I just pulled an older computer out of the closet to donate, and yesterday it booted up fine. Today, I get an error stating "A disk read error occured, press CTL ALT DEL to reboot." I used UBCD for Windows and I cannot see the hard drive when I boot from there either. What other avenues should I explore to try and fix the disk, or is it toast and the files unrecoverable? I am willing to open it up. Thanks in advance. [more inside]
posted by jules1651 on Jun 26, 2009 - 7 answers

In OS X on my iMac, Disk Utility asserts that my main, internal hard drive is "about to fail" and has been asserting this for several months. But my computer is running just fine... should I worry? [more inside]
posted by so_necessary on May 2, 2009 - 17 answers

There are currently 4 File Browsers open on my desktop, all displaying either the contents of my external hard drive or the folder where it's mounted (/media/). I didn't open them—they just showed up. This morning when I woke up there was 40+ File Browser windows open of the same. Another window just opened; it seems to occur at random intervals. I'm running Ubuntu Linux 8.10, wtf is causing this? [more inside]
posted by carsonb on Apr 2, 2009 - 11 answers

Is there an "extra disk space" analogue to the projects to which one can volunteer their extra bandwidth or computing power? Like, instead of Folding@Home using my processor, is there something that will use my disk space (for a good cause)?
posted by philomathoholic on Feb 7, 2009 - 10 answers

Is my Macbook's HD broken? Unable to boot, more details inside. [more inside]
posted by djgh on Jan 31, 2009 - 11 answers

Tell me about Network Attached Storage ( NAS )? In particular what current manufactuers should I avoid for a typical 1 terabyte (or greater) RAID array? I'm also interested in general information and pitfalls for NAS devices and implementations. [more inside]
posted by loquacious on Aug 10, 2008 - 13 answers

Every night at 12:10AM, the brand new primary hard drive in my computer begins grinding away for a duration of 10-60 seconds. Why? [more inside]
posted by Danelope on Jan 14, 2008 - 12 answers

Are there any particularly awesome external firewire hard drive enclosures that I should be aware about? [more inside]
posted by chunking express on Oct 29, 2007 - 7 answers

What is the easiest way to make a bit-perfect copy of a potentially failing laptop hard drive? The copy target would be a new 2.5" drive that I'd then install in the same laptop. [more inside]
posted by killdevil on Aug 11, 2007 - 37 answers

I want to put a new HDD in an old PC and would like to know how. (But please teach me to fish...) [more inside]
posted by Busy Old Fool on Jan 13, 2007 - 17 answers

How does Windows XP label hard disks? [more inside]
posted by Symeon on Dec 14, 2006 - 4 answers

I have a hard disk that I pulled out of a dead computer. It has been formated and has data on it. Are there any external adapters that I can plug it into so that I can use it as an external drive?
posted by mtstover on Sep 30, 2006 - 13 answers

When my hard drive started clicking, I backed it up. What now? [more inside]
posted by skryche on Sep 2, 2006 - 5 answers

What should I do with my new hard drive? [more inside]
posted by jewishbuddha on Apr 21, 2005 - 11 answers

My 160 gig HD is being scanned daily by Anti-Virus Guard. Seems like all this wear-and-tear would add up. Does this reduce the life span of a hard drive? Bonus if you know how to make Grisoft's AVG Free Edition scan less frequently.
posted by agropyron on Mar 21, 2005 - 9 answers