Problem with HDD

[Cosmin]

While surfing the web my computer freezes & it's required a manual restart. Trying after restart the same thing (Firefox/IE8 surfing) . Tried to install a fresh new copy of windows 7 7600 RTM but freezes while expanding files and giving me this error :

"Windows cannot install required files. The file does not exit. Make sure all files required for installation are avaible, and restart installation. Error code : 0x8007003"

While freezes the led for hdd continuously on . What can be done?

Thanks for any opinion :(

[yxz]

linux livecd

[carmatic]

there is a program called spinrite http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm that can help with damaged but still functioning hard disks, which sounds like whats happening with yours... its not free but many people like that program...after you run it, chkdsk would run automatically the next time you boot into windows

[Cosmin]

My C drive (windows) is has been formatted . so it's empty now without the possibility to install one. If I install a new IDE HDD can I attach the "almost damaged" hdd for saving partition D & E ?

[carmatic]

  Cosmin said:

My C drive (windows) is has been formatted . so it's empty now without the possibility to install one. If I install a new IDE HDD can I attach the "almost damaged" hdd for saving partition D & E ?

so you have split the hard disk into three partitions and formatted the windows partition?

if you are still planning to use spinrite, you dont need windows for it to work, it boots the computer on its own

chances are you can save the data if the disk lives long enough.... ive had a disk go bad on me and it wouldnt even spin up for me to read anything off it, and i put it in the freezer until it got very cold, took it out and immediately plugged it into my computer, and it started right up... its risky cuz of condensation but in the end i saved all my files... if it ever gets to that for you, that is something you could try

[Cosmin]

It has been splitted before (with windows setup) .. I had

C : Windows 7 Ultimate

D : Movies & Music

E : Important Data

C has been formatted due freezing issues. It works now but I realize it had a strange sound too . Also, what's a recommended brand for HDD's now?

Had a lot of problems with Seagate/Maxtor :(

[carmatic]

they say samsung is good nowadays....

also if you want to back up data for sure, buy one of those portable shock-resistant usb hard disks... theyre not fast but you'd have to be really really really unlucky for one of them to go on you...

[Cosmin]

thanks a lot carmatic for quick support . Hope I'll succeed with recover.

[+LogicalApex MVC]

  carmatic said:

they say samsung is good nowadays....

also if you want to back up data for sure, buy one of those portable shock-resistant usb hard disks... theyre not fast but you'd have to be really really really unlucky for one of them to go on you...

It is still advisable for him to backup his data on more than one volume, especially if it is non-optical or tape media. As all hardware eventually fails.