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#3998323 - 08/20/14 10:41 AM Lesson learned (PC hardware)  
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PanzerMeyer Offline
Pro-Consul of Florida
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If your hard drive is over 5 years old and you keep having to run scandisk to get rid of bad sectors and corrupt files it's time to hurry up and back up your data and buy a new drive. I waited until it was too late so I spent Monday night and most of yesterday reinstalling everything. Reinstalling Windows and then updating Windows, downloading all of my Steam games and then of course reconfiguring everything again. I'm just glad I have a really good broadband connection! smile


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
Inline advert (2nd and 3rd post)

#3998325 - 08/20/14 10:42 AM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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WangoTango Offline
Hotshot
WangoTango  Offline
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Ontario, Canada
Damn.

#3998327 - 08/20/14 10:46 AM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Para_Bellum Offline
Oberkriegkaboomfhrer
Para_Bellum  Offline
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Germany
Oooow, that sucks.

Also reminds me to do a backup of my c:\ drive.

If I had to re-download all my currently installed games it would probably take a couple of weeks with my DSL connection...


"...late afternoon the Air Tasking Order came in [and] we found the A-10 part and we said, "We are going where!? We are doing what!?"

Capt. Todd Sheehy, Hog pilot, on receiving orders during Operation Desert Storm

#3998332 - 08/20/14 11:04 AM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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RSColonel_131st Offline
Lifer
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Lifer

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Vienna, 2nd rock left.
My C:\ drive including the most important games installed on it gets a monthly backup...

#3998334 - 08/20/14 11:15 AM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Chucky Offline
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Chucky  Offline
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UK
This is where Steam for me wins hands-down.I back-up all my games via Steam.Also I have all my data etc on 2 separate external drives.

I did a clean re-install only this week,takes 25 mins via recovery option but doing the updates is a PITA.


EV's are the Devils matchbox.
#3998345 - 08/20/14 12:11 PM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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PanzerMeyer Offline
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer  Offline
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Couple of valuable tips I learned with this experience,


1. If you have to reinstall Rise of Flight, reinstalling from the Iron Cross Edition DVD will NOT work. You have to download the free version and then once you install it you just have to log in to your account and all of your planes and content will be unlocked.

2. If you only have the Windows 7 upgrade disc but need to install it on a new hard drive you can just call Microsoft to help you with the activation. You don't need to buy the full version of Windows.


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#3998391 - 08/20/14 02:14 PM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Jedi Master Offline
Entil'zha
Jedi Master  Offline
Entil'zha
Sierra Hotel

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Space Coast, USA
Or you can do the double dance. You install it fresh, but don't activate.
Then you put the disc in and run the upgrade option but changing nothing. At the end you will be able to activate it.

Because Microsoft.




The Jedi Master


The anteater is wearing the bagel because he's a reindeer princess. -- my 4 yr old daughter
#3998462 - 08/20/14 04:33 PM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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letterboy1 Offline
(Heterosexual)Tchaikovsky Ballet Fan
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Lifer

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Columbus, GA USA
My problem was a false diagnosis of my blue screen of death. I wrongly thought my HDD was dying and ordered a new one. Then I discovered it was my video card. So, since I had a new HDD anyway I went ahead and started from a fresh install of Win 7. I went real slow and it took me about 5 days to get to where I could game again.


The issue is not p*ssy. The issue is monkey.
#3998465 - 08/20/14 04:36 PM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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adlabs6 Offline
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I use Microsoft SyncToy 2.1 in Win7 to do my backups. All uncompressed open file backups. I do the sync to a removable USB HDD, and keep it in a firesafe.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15155


WARNING: This post contains opinions produced in a facility which also occasionally processes fact products.
#3998470 - 08/20/14 04:42 PM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: adlabs6]  
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PanzerMeyer Offline
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer  Offline
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Originally Posted By: adlabs6
I use Microsoft SyncToy 2.1 in Win7 to do my backups. All uncompressed open file backups. I do the sync to a removable USB HDD, and keep it in a firesafe.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15155
Oh yeah you just reminded me. I have to download all of the ArmA 3 mods and maps again. Sigh.


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#3998501 - 08/20/14 05:31 PM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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WolfDancer Offline
Member
WolfDancer  Offline
Member

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Ontario, Canada
I'm a true blue ShadowProtect man. From fast image backups to bare metal restores, this little gem never let me down. It's a little on the expensive side, but worth every penny.


War is the continuation of natural selection by other means.
#3998505 - 08/20/14 05:35 PM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Raw Kryptonite Offline
Beat the Kobayashi Maru
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Beat the Kobayashi Maru
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MS
Here's a tip:
Have one drive (SSD if possible) for your OS.
Have another for your game installations/Steam.
A 3rd for storing your backup image of your OS drive. Get your drivers updated, necessary software installed and then use the Win7 disc imaging tool and have it easy next time that drive fails.
thumbsup


·Steam: Raw Kryptonite ·MWO & Elite Dangerous: Defcon Won ·Meager youtube channel
·Intel i5-9600K ·EVGA GTX1070 FTW 8GB ·EVGA CLC 120 Cooler
·16 GB Patriot Memory VIPER 4 3000MHz ·GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS PRO WiFi Mobo
· CORSAIR CARBIDE AIR 540 case ·BenQ BL3200PT monitor
#3998512 - 08/20/14 05:41 PM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: Raw Kryptonite]  
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Posts: 121,384
PanzerMeyer Offline
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer  Offline
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Originally Posted By: Raw Kryptonite
Here's a tip:
Have one drive (SSD if possible) for your OS.
Have another for your game installations/Steam.
A 3rd for storing your backup image of your OS drive. Get your drivers updated, necessary software installed and then use the Win7 disc imaging tool and have it easy next time that drive fails.
thumbsup


Sounds like a great set up to have and I think I'll be doing this myself.


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#3998531 - 08/20/14 06:10 PM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: adlabs6]  
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RSColonel_131st Offline
Lifer
RSColonel_131st  Offline
Lifer

Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 25,138
Vienna, 2nd rock left.
Originally Posted By: adlabs6
I use Microsoft SyncToy 2.1 in Win7 to do my backups. All uncompressed open file backups. I do the sync to a removable USB HDD, and keep it in a firesafe.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15155


If you get over the entire disk content, then you could use Win7 built-in system image - which can restore single files as well as entire disk including boot sector.

#3998533 - 08/20/14 06:10 PM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: Raw Kryptonite]  
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RSColonel_131st Offline
Lifer
RSColonel_131st  Offline
Lifer

Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 25,138
Vienna, 2nd rock left.
Originally Posted By: Raw Kryptonite
Here's a tip:
Have one drive (SSD if possible) for your OS.
Have another for your game installations/Steam.
A 3rd for storing your backup image of your OS drive. Get your drivers updated, necessary software installed and then use the Win7 disc imaging tool and have it easy next time that drive fails.
thumbsup


The third in machine is convenient, but if your mobo fries after a power spike you better make sure you have an external backup also...

Removable SATA cage is a good option here.

#3998585 - 08/20/14 07:39 PM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Raw Kryptonite Offline
Beat the Kobayashi Maru
Raw Kryptonite  Offline
Beat the Kobayashi Maru
Veteran

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MS
I use a 250GB drive from a netbook I no longer use. SATA, like the other drives. Create the image, then put the drive someplace safe, or you could leave it and just unplug it.


·Steam: Raw Kryptonite ·MWO & Elite Dangerous: Defcon Won ·Meager youtube channel
·Intel i5-9600K ·EVGA GTX1070 FTW 8GB ·EVGA CLC 120 Cooler
·16 GB Patriot Memory VIPER 4 3000MHz ·GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS PRO WiFi Mobo
· CORSAIR CARBIDE AIR 540 case ·BenQ BL3200PT monitor
#3998595 - 08/20/14 08:09 PM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,920
Moses Offline
I have a Rather Large
Moses  Offline
I have a Rather Large
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,920
Tulsa, Ok, USA
I use 4 drives
1 SSD OS
2 MEDIA
3 Game Installs
4 All downloaded patches and games that i own.


Jeff "Moses" Malone
Proud Member of 195th Dambusters Virtual Squadron.
http://561stbms.enjin.com/
#3998609 - 08/20/14 08:38 PM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Posts: 3,900
Gopher Offline
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Gopher  Offline
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Midlands
The funny thing is that although I've only ever lost 4 HDs over 20 years of PCing (and all of those at the same time - damned international shipping), I've reinstalled windows on so many systems over the years that I know exactly what you're going through, and I still don't use a full, proper backup.

Most of that is because every time windows gets nixed, it also counts as a good time to do a spring clean, and anything of any particular value is archived.

On that note, I find that it's always good to have a variety of other systems (I keep my old laptop with Linux & XP installed as a rescue machine, plus 2 other desktop machines) to deal with issues. That and far too many external drives, which I really need to sort...

Anyway, good luck. I bet it *is* nice letting steam do the job for you, rather than having to manage all that stuff manually...

#3998626 - 08/20/14 09:47 PM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Murphy Offline
Administrator
Murphy  Offline
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Hotshot

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Northern Michigan, USA
I use a USB plug in HD.
Backup about once every six months.
I suppose I should do it more often for the wife's lap top.
My gaming box stays pretty much the same.

What I really want to back up is the Email.
But I haven't figured that out yet, using Thunderbird.


"Murphy's Law"
#3998644 - 08/20/14 10:07 PM Re: Lesson learned (PC hardware) [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Chucky Offline
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Chucky  Offline
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UK
Murphy,you need MozBackup http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/ It handles Thunderbird and Firefox.

It's not been updated for about 2 years but it works with the latest Thunderbird and Firefox releases.

Last edited by Chucky; 08/20/14 10:10 PM.

EV's are the Devils matchbox.
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