What to do if my laptop HDD dies?

[xynerial]

I bought my laptop in 2009...it's the end of 2015 now, and I think my laptop hard drive is near dead. My laptop won't start up pass the initial loading screen even after CHKDSK. The best I've gotten to is the main operating system display with the start button but then things freeze up when I highlight any icon on the background. The Window button won't work. Now, it's just stuck on start up and won't even get there. I think my laptop's internal hard drive days are number. It's just a regular laptop not storing huge amount data for work or anything. Basically the data on this laptop is not important.

So what are my options if my laptop's HDD dies? I mean, my operating system and all the usual unimportant regular data are on it like some games etc... I heard people do things like "back up their data" but... I do not understand. Is the operating system backed up too? so if one HDD dies, the OS dies with it, you can plug in the back up drive---? because when data are back up, the original OS is back up too?

...what i am confused about is every time you build a computer you need to buy the OS for 100$...so I don't know if the actual OS is backed up too or is it just the data??

...and if I did not do any back up ever and my laptop's internal hard drive dies does this mean...my laptop is destined for the recycling plant and there's nothing more I can do...because its OS died with it?

Thx for any insight/answer.

 

[Wolfshadw]

The OS license is tied to the device's motherboard. If the hard drive fails, the software fails. The OS license for that machine, however, is still valid and it's just a matter of re-installing the OS when you get a new hard drive.

-Wolf sends

 

[USAFRet]

There should be a Recovery function, allowing you to create your own Reset DVD set.
In the event of a dead drive, replace the drive and boot from that Recovery thing.

This will bring the laptop to exactly as it came from the factory.
For all your stuff, this is what backups are for.

Or...use any of the current imaging tools, and an external HDD. Make an image of the drive in its current state.
In the event of a drive fail...replace it, boot from the Rescue DVD that tool tells you to make.
Post that image back to the new drive.

Macrium Reflect or Casper are a couple of good tools to do this.

 

[jsmithepa]

Negative.

You should be able to buy a new HD, reload OS from original install media and u should be back in business.

I do have a feeling you have not been doing any kind of maintenance on that thing. Maybe all the machine needs is a fresh re-install of the OS, or Restore to Factory (follow manual's instructions), whichever jargon you want to use.

DATA as most people define it, is STUFF YOU CANNOT LOSE. Personal data, phone books etc, and it's entirely your responsibility to back those up. A fresh install/Restore to Factory will potentially ERASE everything.

 

[xynerial]

Crap this is not good I've bought this laptop 6 years ago...who knows where that Window Vista OS dvd is? it could be in a garbage dumb in China somewhere. What are my options if I no longer have the original OS disk for this 2009 laptop? Can I just buy a new hard drive, plug it in, and hope that somehow my mother board "remembers" the OS that's binded to it and then load that OS onto the new fresh hard drive?

I DO NOT MIND AT ALL if it is completely fresh and I have to start over. The data on the failed drive are all very unimportant. I can reinstall all the game etc.

...god I have to say, I love unimportant disposable data.

 

[USAFRet]

Can I just buy a new hard drive, plug it in, and hope that somehow my mother board "remembers" the OS that's binded to it and then load that OS onto the new fresh hard drive?

No. The OS is not 'in' the motherboard.
Look and see if the original factory reset partition still exists. Then look in the user manual to see how to invoke that process, and create your own DVD's.

 

[xynerial]

Sounds like rocket science

 

[Wolfshadw]

Even rocket science is easy once you know how.

If you're unable to execute any programs once you've booted up, it's unlikely that you'd be able to create a recovery disk. At this point, your best bet would be to either a) Order recovery disks from the laptop manufacturer or b) purchase a new OS disk for your laptop; noting what OSes are supported by the drivers available. For instance, if your laptop has Windows 7 drivers available, I might consider purchasing a Windows 7 disk as opposed to a Windows Vista disk.

-Wolf sends

 

[jsmithepa]

Sounds like rocket science

Sounds like you are more comfortable giving the job to the GEEK SQUAD or whoever your local laptop's vendor or support may be. They will take care of you.