XP Issue | Help Required Please

[9876543210]

Stroking_it,

Originally Posted by Stroking_it

I must say really don't understand the obsession with taking the hard drive out unless the very basic steps have been covered first.

Maybe I can explain this.

For any business, some of the most important data they have are client data, scheduling, financial info, whatever. To not have this data backed up, to me, is unbelievable. If you don't have it backed up you could be in for a universe of hurt. Client info gone? Meeting schedules gone? Financial info gone? Holy cow!

For a small business the HD is the most important part of a computer. It holds their most important data. If its not backed up and the drive goes down? Bad, bad, bad problem.

As a tech, if a client has a problem with no backups, the first thing I do is check to see if the hd is OK. IF the HD is OK then I can easily back it up or clone it and the client can be back to normal within a day or two.

But if the HD is shot? No chance of restoring the data off of it? That client will be mad as hell. Possibly seething. The reason will almost always be they never learned the importance of backing important info up.

So the reason we pull the drive? It holds the most important info on the computer. If I can get that data back then the client will usually do a big sigh of relief and then do whatever I suggest. And when I yell at them for not backing up (after this incident)? They usually get it. They'll buy an external drive and enclosure for onsight backup and sign up for cloud storage. Then, if a hd goes kaput? Maybe they lose a day's worth of transactions. Rather than who knows how many months of important information.

[Stroking_it]

Originally Posted by 9876543210

Stroking_it,

Maybe I can explain this.

<snip>

You really didn't need to go to the bother of explaining the importance of having sound backups on a business machine. I mentioned it myself a few posts up.

Re: Removing the hard drive: What I am saying is that while it will certainly solve the problem at hand, its pointless suggesting that in this thread because if the OP's friend had a spare PC and the knowledge to remove the drive they would have already done it, and their friend would not have had to ask for advice on a porn forum . Saying "remove the hard drive" in this case is effectively just saying "take it to a shop and get them to fix it" which I am sure they already realise is an option.

Even so, if they did take it to a shop I'm still sure the very first thing they did would not be to take the hard drive out.

Anyway, since even the most basic suggestions on here haven't been replied to, I guess this problem has gone away, one way or another.

[9876543210]

Stroking_it,

Over the years, I've generally found its not a good idea to try and figure out a person's computer knowledge without getting to know them a bit. So, with someone I don't know, I prefer to start at the beginning and then watch their reaction for signs they're more than a beginner.

Usually works fairly well. If they are more advanced they'll let you know.

[Gladys Allova]

Originally Posted by Stroking_it

...

Re: Removing the hard drive: What I am saying is that while it will certainly solve the problem at hand, its pointless suggesting that in this thread because if the OP's friend had a spare PC and the knowledge to remove the drive they would have already done it, and their friend would not have had to ask for advice on a porn forum . Saying "remove the hard drive" in this case is effectively just saying "take it to a shop and get them to fix it" which I am sure they already realise is an option.

Which is why in my reply I was deliberately vague and suggested 'perhaps with help from a friend'

Another reason to remove the HD and retrieve the files from a caddy via another machine is because of the possibility of Malware being run from that original drive corrupting any precious data further.