question, is there any way to retain your harddisk's data?

[JohnKleeb]

I may have to get a new CPU, not sure yet but basically my CPU is a mess and etc, and I need a new computer. Is there any way possible, I could retain my data?

[FloridaPat]

1. You can get external hard drives really cheap now. I got

a 160 gig drive for around $130. Then just copy everything to the new drive.

[JohnKleeb]

3. hmm thanks

I hope theres some way. Can you buy these thingies at Best Buy or CompUSA perhaps? Thanks, I really dont wanna have to download all that music again and all those game patches. I hope at worst, I'll just have to reinstall the games.

[LastKnight]

14. you have an ipod dont you kleeb?

use that, those are (or have anyway) external hard drives, just transfer stuff to the pod, and over to your new comp.

-LK

[JohnKleeb]

15. yeah 15 gig

but I may not have enough room for sure. I am not talking just music here, I am talking about game patches, game programs, and etc. Maybe I could buy an external hard drive, I so dont wanna lose my data, that wuold suck so much.

[Deja Q]

2. Not all disk controllers are forgiving...

One hard drive may not be seen by the new controller. It may work. It may not. It may seem to work until you discover missing or corrupt files too, but Windows alone is capable of doing that...

Do try to make a backup of that hard drive before you transfer it. Anything can happen, even during the transition.

How is your CPU a 'mess'? What's the CPU make and speed? How much RAM? A new computer may not be what you want... or maybe it would be...

[JohnKleeb]

5. well I hadnt been able to use my regular computer for 2 months

well actually I could but it was really slow, we never did find the problem out, then early this weekend the power source died on me. Computers :argh: love em and hate em.

[Nlighten1]

4. Yes...

I'm not exactly sure what you mean though. Are you getting a new computer?

[JohnKleeb]

6. I think so

not sure.

[No2W2004]

7. Geek here,

1) About how old is the computer. Do you know what kind of CPU it has?

2) Do you know anything about the hard drive itself?

If it isn't that old, then you could probably just upgrade the RAM and replace the power source.

If it's more than 4 or 5 years old, take the hard drive out and shoot it. Then, hopefully you can use it as a slave drive on your new system. If it works out, copy all the data onto the newer (and bigger) master drive.

[JohnKleeb]

8. answers

1. About a year old, no I dont sorry.
2. none sorry.
The computer has other programs too such as it being very slow but at least there would be someway to put my important files on a disk.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

9. how much memory do you have? Have you ever defragged?

you could free up space that way.

[JohnKleeb]

12. I still have a lot

I cant defrag really because the computer wont start up.

[No2W2004]

10. Wow, you shouldn't be having problems like that,

unless you got a virus that screwed your system up. Still doesn't account for the power supply going dead though. If it's only a year old, you could be under waranty. Call the manufacturer on Monday and see what they have to say.

I'd bet you got a virus on that hard drive though. It's gonna need to be checked out before you do anything else with it if you want to keep your data.

[JohnKleeb]

11. We already had Dell check it out

I am under warranity so I dunno. Its just so weird how it happened. Happened about two months ago. Sigh, its so annoying, and I dont wanna have to download that music and install those programs all over again.

[JohnKleeb]

13. kick sorry

really am curious

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

16. Yes there is a way

Find a local computer geek and most likely he will have a computer set up specifically for hard drive backups (I have two). It's a simple matter to pull the hard drive and back up your valuable data-- Favorites, My Documents, your Outlook/Outlook Express databases and Address Book, and on. Any competent computer techie can do this routine in his/her sleep. When you get your new computer it's typically pretty easy to put the backed up stuff where it belongs, on the new computer. (Note: if you have an an older OS such as Win98 or Win2000 and your new machine has WinXP, it will make NO difference as far as the restored information is concerned.)