Broken HD

[troy00690]

Well my hard drive is gone. I am missing some SYS files. Boot disk is Partitioned on the hard drive and I can't access it either. Called HP and they don't have the boot disk for my PC anymore either. They told me that I have to replace my Computer. I was looking at just buying a HD and then installing a new OS on it. I was wondering about using different os, Like Linux, Unix stuff like that. I have never used anything other then Windows. Any advice would be great.
The Computer is An HP pavillion 750.

[Don-Dad]

You should be able to buy any HD and install it, then install the OS of your choice. What sucks about most major PC makers now it they do not even give you a copy of windows, they give you a boot disk or cd for restoring your system, but that's no help if your drive is fried.

If you do not have a copy of windows or linux you will have to buy that too. Linux is cheaper, actually free but newbies might have a problem with free versions.

I'm no pro but I toyed with a copy of redhat linux and it was just about the same as using windows, pretty much same kind of look and feel. And it cost like $69 or $89, I can' remember.

so a new hard drive, if you buy just a $80 gig should cost you about $40 if you shop around then depends on the operating system.

If you go with windows, then your best bet might be to go out and buy a $400 email or something, cause windows cost like $180 for windows pro.

How old is the computer? If it's less than 3 years old than an upgrade is not so bad, older than that and you might consider a new one, it will be faster.

Just my opinion and I'm no hard caore pc builder, I'll leave those professional opinons to SAO or craigbass :)

[stretch]

Sorry. Infernal machines!

Thanks for the reminder to run my backup utility tonight, though.

[craigbass76]

I don't knwo how legal this is, but you might get a friend to grab a windowsxp image off kazaa or bittorrent. Install it on your new hard drive and use the product key on your sticker on the HP.

CentOS is free and is as far as I can tell an exact copy of RedHat Linux. I can help you get situated if you want to go this route.

[troy00690]

What is the difference in running linux and windows. I have been intrested in running linux but have had no reason to give it a shot. I think that now would be a good time to go that route.

[LooneyToonDad]

I'm no pro but I toyed with a copy of redhat linux and it was just about the same as using windows, pretty much same kind of look and feel. And it cost like $69 or $89, I can' remember.

Check your local library, I know mine has a lot of books on Linux and most of them come with CD/DVD's with different Linux systems on them. Never had the chance to try it myself, but one of these days.


..... cause windows cost like $180 for windows pro.


Check NewEgg or some other online sites, you might be able to get an OEM version for cheaper (won't have any manuals), and you can get your hard drive there too.

If you want to try and rescue your old one, I have a copy of either Windows Mini PE or Knoppix (a Linux version), which load and run an OS from the CD drive. Comes in handy for virus checking, fixing files, etc. Let me know.

[troy00690]

I was wondering about trying to rescue it. The only error that I get is that there is missing or corrupt system32/pci.sys file. If I could get into the restore screen I may be able to make a copy of the boot disk I need.

[craigbass76]

I just read your sig. Hilarious. :)

You can use Knoppix to get your data. Unfortunately, after service pack 2 came out, knoppix was no longer able to write to ntfs. All you can do is read from it. You can download a knoppix cd (start at knopper.net and you'll find it from there) and at least move your data to somewhere safe. You have another computer, or no? You could burn it to cd if you have two drives I guess.

Without your windows disk (or maybe even if you had one) I doubt you're going to rescue that windows install. Best to get the data out and either reinstall, or install a linux of some sort. You cna install Knoppix if you want; it's a debian variant with a whole bunch of software. I'm partial to RedHat type systems, but it's what I learned on. Even though Ubuntu is all the rage now, I would steer clear if I were you. Also a Debian variant, I think the Debian folks actually disapprove of Ubuntu. Not sure why, or even if it's true, but I didn't like it at all for the two weeks that I gave it an honest try.

[sao95]

Xandros is free, and I've heard alot of good things about it, haven't had time to try it though....

[housedude]

look at distrowatch.com they have a rating system and links to diffrent distros. Look at ubuntu it has a huge community and helpful people. I use dsl (damn small linux) without a hard drive because my maxtor drives crapped out, cant save anything but no viruses for sure. Once you start linux you will be putting diffrent distros on every month:)

[craigbass76]

Aw dont' say that. You'll find one you like pretty soon. Housedude, you boot toram? It must smoke...

[troy00690]

Well had something weird happen last night. The computer that was using yesterday (free from craigslist) crapped out on me. I was sitting next to it watching tv and it went poof and could smell something burning. After about 90 minutes of messing with it for kicks I turned on the HP with the bad HD. It turned on and works. made my boot disk and got some info of it that I needed. Then formated it. it is running good for me know. Thank you guys for all the help. May be getting a second HD and running linux on it any ways so if this does go out I will be ready.

[Jstimpert]

when buying a laptop and in some cases a desktop from HP, Dell, Gateway ect.. these machines olmost never come with a windows disk, when you buy one of these machines it is best to make a backup disk as soon as possible!