Computer Question

[dexfarkin]

In unbelievably awful news, my laptop might have just died. When I try to boot it, it reads 'Operating System not found' right after the start up. Now my question is this. It was working fine last night at the pub, and I put it in my bag. I don't believe my bag was jarred or dropped at any point. However, I did have a one inch joke fridge magnet rattling around in the bag. Is a small magnet enough to blow the hard drive of a laptop overnight? If not, what other possible issues are there to explain that. Is so, is there any way to recover the data.

I ask because my laptop has been both my work and game repository. Without it, all of my Johnny material is gone. All of my XP material is gone. 30 wiki entries, gone. My entire scripting portfolio, gone. So, some good news/solutions would help.

EDIT: Does anyone coming up have a proper Windows Installation CD they can bring with them?

EDIT2: My laptop was a work one, so I believe it was running Windows NT, though I'm not entirely sure. I have no great commitment to NT, as long as I can get at most of my data.

Comments

[jim-smith.livejournal.com]

If your OS really is toast, that may not automatically mean the data is irretrievable. If we were talking about a desktop I'd try removing the hard drive and installing it as a slave in another desktop, so that the OS on Desktop #2's master drive could at least see and back up the data on Desktop #1. I don't have nearly as much experience with laptops so I don't know if that's workable. But "can't boot my computer" doesn't always mean "lost all my data."

[redhawk.livejournal.com]

You could buy an external drive sled that lets you mount a laptop HD via USB or FireWire. Pretty essential tool in the techie toolkit.

Which, I might add, doesn't forgive me for not having one. :(

[redhawk.livejournal.com]

It's not inconceivable that your magnet may have done Bad Things to your laptop's HD.

BUT!

All might not be lost!

If you have a Windows CD, I might be able to fix it when I get there. I can't promise anything, but I'll take a shot.

Also, dude? Backups. Look into the idea.

Advanced Explanation:

Boot off the CD, go into the Recovery Console, and run FIXMBR and FIXBOOT. See if that fixes things.

[deathpixie]

Dex is saying he doesn't have a Windows CD, he doesn't _think_, so if you (or anyone coming to New Years) could bring one with them, that'd be great. Otherwise he'll have to try his folks.

[redhawk.livejournal.com]

If there's a computer store nearby, an investment of roughly $10-20 USD can potentially SAVE HIS ASS.

I just checked Newegg - external USB laptop HD enclosures run about $10-20. If we can get one, we can mount his laptop HD to someone else's Windows machine (doesn't Bry have a desktop as well?) to back up the data. Then wipe, reinstall, and move the data back on.

Tedious? Yes. Doable? Definitely.

If you want more details, call me.

[dexfarkin.livejournal.com]

Red, I've got a desktop. When you get up here, we'll drop by the computer store and you can point out what I need. I'd really appreciate it.

[redhawk.livejournal.com]

Not a problem.

For the record, what you need is a USB 2.0 2.5" external hard drive enclosure.

Doing some online checking of Amazon and newegg, and you're looking at maybe $20 US. Tops.

I know your budget is tight, but how much is this data worth to you? ;)

[deathpixie]

Money's not a problem, Red. $20 is fine - we're both working stiffs these days. ;)

[redhawk.livejournal.com]

Hey, I did not want to assume.

At the _absolute_ max, we're looking at $40. If it proves to be too rich for your blood, I'll get it and take it home with me.

Regardless, we'll get one and get things settled out.

[deathpixie]

Sorting this out is Very Good. All of Dex's Wiki stuff is on there. ;)

[ex-thissuga.livejournal.com]

a. remind me when we get 30 seconds of spare time to get you some backup space online.

b. something my stupid brain didn't think of - can't boot probably wasn't the magnet, so you probably do have data. if that helps.

[nystana.livejournal.com]

Might have a Windows disk at home. Will rummage through the apartment to see if I can find it.

[diamond-dust06.livejournal.com]

I have a Windows XP CD from my old laptop. I guess it's the installation CD. I'll bring it with me.

[pebblin.livejournal.com]

Dude. This was so me about a week ago. Thank God my bro's a computer type. He was seeing things like kernel issues and what have you; for as second, I was contemplating crossing over and going Mac if it meant I wouldn't have to deal with as many crashes (though, this lappie hadn't started fucking up on me until just recently).

BUT! All that happened is I wound up getting a new HD and was going to get the sled and whatnot, but at his new gig, he could, somehow, pull the image off my old HD and put it right on the new one, complete with all my shiot. Though, he says some things might be missing, I haven't noticed anything gone.

I got the HD from newegg, too. 100G, 7200 RPM. Starts up way faster than before. Maybe your machine was just trying to tell you something: it wants something for Christmas.

This also reminds me that I should have backed up shiot long ago. I feel better, though, since Redhawk doesn't have any, either. ;)

[pebblin.livejournal.com]

::glances at missing icon::

Actually, maybe there's *one* thing missing...

[dragonelf-2002.livejournal.com]

Remember if you use Windows XP CD it needs to be the same version that is on your laptop. In other words if it is a retail version of Home/Pro on it then it needs a retail version of Home/Pro or if has a OEM version of Home/Pro on it then it needs a OEM version of Home/Pro.

[dragonelf-2002.livejournal.com]

Otherwise your Windows XP code might not work.