Hard drive crash and recovery

[kendo1]

My hard drive crashed last week. It just so happened that the sector that became corrupt was the boot sector - it may have been a virus or worm. I run AVG and some free anti-spyware, but it seems more than likely that something got through.

So what do you do when this happens?

I used one of my kids' computers to find a solution. You can download a free ( handy when you're a Scot) Linux based operating system that runs from your CD/DVD drive or from a USB drive.

A few things have to be done to get it to work - the computer you download on has to be in 'safe' mode ( F8 key at start up ), hidden and system files have to be 'unhidden': the broken computer has to have 'OS download ' enabled from the F2 menu. Restart with F12 menu and away you go!


Seriously consider downloading this freeware just in case something happens to you. There are different options for XP, Windows98, Vista etc.

It cost me 50 pence to fix, as I did not have a blank CD handy.

The site is at ubcd4win.com - Ultimate Boot CD for Windows - and most things are explained there.

Any problems- PM me.

Helpful Ken

 

[redpaint]

Sounds good but could you send me the link?

 

[kendo1]

http://www.ubcd4win.com/

 

[DesertPirate]

http://www.ubcd4win.com/

I have that on my thumb drive, it has saved a few customers machines.
The other viable alternative requires a second computer. Pull the infected HD and use an IDE to USB daptor to hook it to the "clean" one. Run anti-spyware and anti-virus scans on it without Windows running.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I have that on my thumb drive, it has saved a few customers machines.
The other viable alternative requires a second computer. Pull the infected HD and use an IDE to USB daptor to hook it to the "clean" one. Run anti-spyware and anti-virus scans on it without Windows running.

Pretty much what I do. I turn the old drive into an external drive with a new machine. I did that for my old home PC and my old work PC both this year.

 

[DesertPirate]

Pretty much what I do. I turn the old drive into an external drive with a new machine. I did that for my old home PC and my old work PC both this year.

You can clean it that way then re-instal it and run, possibly needing a repair instal of windows if the MBR is really screwed. A reapir instal fixes Winblows problems are rarely losses data.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

You can clean it that way then re-instal it and run, possibly needing a repair instal of windows if the MBR is really screwed. A reapir instal fixes Winblows problems are rarely losses data.

But they were really old computers that I needed to upgrade anyway. This just gave me an excuse to finally get around to it

 

[DesertPirate]

But they were really old computers that I needed to upgrade anyway. This just gave me an excuse to finally get around to it

Since I do this for a living, preserving data and getting it running fast are important.

 

[redpaint]

http://www.ubcd4win.com/

Thanks

 

[kendo1]

Since I do this for a living, preserving data and getting it running fast are important.

Sorry. You won't get much business from me.

My thought was that most people do not want to open up their machines, but they can download programs, make CD's and run system start-up.

 

[DesertPirate]

Sorry. You won't get much business from me.

My thought was that most people do not want to open up their machines, but they can download programs, make CD's and run system start-up.

You have the right solution for a "home" fix. I like it and have suggested it to some "tech savy" friends, the instructions for this kind of fix are getting so good that almost anyone can do it. There are still many who don't want to do it. When people call a tech, then I will do what is needed. Many folks are capable of removing a HD, many more are not. It's a matter of comfort level and expense.