Jump to content

Ran cleanor once, now MS wants me to backup, failing hard drives


brad405red

Recommended Posts

Hello Brad - I was only curious if the BIOS version was current or not, I don't think it's a good idea to mess around with it now, especially if you are not sure about the motherboard's model or i.d. number. Using the wrong BIOS will brick your motherboard, so unless you are absolutely 100% sure you have the right BIOS version for your motherboard, don't do it, it's not worth the risk. Also, forget about looking on AMI's website, you should only use what is available from Asus, the manufacturer. And the last thing you want to experience is losing power during the flashing process, that is certain to result in failure. I think your priority at this point is using the USB stick to run a practice installation.

 

You already know how to set up BIOS and boot from the USB stick, and you know it begins the installation. Since cloning has been unsuccessful, use the second Toshiba to test the installation from start to finish. I want to see that you have no problems with the installation hanging at a certain point, if there are any hardware drivers missing and where to find them, and if the activation key is valid and accepted by Microsoft. So to do this, plug in the Toshiba and format it using NTFS, so it appears to the system as an empty drive. Then power off the machine and disconnect the internal drive. Plug in the USB stick, then power up and enter BIOS. Set BIOS to boot from the USB stick. Your machine should recognize it as a bootable device. When the installer starts, it should recognize the Toshiba as the drive available for installation, since the internal drive has been disconnected. Run through the installation from start to finish. Do not enter the activation key during the installation, you can do this within 30 days afterward. When you get Windows up and running, enter the Device Manager to see if any devices have the little yellow triangle next to them. This will indicate a missing or incorrect driver for the device. Take note of what the device is, then explore the Asus support website to see what is available, or the first time you run Windows Update, Windows may find and install the drivers for you. After you solve any and all driver problems, check all the Windows software and applications to see there are no problems. Then you can use the activation key. When you're all done, put the USB stick somewhere safe. Then you have two choices: continue to use the Toshiba, or reconnect the internal drive and use it until it dies. When you get a new hard drive, you'll be all set to do a clean install and will know how to solve any problems you experienced with the test run on the Toshiba.      

Start every day with a smile and get it over with. - W.C. Fields

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Ok.  Thanks.  I tried this stick ISO install on the usb 2.0 toshiba.  Windows setup replied that it could not install Windows 7 onto a USB device.  There was an option to load a driver, but not even sure that was relevant to the USB issue.

 

On another matter, on my bad hard drive, I setup a windows backup to backup automatically every week on my d: partition before I realized it was all one bad hard drive with 2 partitions.  How do I stop this?  I don't want windows to backup automatically, or even at all at this point.  There seems to be no options or settings to stop this useless backup activity.  Any ideas?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brad405red. If you dont know yet if your hard drive is damage, then just download this sftware HDD Regenerator, just google it and you will find it. I assure you. It is the best hard drive scanner software you can find. Burn a cd, then restart, go to boot option chose start from cd and scan your hard drive. If it is really damage it will show as B as in Bad Sector.

I apolagize if you already have solve this problem, it s just i got to the conversation to late now and honestly didnt had the patiance to read all the replys. Anyway just trying to help. Think there s no harm in that.

Cheers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators

Just burn Win 7 iso onto a dvd.   Much easier to use and it just works.

 

As for turning off the backup read the posts in this thread

 

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_programs/how-do-you-abort-stop-the-windows-7-backup/382d3688-9bd9-4576-9586-2560dcb87796

 

Support contact

https://support.ccleaner.com/s/contact-form?language=en_US&form=general

or

support@ccleaner.com

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brad don't read this post, lol.

 

Why can't he just set his backup partition to active and reboot?  It would automatically restore the HDD to factory box settings.

 

Win7 has the best recovery options of all of the OS's but reading this thread gave me a headache, lol.

Windows Pro Media 8.1 x64  |  8GB Ram  |  500G HDD 7200 RPM  |  All  that I know about my graphics is that it's Intel  :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry, just going to throw in my thoughts really quick.

 

#1 - Address the electrical short-out issue:  Unplug the PC and hold down the power button for 30-60 seconds.  Then plug-in and restart.

#2 - Right click your C-drive and under properties > tools choose scan and check the box to fix errors.  Reboot to the start the scan.  Do this a total of 3 times (you've already done it at least once).

#3 - Repeat #2 with D-drive (probably won't be prompted to reboot though).

#4 - Control Panel > Folder Options > View > Check the box to show hidden files and folders

#5 - Now access your D-drive to see if your factory recovery files are still in place; if so get a clean copy onto an external hard drive (copy/paste).

 

** IF recovery files are still in place (not sure since you've been using D drive for personal files) **

 

#6 - Computer Management > Disc Management > Right click D-drive and select active > Reboot > Follow On Screen Factory Reset Instructions

#7 - Done

Windows Pro Media 8.1 x64  |  8GB Ram  |  500G HDD 7200 RPM  |  All  that I know about my graphics is that it's Intel  :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, and the ASUS Bios updates are important updates, but should wait until everything is in fact stable.

 

You can also run the ASUS PC diagnostics tool > Select 'motherboard' from the options list

http://support.asus.com/diagnosis/SelfDiagnostic.aspx?SLanguage=en

 

If you do get to the point of flashing your BIOS, I recommend this link in place of the link provided earlier in this thread.

http://www.asus.com/support/Download/14/11/CM5571/30/

Windows Pro Media 8.1 x64  |  8GB Ram  |  500G HDD 7200 RPM  |  All  that I know about my graphics is that it's Intel  :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry, just going to throw in my thoughts really quick.

 

#1 - Address the electrical short-out issue:  Unplug the PC and hold down the power button for 30-60 seconds.  Then plug-in and restart.

#2 - Right click your C-drive and under tools choose scan and check the box to fix errors.  Reboot to the start the scan.  Do this a total of 3 times (you've already done it at least once).

#3 - Repeat #2 with D-drive (probably won't be prompted to reboot though).

#4 - Control Panel > Folder Options > View > Check the box to show hidden files and folders

#5 - Now access your D-drive to see if your factory recovery files are still in place; if so get a clean copy onto an external hard drive (copy/paste).

 

** IF recovery files are still in place (not sure since you've been using D drive for personal files) **

 

#6 - Computer Management > Disc Management > Right click D-drive and select active > Reboot > Follow On Screen Factory Reset Instructions

#7 - Done

 

#1 will do

#2  One ASUS hard drive running win 7, two partitions, no "tools" option under right click. 

#4 done

#5  I deleted backup files.  no one mentioned they had any value in this situation.  Want me to backup again?  uncertain as to difference between the manual backup I did(and deleted) and factory recovery files?  also ignorant of the difference between backup and recovery files.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Brad - I read your post last night, and started searching for the WinXP ISO file, then spent some more time tonight. You may be out of luck with XP. All I could find was the ISO for the Service Pack 3 update, not the complete operating system. I spent some time on several forums and they all have the same information: you need an original installation disk. I did find a couple of sites claiming to have it, but due to the fact they are located in Russia and India, I would be very wary of using them.

 

I'm sorry to hear the installation to the Toshiba didn't work. It must be something Microsoft has designed into the installer, and I can't understand the reason for it. I belong to the Linux Mint forum and people install Mint onto external USB drives and even 32GB USB sticks with no problem. At this point, I'd really like to see if the USB stick works, and the reason is this: Sometime in March, and I'm not sure exactly when, the downloads from Digital River will no longer be available. If the image you have is no good, you will have to try another download. I've tried to find the md5checksum for the ISO you have, so you can verify it's integrity, but so far I haven't had any luck. I'll keep searching for it, maybe you should keep trying to get it to work.  

 

Edit: Got it. Windows 7 x64 Home Prem SP1 (Filename: X17-24209.iso - Correct?)

    MD5SUM: 971843a457b6e0db0af61258cbe7256a
    SHA1: b4821f46a171708f5f8f8a0ef48fc16529437961
    CRC32: d236fd70

 

http://www.winmd5.com/ Now go here to download the md5checksum utility and verify the image you have.

Start every day with a smile and get it over with. - W.C. Fields

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Derek.  Thanks for your continuing help.  ISO filename is correct.  I checked it with winmd5 and the MD5SUM matched.  The program made no mention of SHA1 or CRC32.

 

I've never burned to a DVD before but found a DVD-RAM 4.7 GB rewriteable cheap and bought it.  I dragged the ISO onto it, not using a program to burn it.  Is that okay?  I verified the ISO with winmd5 program.  One thing I don't understand about installing from a DVD ISO:  Is the ISO all you need to install windows?  I ask this because Plan B on the memory stick had a program, I think it was called Rufus, that worked with the ISO.  I understand how to change boot order to a DVD, but does windows just start installing directly from the ISO and only the ISO or do I need another program like Rufus for a DVD ISO install?

 

Thanks for looking for XP for me.  :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

O.K. Brad - I'm glad to hear the md5checksum matches, that means the ISO file was not corrupted during the download process. You should have no problems using it. And since the USB stick you created using Rufus boots, it should give you a clean install. As far as burning a DVD, you need a program to burn the image, just copying it will not work. I understand Imgburn has a good reputation, the link is here: http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=Download I suggest using Mirror #7 since it is a direct link to their website. If Imgburn gives you a choice of burning speeds, use the lowest speed possible, it takes longer but is the least likely to produce any errors. 

 

The difference between using Rufus to create a bootable image and burning an image to DVD is this: Rufus adds other files along with the ISO image when installing it to the USB stick to make it a bootable device. When you burn an image to DVD, these files are not needed, the image will boot on it's own.

 

That's a major hurdle that's been cleared. You have a good image and the means to do a clean install of Windows 7. At this point you have all your files backed as well, so you can relax a little and use the internal drive until it dies. If you want to continue experimenting with either cloning or imaging using the second Toshiba as the target drive, that's up to you. I'm glad you made it this far, it's been a long road to get to this point.

Start every day with a smile and get it over with. - W.C. Fields

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Derek, I'll do a proper burn with that program.  I'm uncertain about this rewriteable DVD anyway and may find a non-rewriteable DVD just as an extra copy since it looks like the ISO may be scarce.  One question, tho, I have made a copy of the ISO on my D drive, that questionable DVD, and on my Toshiba backup for safe keeping.  I checked all of them and those copies all verified.  But I made a copy of the same ISO file on a different USB stick, and it did not match when I tried to verify.  Any ideas as to why this is so?  The stick is NTFS too, so that isn't it....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Brad - Glad to see you made multiple copies and stored them in different places. As far as the one copy that you can't verify, just delete it and try copying it again. Sometimes if you are doing other things on your machine while a copy is in progress, it can get corrupted. I usually walk away from my computer when downloading or copying ISO files for this reason.

Start every day with a smile and get it over with. - W.C. Fields

Link to comment
Share on other sites

But I made a copy of the same ISO file on a different USB stick, and it did not match when I tried to verify.  Any ideas as to why this is so?  The stick is NTFS too, so that isn't it....

1.

I use a USB2 external HDD to backup 6 GB Macrium image files.

One day I found that 4 out of 6 created the previous day were invalid.

I had never had any problem before nor since.

 

I conclude that USB2 plugs and sockets do NOT have the integrity of permanent IDE or SATA connections.

I then switched to using TeraCopy Freeware which computes a hash checksum as it copies a file,

and then reads back and computes the hash of the "duplicate" and if there is a mismatch it is ready to try again.

 

2.

That MAY also work on Flash Drives but I have yet to test.

 

My concern with Flash drives is that immediately after a non-Teracopy drag-drop of an audio MP3 file between an internal HDD and a Flash Drive,

I used HashMyFiles from Nirsoft to compute the hash checksum of the Flash Drive and the HDD,

and was staggered to find that My Flash was compute AT THE SAME SPEED (or even faster) than the HDD.

I safely removed the Flash and reconnected, which flushed data from the Windows cache(s),

and then the Flash Hash took the rest of the day to compute.

 

Windows cache(s) make the system work faster - but can cause surprises.

 

3.

So far as Imageburn is concerned, I have not updated nor used it for some time.

Perhaps it has a higher integrity slow burn mode - neither noticed nor used.

BUT I have used and depended upon the option to read back after the burn and validate the hash.

 

What I do not depend upon is the life of the DVD or CD after burning.

I believe that when long life is quoted it normally refers to Pressed rather than burned discs

More info here :-

http://www.thetradersden.org/forums/showthread.php?t=658

Link to comment
Share on other sites

#1 will do

#2  One ASUS hard drive running win 7, two partitions, no "tools" option under right click. 

#4 done

#5  I deleted backup files.  no one mentioned they had any value in this situation.  Want me to backup again?  uncertain as to difference between the manual backup I did(and deleted) and factory recovery files?  also ignorant of the difference between backup and recovery files.

 

sorry #2 = properties > tools

Windows Pro Media 8.1 x64  |  8GB Ram  |  500G HDD 7200 RPM  |  All  that I know about my graphics is that it's Intel  :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Alan_B - Several months ago I had a problem with a Linux ISO. I had verified the file after downloading it and all was well. Then I copied it from my hard drive to a USB stick. A couple of weeks later I transferred it back to my hard drive and used Linux Live USB Creator to make a bootable USB stick. After repeated attempts to boot ended in failure, I ran a md5checksum on the ISO on the hard drive, and found it did not match. Then I ran a md5checksum on the ISO that was stored on the USB stick and found that it was also a mismatch. So during the initial copy process, it was somehow corrupted. Now I check every ISO after download, before and after transferring it to any external medium, and always before burning to DVD. Thanks for mentioning Teracopy, I will have to try it out.

Start every day with a smile and get it over with. - W.C. Fields

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators

Thanks for mentioning Teracopy, I will have to try it out.

 

Apologies to brad for the slight wander off topic, but @ Derek ... I've been using TeraCopy (free version) for years as my default copy handler, also in Explorers context menu, and for all those years I've never copied a file without that verification after the copy process. The extra time the verify takes is something I've become accustomed to, as it's priceless.

 

I've also become accustomed to doing absolutely nothing on the computer until the copying of anything is complete.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators

Derek,

 

Unstoppable Copier is another one to consider especially if you suspect a damaged disc. Have a read of the program description.

 

http://www.roadkil.net/program.php?ProgramID=29

 

Support contact

https://support.ccleaner.com/s/contact-form?language=en_US&form=general

or

support@ccleaner.com

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Apologies to brad for the slight wander off topic, but @ Derek ... I've been using TeraCopy (free version) for years as my default copy handler, also in Explorers context menu, and for all those years I've never copied a file without that verification after the copy process. The extra time the verify takes is something I've become accustomed to, as it's priceless.

 

I've also become accustomed to doing absolutely nothing on the computer until the copying of anything is complete.

 

Me too.  TeraCopy ROCKS!  Couldn't manage without it.

Windows Pro Media 8.1 x64  |  8GB Ram  |  500G HDD 7200 RPM  |  All  that I know about my graphics is that it's Intel  :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.