You would expect more than a 2 year lifespan on whatever laptop you bought
Meh, I've seen worse. Depends on the amount of use it's had I suppose. If it's only ever sat on a desk I'd complain and demand a free repair or replacement. If it's been bounced halfway round the world in a backpack then that's probably fair enough for a hard disk failing.
Speaking of which, depending on the brand of hard disk the manufacturer might have a guarantee and free replacement thing. Though that tends to be the upmarket hard disk manufacturers.
Another update. The laptop is now almost back where it was before the trouble started now, so thankyou everybody for your help. Lost my playlists on iTunes, but everything else OK. I got onto the internet, but now can't get back on, but that's happened before.
Acer are a budget brand, otherwise I couldn't have afforded mine, but we bought it 7 years ago, and it's been pretty good, although it hasn't had heavy use. I can confirm that it has had a Hitachi HDD in it.
I tried copying the HDD (all of it) to a spare HDD that I have, but it wouldn't do someof the system files. What am I doing wrong?
If you tried copying the files using Explorer it will never work. You need an utility that clones the entire hard drive to another one, or saves it as a big image file on another hard drive. The result would be, for example, Acer_laptop_hd_backup.tib. If you download a trial of Acronis you should be able to do this. Regarding your internet connectivity issue, it could be a wi-fi card going bad (or overheating).
If you tried copying the files using Explorer it will never work. You need an utility that clones the entire hard drive to another one, or saves it as a big image file on another hard drive. The result would be, for example, Acer_laptop_hd_backup.tib. If you download a trial of Acronis you should be able to do this. Regarding your internet connectivity issue, it could be a wi-fi card going bad (or overheating).
Thanks ZX Bruno, I'll definitely give that a go.
AS for the internet problem, it's not a new thing. It doesn't have built in Wi Fi. I have 2 ways of connecting. I have a Belkin Card for laptops that plugs in, is detected and works, but for some reason the software will not allow it to connect when I type in my password key.
The other method is with a Phillips SNA500 Dongle, which is actually broken. To get a connection using that I have to angle it up at the far end
until the power light comes on, once that's done it is usually quite reliable, but for now it is being a pain. I wish I could make the Belkin card work. I may have a look at their website.
I'm just really pleased that it's back up and running and I didn't lose my iTunes library.
The other method i have for connecting is ethernet cable, which I will do to download SP3, and sort out my A/V account.
what is a .tib file? if it's a proprietary image format from acronis that would make me uneasy...
personally I would use something that will make a raw image of the disk like dd (or any of the many windows utilities that will do the same). That means you can read it with any software on any OS. In fact in linux you can mount the file as a loop device and browse it like it was a normal disk.
Well, with over 100 Windows updates now completed, and having been able to restore my A/V protection to the correct version, and not lose the remaining 1 remaining PC coverage (it will be my new one), the laptop is now pretty much back as it should be.
Internet is still troublesome. I am going to remove the software for the cards and just use windows. If that doesn't work, I'll use the dongle off my main PC, when I've built the new one.
I still think using dd from your favourite linux live cd is safest instead of a proprietary format image made by a proprietary program but clearly that's just me :)
Comments
Not from an acer you don't lol
Or at least you won't again :lol:
Meh, I've seen worse. Depends on the amount of use it's had I suppose. If it's only ever sat on a desk I'd complain and demand a free repair or replacement. If it's been bounced halfway round the world in a backpack then that's probably fair enough for a hard disk failing.
Speaking of which, depending on the brand of hard disk the manufacturer might have a guarantee and free replacement thing. Though that tends to be the upmarket hard disk manufacturers.
Acer are a budget brand, otherwise I couldn't have afforded mine, but we bought it 7 years ago, and it's been pretty good, although it hasn't had heavy use. I can confirm that it has had a Hitachi HDD in it.
I tried copying the HDD (all of it) to a spare HDD that I have, but it wouldn't do someof the system files. What am I doing wrong?
Haven't done SP3 yet!!
Thanks ZX Bruno, I'll definitely give that a go.
AS for the internet problem, it's not a new thing. It doesn't have built in Wi Fi. I have 2 ways of connecting. I have a Belkin Card for laptops that plugs in, is detected and works, but for some reason the software will not allow it to connect when I type in my password key.
The other method is with a Phillips SNA500 Dongle, which is actually broken. To get a connection using that I have to angle it up at the far end
until the power light comes on, once that's done it is usually quite reliable, but for now it is being a pain. I wish I could make the Belkin card work. I may have a look at their website.
I'm just really pleased that it's back up and running and I didn't lose my iTunes library.
The other method i have for connecting is ethernet cable, which I will do to download SP3, and sort out my A/V account.
personally I would use something that will make a raw image of the disk like dd (or any of the many windows utilities that will do the same). That means you can read it with any software on any OS. In fact in linux you can mount the file as a loop device and browse it like it was a normal disk.
http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm
what's that, a microsoft thing?
Internet is still troublesome. I am going to remove the software for the cards and just use windows. If that doesn't work, I'll use the dongle off my main PC, when I've built the new one.
Thanks for your collective help so far btw, made it much easier.
I would recommend Acornis True Image. Best program out there for features and ease of use, although it's commercial.
On ebay now listed in order of price:-
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A1%257C39%253A1%257C72%253A4908&rt=nc&_nkw=acronis+true+image&_dmpt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_sop=15&_sc=1
Thanks Hercules, I'll take a look as that has been mentioned twice now.
its totally free and works ok.
http://www.todo-backup.com/business/free-backup.htm
Can produce its own boot cd as well.