Plastic Nev

Sorry Ray, just realised you already mentioned it will install from an OS disk I assume you already have? If so, install it, and use the product key that should be on the label on the machine, just as you did with W7 on the other one. Nev.

Hi Ray, for your first question= "Will there be something on the machine tying it to Vista?" Possibly something in the BIOS as a perhaps, however not sure on that so will leave that for someone who may know one way or the other for sure. your second question, "is it possible to download Vista Home Premium OEM Act and use the original license?" Download one from Digital River as per previous threads and you should be OK I think. Nev.

Hi just to add that the HDD from a different system, unless exactly the same make and model, the Windows operating system on it will see a new and different environment and refuse to boot anyway, possibly why it wouldn't work for you. Nev.

HI HH, thanks for the update, please let us know how you get on with it, and if any problems do come back and ask. Nev.

The way things are going Ray and all you are learning on the way, which I must congratulate you on that, you will soon be joining us and advising others, after all that is how I started and so many others too. Good luck with the Toshiba, I used to have one, however now sold. Nev.

Hi HH, I don't know that make of imaging software, however after a look on their website here= http://www.avanquest.com/UK/software/perfect-image-12-122667 I found "Perfect Image includes a powerful recovery CD." You just need to find it if you already created one, or if it came with one. Or find out how to create one, as something will be needed to work from to install the image onto a clean new drive. Nev.

Hi, you are describing exactly the same thing I did with my old Toshiba laptop, so I can definitely say it is possible. First you will need to download a cloning or imaging program, there are a few about that are free or at least simpler free versions of the more complex paid for versions, and you will need room on the existing C drive to install it on. Myself and KenB have used a very good free version of Macrium Reflect. KenB has a full tutorial available if you wish to use that one, though as I say there are others, EasUS do a good one too. Once you have downloaded and installed the program of your choice, you first make sure the external hard drive is plugged in and working, then open the Imaging program, depending on which you use, follow instructions for creating a complete image of the notebooks hard drive and for the image to be copied to the external hard drive. In all cases you will also need to create a boot disk, this is an operating system in miniature that the notebook can boot from once the new bigger hard drive is fitted. In the Macrium reflect, the program will do that for you, and if using the Macrium, I recommend downloading and creating a disk using the Windows PE environment rather than the Linux one, it is much better, though a big download so will take time depending on your available download speeds. You then remove the old small hard drive and fit the new larger one, then turn it on and get to the boot choices menu to make the BIOS boot from the CD/DVD drive and boot disk first, quite often BIOS systems will boot from the CD/DVD drive as first choice by default, but not always, so it must be checked that the CD/DVD drive is first choice. Also make sure the external hard drive is connected and the boot disk is in the disk drive. Follow instructions either from the maker of the imaging program or if using Macrium Reflect, KenB's tutorial. It does take some time to both create the image onto the external hard drive, and later to put that image onto the new hard drive, as well as downloading and creating the boot disk, so make sure you have a good few hours to spare. Once the image is installed onto the new hard drive, the new hard drive will be partitioned exactly the same as the old one was, so the extra space on the new hard drive will be unallocated, you will then need to expand the partitions to use the unallocated bit. Windows own partition tools is a bit limited so a good one I found is the EasUS free version Partition Master Home Edition, ask if you need a link for that. First a link to KenB's tutorial for creating the image in Macrium Reflect= http://s13.zetaboards.com/kenspchelp/topic/6963042/1/#new Secondly, the link for using that image to reinstall it onto your new hard drive= http://s13.zetaboards.com/kenspchelp/topic/6963046/1/#new In the second tutorial he mentions at first the need to create the rescue or boot disk. Although the Linux one may work for you, in my case it would not, for whatever reason it couldn't find my external hard drive, even though it was connected and fully functional. The Windows PE disk did do though, hence why I recommended it earlier. These imaging programs are originally designed to be a full backup, should anything major go wrong, so replacing a complete hard drive as you intend is just the same thing. So I also recommend creating regularly an image of the current state of your computer at any time after replacing the hard drive, as a just in case thing. If doing so and wishing to maintain an order one thing I must mention. Macrium issue program updates from time to time, but an image created with a newer version will not work with an older version rescue or boot disk. I reckon it is simpler to not allow updates, as otherwise it then means creating new rescue or boot disks every time the program is updated. Nev.

Hi Steve and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. Have a good look round, there may be answers to some questions you want answered, and for anything else, just ask in the relevant forum or section and we will do our best, it is what we are here for as KenB said. Oh, and no question is silly or daft if you don't know the answer, unless of course you would like to know the numbers for the next lottery draw. If we knew them, do you think we would tell someone else? :D Nev.

Hi Ray, Not sure what you mean about the MBR, as that is installed with the operating system. The disk activity light will not flash if there is nothing there to read so yes you are correct in that assumption. If you reformatted the drive entirely it will show all as unallocated, you can allocate all or individual partitions if you create partitions that is. Chkdsk can't work on unallocated partitions as there is nothing there to check, so yes to creating a partition out of the remaining bit of the drive. That should prove all the drive is still OK. At least we know now the drive isn't dead as you first thought. As for installing an OS when it is back in the Sony, instead why not try doing so in the Acer first? You know that machine is fully working OK, so if the 160GB drive is really OK it should load it on. Then try putting the drive into the Sony after that. There just might be a fault on the DVD side of the drive as the DVD is one set of heads, the CD is another set of read/write heads, hence why perhaps it will work off the Seagate CD disk but not off the operating system DVD disks. Nev.

Got a phone call from a neighbour today who told me my cat had been chasing a young child down the street on a bicycle. I told him it was impossible, my cat can't ride a bike and doesn't even have one. Nev.

The worry here now is that there just may be some fault elsewhere on the laptop that is killing the drive. Could just be the reason why the original drive died. Just a thought to be wary of Ray. Nev.

Good to hear that Ray, and thanks for the update on it. Nev.

Hi, data can be recovered to some extent from a damaged drive by specialist companies, however they are expensive, very expensive. So as you say, chalk it up to experience. If there is any personal stuff on the drive, banking stuff etc, and bear it in mind that for future use, the system will store some details even though they seem hidden. Do not just throw the old drive if that is suspected, destroy it completely first, as the thieves after personal details such as that will spend the money. A big hammer works well. Nev.

Hi Jim, glad it is sorted, even though it turned out to be something entirely different to what I thought. Nev.

Hi Jim, As you will know there are a lot of things could be the cause of this, faulty RAM, Something hogging resources, some odd incompatibility between two running programs, malware and maybe some other things not thought about. First would be a scan with Malwarebytes and scans with antivirus and other security products. Second is to have a look in Task Manager (Run box and copy and paste taskmgr then check processes that nothing is hogging the CPU or RAM also check performance and see how much RAM is actually being used) Next would be to check the RAM sticks, take them out, clean contacts and replace just one, check the system, no change try another and so on. Just in case something is wrong in the printer software, remove it and uninstall again and try without printer or software. Let us know what you find, if anything, after that, Nev.

OK Ray, let us know how you get on with this one. As an idea, when you get a drive for the other laptop, try it in this one, that way you can check out the rest of the machine. Nev.

For windows Live Mail, that link doesn't seem to work Seedy, try this one= http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-live/essentials-other-programs Nev.

Do check on line before then for price comparisons Ray, might be something available cheaper locally, but until you look you won't know. Looking just on Amazon there are 200GB drives for around £30, or £50 for 500GB on average for 2.5 inch laptop drives here= http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_kk_2?rh=i%3Acomputers%2Ck%3Ainternal+hard+drives+2+5&keywords=internal+hard+drives+2+5&ie=UTF8&qid=1364077167 The Toshiba or Samsung are pretty reliable drives as well as the more well known Western Digital and Seagate. Nev.

Hum, at this stage I doubt if any data can be recovered if it has gone RAW. Also the fact it is only seeing a small percentage of the drive doesn't look good on the surface. I know there are ways to recover data from a drive that has gone RAW, but not sure about whether it is worth while trying, only the owner may know if there is something important on it, so do check that first. If nothing worth saving though an experimental format is worth giving a try to see if it will then recover the rest of the drive and show as the full amount of 250GB instead of the small 32GB If that doesn't work, a new drive is possibly the only real answer. After all, this is the drive that the Seagate tool said was a dud anyway. Nev.

Hi Ray, for replacement drive, just type in Hard drives into Google, and look around for prices, Amazon may be OK but there are so many other online dealers, it pays to look around as prices can vary, might even get one cheap enough just calling into your local high street computer shop. I picked up a 500GB desktop one for under £50 recently from a reputable shop in town three weeks ago. Saved all the messing about ordering online, then waiting for the parcel to arrive. Nev.

Hi Ray, is this the hard drive you mentioned in the other thread that the disk checker said was duff? With the drive in the enclosure hold the enclosure in your hand and then plug it in to the USB, assuming it is USB powered, does it spin up and can you feel the slight vibration? If yes, once up to speed any other slight movement felt or even heard as the read head starts to search? If yes to those questions, it may be an OK drive but corrupted data on it, hence why it asks for a format. Try the check disk on it rather than format first and see what it comes up with. Nev.

I actually don't think that will be an issue, reading the spec for the ATI card and also your computer, I see no reason at all as to why it shouldn't work. Once the card is fitted, and when you then boot up again, the BIOS will configure itself to the new card, if the card comes with a drivers disk, follow instructions for installing the drivers and all should be OK. Nev.

From a fresh start without the checkdisk running or trying to run, can you access any part of the drive now? Also try the Seatools disk again. Nev.

Hi Enzo, Considering that we always regard doing any sort of upgrade to the BIOS as a last resort, even though they say it is safer these days, if it goes wrong, you don't have a computer any more, just a pretty door stop. So first try the new ATI card and see how it goes, if it works OK then leave the BIOS alone. Nev.

I used to have an older HP machine and did refill cartridges myself, but soon discovered they will only take about three refills before the print head starts to get clogged and will not print very well at all after that. So if you are refilling them, or buying the refilled none HP so called compatibles, you may well have a cartridge that has been refilled a few times already. Nev.