace the HDD for free (that's a given). But in order to do that, I have to give up the bad drive - but I don't wanna do that since the data I wanna recover is on that. Since they are not gonna pay for the recovery, I asked them if I could keep the old one (and not return it for a while) too when they send me the new one but they said they need the old one back. I just said I need the old one for a bit until I can come up with the money to pay for the pricey data recovery services to On Track, Drive Savers, or Action Front but it didn't faze them. I have a dilemma - three choices. A) I send the old one back giving up hope of ever getting my data back and get their new one. B) I don't send it back and don't use my laptop for awhile until I recover the data and then replace drive under Dell's warranty. C) I don't send it back and buy a cheap small temporary laptop HDD just so I can use my computer in the meantime. Also, I've heard of a way in which you can possibly "read" the data in the bad drive (as long as there is no physical damage) through a cable that you connect from that bad drive to a working desktop computer via its USB port. Does anyone know what this cable is? I may try that and if it works, I'll go with choice A (since I would have the data backed up) but if it doesn't work, I'll have to go with choice C. Also, would a better way be to open up the tower cover and connect the both HDD one being the slave (the bad one) and the other the host (the good one)? I'd rather use the former method if possible only because its easier.

How much does a small cheap laptop HDD go for on a Dell Inspiron 5000e? Can't be more than 200 I imagine. Thanks.

speedxxxracer - the laptop is about 2.5 years old, it is a Dell Inspiron 5000e. This is the second HDD that Dell gave me. The first one developed bad sectors over time (I guess from the computer being on all the time and from aggressive use of the drive - a lot of read/writes) and so I was replaced with the second (the one that's giving me the headaches now).

Thanks everyone for the support.

 

Also, I think I forgot to mention this - after the Dell logo appears on the screen (when using the bad drive), all I get is a blinking cursor on the top left of the screen and the drive light isn't on - meaning no activity. Does this mean the cable method won't work either? I'm assuming as long as the bad drive doesn't need to go thru the "boot up" process, I think it can grab the data on the drive while a working desktop computer "reads" the data on the bad one. So which process would work better? The USB method or the host-slave method w/ 2 drives? I'd rather go with the former simply since I'm not hardware inclined (albeit slower due to USB 1.1) but if the second approach uses a different approach (that actually works in a better fashion), I'd go with that. Anyone know anything on the prices of these cables? Thanks.

 

I don't know what you consider small but you can get a 40GB HD for it on Ebay for $149 + shipping or you can get a 20GB on Ebay for $107 +shipping You can use an adapter to hook it up to a desktop IDE controller but I don't know if the average Joe would be able to get anything off of it.

Good luck,
Mark

 

boughtans2k - really? I was under the impression that the bad drive would just get another drive letter assigned to it and hence I would be able to access the drive through like Windows Explorer.

Oh, would this connection still be possible if the bad drive were to have bad partitions or is that immaterial?

 

I've purchased 3 dells in the past 1 1/2 and had problems with everyone of them. 2 notebooks in a row to fail and support was poor. A desktop which CD drive went took 2 hours on the phone to tell tech support its the drive, send me another. Then they want to "hold" a credit card until i return the broken drive

I had a Apple G4 keyboard bust on the H key right out of the box. They sent another (no credit card hold) and when I asked if they wanted the keyboard back he said, no, just recycle it.

When my Compaq's battery went on me a few months ago I called their supportl they're HP/Compaq now. They sent a new battery overnight WITHOUT asking for a credit card to hold (how bout that!)

Dell may be cheaper but I'll go with Apple and Compaq/HP for better service.