My hard drive just died.?

Question

I now have pretty much 3 options:
1. Replace the hard drive.
2. Convert to using my Mac Mini. It already has XP installed.
3. Buy a new computer?

What should I do? The person that can give the most compelling reason to do something will get the best answer.

I can't boot the system, so an anti-corruption program isn't going to be all that useful. I don't mind using the Mac, but it's just that my PC has much more expansion, including more USBs, 4 optical drives (including a DVD burner, which the mini lacks) and a TV tuner (I do use it occasionally).

I absolutely do NOT want to reformat!! I have lots of valuable information on there, and I want to try to at least recover it. My computer isn't all that bad; it has an Athlon 1800+ processor, which was top of the line when I built it (about 3-4 years ago). I have also performed numerous other upgrades since that time.

If I do get a new hard drive, does anybody recommend getting a Western Digital Raptor? My current drive is a 120 GB WD, and storage does matter (I'm a media addict).

By the way, I wasn't making any major system changes, or any changes at all for that matter, when I got the BSOD. I was doing a voice conference, downloading firmware for a device on another non-networked machine, and doing work. I've never gotten any viruses, either.

Answer 1

Buying a new hard disk would be the best option for you! i'ts more economical than buying a new computer, unless you're not satisfied by the performance of your current machine.

Answer 2

Unless you are not sure about wanting to use you Mac Mini all the time, then get a new hard drive.
Before you get the new hard drive then you might want to try to reformat your old hard drive.
When getting your new one you might want to get at least a 300GB.
As far as buying a new computer only do that if you have a really old system and you are just itching to get something else. It migt even be time for you to go Laptop if you are not a big gamer. Either way good luck.

Answer 3

At the least you will have to replace the Hard Drive.
Question is, do you want to Save the data on the Drive you lost ?
Use your MAC Mini if that is a Good Alternative. And you don't want the Data from the Failed drive.
Buy a new Computer if you have the cash, and decide if you want the data from the dead drive. There are several possible, maybe even feasible options to save the data from the Drive with no pulse

Answer 4

Replace the hard drive and install one of the free Linux operating systems.

My favourite is UBUNTU (or XUBUNTU if your computer has less than 256MB of RAM).

It's a free, reliable and up to date operating system.

You can explore it from the "LIVE CD".

It's easy to install and use. You can dual boot it with other operating systems.

Once you have it installed, you gain access to thousands of free programs created by the open source community. There is excellent support - see the WIKI starter guide, and the Linux forums.

Always back up your data before making changes to your computer.

Answer 5

The first option is the way to go if money is an object and you like using the PC! Either your hard drive had a mechanical failure (in which case you need a new drive) or the hard drive simply needs to be reformatted and windows reinstalled.

Answer 6

Buying anoither hard drive is the fastest and cheapest alternative *IF* that is all that's wrong with the computer the hard drive is in.

Answer 7

Are you positive that your hardrive is physically damaged and not just corrupted? If it is corrupted I recommend a program called Stellar Phoenix http://www.stellarinfo.com/disk-recovery.htm

Answer 8

if you've got a mac mini, then just use it for the time being

unless you just want a new machine.