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From: Pokerskatershark on 4 May 2008 17:24
On May 4, 1:54 pm, kony <s...(a)spam.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 4 May 2008 13:18:05 -0700 (PDT), Pokerskatershark
>
>
>
> <pokerskatersh...(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
> >Hello All,
>
> >I have a feeling my hard drive is on its last leg. When I turn it on,
> >it makes a VERY loud grinding noise. I could be wrong, but it
> >certainly doesn't sound like it's too happy! It is almost two years
> >old and is a Dell XPS 400. (Not sure if that info is needed)
>
> >I have backed up everything on an external hard drive. The problem I
> >am having is, when and if the HD does crash, is it possible to just
> >slap a new internal HD in my computer?
>
> >I realize that I will have to have an OS on it. My computer did not
> >come with any recovery CD's. I followed Dells' "recovery" process....
> >1) Go to the Start menu 2) All Programs 3) Dell Accessories 4)
> >Recovery. Problem is, there is no #4 option in my start menu.
>
> >I called Dell and I am not joking when the tech said to me "It should
> >be there" I purchased the computer via the Dell website and not
> >through a retailer. After a long discussion (1.5 hours) the tech's
> >final response was "I'm not sure what happened, but it should be
> >there. I am not sure where it is" I told him that this was the very
> >first time I had tried to do a recovery and where could "it" have
> >gone. No answer.
>
> >They are refusing to send me any recovery CD's and obviously I don't
> >have an XP disc lying around. Is there anything I can do? I am VERY
> >frustrated right now.
>
> >Thanks so much for any help.
>
> In addition to what others suggested about making a backup
> of the system, two other things you can do are:
>
> 1) Buy new drive, connect both and use the drive
> manufacturer's utility to dupe the old drive to the new.
> Only after that had finished, boot windows with old drive
> disconnected.
>
> 2) Determine which version of XP you have and get the disc
> (copy it if you want to keep a copy) from someone else. It
> should be an OEM disc of same type your system had, Home vs
> Pro, and possibly same release (Sp1 vs Sp2 integral). With
> 2 year old system it should be SP2. You can do this because
> the license is not tied to the installation media, it is to
> the type of windows you end up running. The sticker that
> came on your system is the installation key, it should work
> if you have the right windows disc - though in some cases
> you may have to call MS and have them give you the
> activation code. Since this is a valid not pirated license,
> if you need to call for the code you should give minimal
> information instead of leaving them an excuse to deny
> activation. I write this because while some have no trouble
> getting reactivated, some CSRs dont' understand that license
> does not require the specific piece of plastic (CD) that
> your OEM (supposedly) shipped. License does not disappear
> if you don't have the original media to install from.

This is a lot of very useful and great information. Thanks to
everyone!!

I will get that software and also buy a new internal HD. Does
everyone concur that I should buy a new fan as well?

Now, what would you all suggest as far as the model of internal HD I
should get? What about the fan? In the past I have used New Egg, but
curious if there are better sources out there.

Thanks again for all the help!!!
From: RBM on 4 May 2008 17:55

"Pokerskatershark" <pokerskatershark(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:dcbe132a-ab42-4f3e-b07d-12e51dc9fd98(a)u36g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> On May 4, 1:54 pm, kony <s...(a)spam.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, 4 May 2008 13:18:05 -0700 (PDT), Pokerskatershark
>>
>>
>>
>> <pokerskatersh...(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
>> >Hello All,
>>
>> >I have a feeling my hard drive is on its last leg. When I turn it on,
>> >it makes a VERY loud grinding noise. I could be wrong, but it
>> >certainly doesn't sound like it's too happy! It is almost two years
>> >old and is a Dell XPS 400. (Not sure if that info is needed)
>>
>> >I have backed up everything on an external hard drive. The problem I
>> >am having is, when and if the HD does crash, is it possible to just
>> >slap a new internal HD in my computer?
>>
>> >I realize that I will have to have an OS on it. My computer did not
>> >come with any recovery CD's. I followed Dells' "recovery" process....
>> >1) Go to the Start menu 2) All Programs 3) Dell Accessories 4)
>> >Recovery. Problem is, there is no #4 option in my start menu.
>>
>> >I called Dell and I am not joking when the tech said to me "It should
>> >be there" I purchased the computer via the Dell website and not
>> >through a retailer. After a long discussion (1.5 hours) the tech's
>> >final response was "I'm not sure what happened, but it should be
>> >there. I am not sure where it is" I told him that this was the very
>> >first time I had tried to do a recovery and where could "it" have
>> >gone. No answer.
>>
>> >They are refusing to send me any recovery CD's and obviously I don't
>> >have an XP disc lying around. Is there anything I can do? I am VERY
>> >frustrated right now.
>>
>> >Thanks so much for any help.
>>
>> In addition to what others suggested about making a backup
>> of the system, two other things you can do are:
>>
>> 1) Buy new drive, connect both and use the drive
>> manufacturer's utility to dupe the old drive to the new.
>> Only after that had finished, boot windows with old drive
>> disconnected.
>>
>> 2) Determine which version of XP you have and get the disc
>> (copy it if you want to keep a copy) from someone else. It
>> should be an OEM disc of same type your system had, Home vs
>> Pro, and possibly same release (Sp1 vs Sp2 integral). With
>> 2 year old system it should be SP2. You can do this because
>> the license is not tied to the installation media, it is to
>> the type of windows you end up running. The sticker that
>> came on your system is the installation key, it should work
>> if you have the right windows disc - though in some cases
>> you may have to call MS and have them give you the
>> activation code. Since this is a valid not pirated license,
>> if you need to call for the code you should give minimal
>> information instead of leaving them an excuse to deny
>> activation. I write this because while some have no trouble
>> getting reactivated, some CSRs dont' understand that license
>> does not require the specific piece of plastic (CD) that
>> your OEM (supposedly) shipped. License does not disappear
>> if you don't have the original media to install from.
>
> This is a lot of very useful and great information. Thanks to
> everyone!!
>
> I will get that software and also buy a new internal HD. Does
> everyone concur that I should buy a new fan as well?
>
> Now, what would you all suggest as far as the model of internal HD I
> should get? What about the fan? In the past I have used New Egg, but
> curious if there are better sources out there.
>
> Thanks again for all the help!!!

There may be a number of good PC part sources, but none better than Newegg.
Check the user ratings on whatever size and type drive you need. I've been
using nothing by Seagate drives for the last five years and have never had
one go bad, although I just ordered a WD caviar about an hour ago, so, we'll
see


From: Pokerskatershark on 4 May 2008 19:00
On May 4, 2:55 pm, "RBM" <r...(a)noemail.com> wrote:
> "Pokerskatershark" <pokerskatersh...(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:dcbe132a-ab42-4f3e-b07d-12e51dc9fd98(a)u36g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > On May 4, 1:54 pm, kony <s...(a)spam.com> wrote:
> >> On Sun, 4 May 2008 13:18:05 -0700 (PDT), Pokerskatershark
>
> >> <pokerskatersh...(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
> >> >Hello All,
>
> >> >I have a feeling my hard drive is on its last leg. When I turn it on,
> >> >it makes a VERY loud grinding noise. I could be wrong, but it
> >> >certainly doesn't sound like it's too happy! It is almost two years
> >> >old and is a Dell XPS 400. (Not sure if that info is needed)
>
> >> >I have backed up everything on an external hard drive. The problem I
> >> >am having is, when and if the HD does crash, is it possible to just
> >> >slap a new internal HD in my computer?
>
> >> >I realize that I will have to have an OS on it. My computer did not
> >> >come with any recovery CD's. I followed Dells' "recovery" process....
> >> >1) Go to the Start menu 2) All Programs 3) Dell Accessories 4)
> >> >Recovery. Problem is, there is no #4 option in my start menu.
>
> >> >I called Dell and I am not joking when the tech said to me "It should
> >> >be there" I purchased the computer via the Dell website and not
> >> >through a retailer. After a long discussion (1.5 hours) the tech's
> >> >final response was "I'm not sure what happened, but it should be
> >> >there. I am not sure where it is" I told him that this was the very
> >> >first time I had tried to do a recovery and where could "it" have
> >> >gone. No answer.
>
> >> >They are refusing to send me any recovery CD's and obviously I don't
> >> >have an XP disc lying around. Is there anything I can do? I am VERY
> >> >frustrated right now.
>
> >> >Thanks so much for any help.
>
> >> In addition to what others suggested about making a backup
> >> of the system, two other things you can do are:
>
> >> 1) Buy new drive, connect both and use the drive
> >> manufacturer's utility to dupe the old drive to the new.
> >> Only after that had finished, boot windows with old drive
> >> disconnected.
>
> >> 2) Determine which version of XP you have and get the disc
> >> (copy it if you want to keep a copy) from someone else. It
> >> should be an OEM disc of same type your system had, Home vs
> >> Pro, and possibly same release (Sp1 vs Sp2 integral). With
> >> 2 year old system it should be SP2. You can do this because
> >> the license is not tied to the installation media, it is to
> >> the type of windows you end up running. The sticker that
> >> came on your system is the installation key, it should work
> >> if you have the right windows disc - though in some cases
> >> you may have to call MS and have them give you the
> >> activation code. Since this is a valid not pirated license,
> >> if you need to call for the code you should give minimal
> >> information instead of leaving them an excuse to deny
> >> activation. I write this because while some have no trouble
> >> getting reactivated, some CSRs dont' understand that license
> >> does not require the specific piece of plastic (CD) that
> >> your OEM (supposedly) shipped. License does not disappear
> >> if you don't have the original media to install from.
>
> > This is a lot of very useful and great information. Thanks to
> > everyone!!
>
> > I will get that software and also buy a new internal HD. Does
> > everyone concur that I should buy a new fan as well?
>
> > Now, what would you all suggest as far as the model of internal HD I
> > should get? What about the fan? In the past I have used New Egg, but
> > curious if there are better sources out there.
>
> > Thanks again for all the help!!!
>
> There may be a number of good PC part sources, but none better than Newegg.
> Check the user ratings on whatever size and type drive you need. I've been
> using nothing by Seagate drives for the last five years and have never had
> one go bad, although I just ordered a WD caviar about an hour ago, so, we'll
> see

Great. Thank you very much!
From: Pokerskatershark on 6 May 2008 14:39
On May 5, 2:45 pm, "Rod Speed" <rod.speed....(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> Pokerskatershark <pokerskatersh...(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
> > On May 5, 11:39 am, "Rod Speed" <rod.speed....(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> >> code_wrong <t...(a)tac.co.uk> wrote:
> >>> "Pokerskatershark" <pokerskatersh...(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >>>news:e5be84ca-6792-4eef-b9b7-48b781878425(a)y18g2000pre.googlegroups.com...
> >>>> Hello All,
>
> >>>> I have a feeling my hard drive is on its last leg. When I turn it
> >>>> on, it makes a VERY loud grinding noise. I could be wrong, but it
> >>>> certainly doesn't sound like it's too happy! It is almost two
> >>>> years
> >>>> old and is a Dell XPS 400. (Not sure if that info is needed)
>
> >>>> I have backed up everything on an external hard drive. The
> >>>> problem I
> >>>> am having is, when and if the HD does crash, is it possible to just
> >>>> slap a new internal HD in my computer?
>
> >>>> I realize that I will have to have an OS on it. My computer did
> >>>> not
> >>>> come with any recovery CD's. I followed Dells' "recovery"
> >>>> process.... 1) Go to the Start menu 2) All Programs 3) Dell
> >>>> Accessories 4) Recovery. Problem is, there is no #4 option in my
> >>>> start menu. I called Dell and I am not joking when the tech said
> >>>> to me "It should be there" I purchased the computer via the Dell
> >>>> website and not
> >>>> through a retailer. After a long discussion (1.5 hours) the tech's
> >>>> final response was "I'm not sure what happened, but it should be
> >>>> there. I am not sure where it is" I told him that this was the
> >>>> very
> >>>> first time I had tried to do a recovery and where could "it" have
> >>>> gone. No answer.
>
> >>>> They are refusing to send me any recovery CD's and obviously I
> >>>> don't
> >>>> have an XP disc lying around. Is there anything I can do? I am
> >>>> VERY
> >>>> frustrated right now.
>
> >>>> Thanks so much for any help.
>
> >>> first thing to do is look inside the case and identify the source of
> >>> the noise ... maybe a wire is touching a fan .. maybe a fan is worn
> >>> .. you can certainly, by listening and observing carefully,
> >>> eliminate
> >>> these possibilities..
> >>> If your hard drive was about to fail I would think you would
> >>> experience problems using the computer .. slow system for example,
> >>> BSOD
> >> Not if its just bearing noise, that can go on for years just being noisy.
> > The noise has only been going on for a few days.
> > I haven't noticed in slowing of speed or any error
> > messages coming up. It's not noisy after it boots up either.
>
> Thats much more likely to be a fan than the hard drive.
>
> > I will open the case and see if I can figure out where the noise is coming from.
>
> The simplest way to do that is to put something insulating thru the
> fan on the power supply, before turning it on. That stops that fan
> rotating, so you can see if the noise is coming from that fan.
>
> Dont leave that stopping the fan rotating for long, just long enough
> to check if the noise still happens as the system is turned on.
>
> > Is it all right to have the case open when I turn it on?
>
> Yes, but you dont need to open the case to
> check the case fans, just do what I listed above.
>
> Dont to that with the cpu fan, even a short time stopped can kill the cpu on turnon.
>
> The best check for whether its the hard drive is to unplug the power to the hard drive
> and see if the noise still happens at startup. You should get no noise and an error
> message saying that no bootable drive is available if the noise is due to the hard drive.
>
> > Thanks again for all the help!
>
> No problem, thats what these technical newsgroups are for.

Well, it is definitely the hard drive. I just hope I can get a new HD
ordered and installed before the bomb goes off!

When I put the new drive in, will I still have all my old programs or
do I have to reinstall? The reason I ask is a few of my programs
require activation codes and I know that one program for sure (Final
Draft) does not have any activations left.

Keeping my fingers crossed that I can actually pull this off!!

Thanks again everyone!!
Justine
From: Pokerskatershark on 6 May 2008 14:54
On May 6, 11:39 am, Pokerskatershark <pokerskatersh...(a)yahoo.com>
wrote:
> On May 5, 2:45 pm, "Rod Speed" <rod.speed....(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Pokerskatershark <pokerskatersh...(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > On May 5, 11:39 am, "Rod Speed" <rod.speed....(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> > >> code_wrong <t...(a)tac.co.uk> wrote:
> > >>> "Pokerskatershark" <pokerskatersh...(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > >>>news:e5be84ca-6792-4eef-b9b7-48b781878425(a)y18g2000pre.googlegroups.com...
> > >>>> Hello All,
>
> > >>>> I have a feeling my hard drive is on its last leg. When I turn it
> > >>>> on, it makes a VERY loud grinding noise. I could be wrong, but it
> > >>>> certainly doesn't sound like it's too happy! It is almost two
> > >>>> years
> > >>>> old and is a Dell XPS 400. (Not sure if that info is needed)
>
> > >>>> I have backed up everything on an external hard drive. The
> > >>>> problem I
> > >>>> am having is, when and if the HD does crash, is it possible to just
> > >>>> slap a new internal HD in my computer?
>
> > >>>> I realize that I will have to have an OS on it. My computer did
> > >>>> not
> > >>>> come with any recovery CD's. I followed Dells' "recovery"
> > >>>> process.... 1) Go to the Start menu 2) All Programs 3) Dell
> > >>>> Accessories 4) Recovery. Problem is, there is no #4 option in my
> > >>>> start menu. I called Dell and I am not joking when the tech said
> > >>>> to me "It should be there" I purchased the computer via the Dell
> > >>>> website and not
> > >>>> through a retailer. After a long discussion (1.5 hours) the tech's
> > >>>> final response was "I'm not sure what happened, but it should be
> > >>>> there. I am not sure where it is" I told him that this was the
> > >>>> very
> > >>>> first time I had tried to do a recovery and where could "it" have
> > >>>> gone. No answer.
>
> > >>>> They are refusing to send me any recovery CD's and obviously I
> > >>>> don't
> > >>>> have an XP disc lying around. Is there anything I can do? I am
> > >>>> VERY
> > >>>> frustrated right now.
>
> > >>>> Thanks so much for any help.
>
> > >>> first thing to do is look inside the case and identify the source of
> > >>> the noise ... maybe a wire is touching a fan .. maybe a fan is worn
> > >>> .. you can certainly, by listening and observing carefully,
> > >>> eliminate
> > >>> these possibilities..
> > >>> If your hard drive was about to fail I would think you would
> > >>> experience problems using the computer .. slow system for example,
> > >>> BSOD
> > >> Not if its just bearing noise, that can go on for years just being noisy.
> > > The noise has only been going on for a few days.
> > > I haven't noticed in slowing of speed or any error
> > > messages coming up. It's not noisy after it boots up either.
>
> > Thats much more likely to be a fan than the hard drive.
>
> > > I will open the case and see if I can figure out where the noise is coming from.
>
> > The simplest way to do that is to put something insulating thru the
> > fan on the power supply, before turning it on. That stops that fan
> > rotating, so you can see if the noise is coming from that fan.
>
> > Dont leave that stopping the fan rotating for long, just long enough
> > to check if the noise still happens as the system is turned on.
>
> > > Is it all right to have the case open when I turn it on?
>
> > Yes, but you dont need to open the case to
> > check the case fans, just do what I listed above.
>
> > Dont to that with the cpu fan, even a short time stopped can kill the cpu on turnon.
>
> > The best check for whether its the hard drive is to unplug the power to the hard drive
> > and see if the noise still happens at startup. You should get no noise and an error
> > message saying that no bootable drive is available if the noise is due to the hard drive.
>
> > > Thanks again for all the help!
>
> > No problem, thats what these technical newsgroups are for.
>
> Well, it is definitely the hard drive. I just hope I can get a new HD
> ordered and installed before the bomb goes off!
>
> When I put the new drive in, will I still have all my old programs or
> do I have to reinstall? The reason I ask is a few of my programs
> require activation codes and I know that one program for sure (Final
> Draft) does not have any activations left.
>
> Keeping my fingers crossed that I can actually pull this off!!
>
> Thanks again everyone!!
> Justine

One other quick question. I have narrowed down these three drives.
How do I know which one I need for my system?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=103530113+1035320984&Description=Western+Digital+Caviar&name=750GB

Thanks again for all the help!!
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