<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.2614.3401" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=140202102-13091999>Brian,</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=140202102-13091999></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN = class=140202102-13091999>I have done what you need done, but only with a tower system.  What you = have to do is temporarily "install" the drive into the new computer, then copy the = old info onto the new drive.  I like using DOS for this since you can easily = see which files are what.  However, on a laptop, you may need = something that I've seen in catalogues.  It is a device that allows you to = use an old hard drive with any parallel port.  If memory is correct, it = sells for around $40-55, including the case to protect the drive.  I don't = have any experience with this, but I bet it would work for your situation.  </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=140202102-13091999></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=140202102-13091999>Sometimes in a hard drive failure, much = of the information is still there and recoverable.  What I've observed is = that the boot sector (what makes the computer start in DOS, Windows, etc.) gets corrupted, which is why your machine won't start.  The other info = is probably there and uncorrupted.  Also, before you run out to get a = new drive, try reformatting to see if that will cure the problem.  If = the drive is only 1.5 years old, it should still be good--maybe even under warranty.   Some drives are warranted for 3-5 years.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=140202102-13091999></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN = class=140202102-13091999>If you need any more particulars, I'll be glad to help, but contact me in the = next two days.  I'll be gone the rest of the week.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=140202102-13091999></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN = class=140202102-13091999>Hope you get it going.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=140202102-13091999></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN = class=140202102-13091999>John Formsma</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=140202102-13091999></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> = owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]<B>On Behalf Of</B> Brian Trout<BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, September 12, 1999 6:32 PM<BR><B>To:</B> = pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Computer help! (Not piano related...)<BR><BR></DIV></FONT> <DIV><EM><FONT face=Georgia size=2>Hi list,</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT face=Georgia size=2>Any of you computer types out = there care to offer an opinion?</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT face=Georgia size=2>I'm typing this on a new laptop = computer.  I love it.  It's 3 times the computer my old one = (only 1 1/2 years old) is/was.</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT face=Georgia size=2>I'd really like to retrieve = some of the old information from my old computer, but I'm not sure I can.  = Basically, it has begun hard drive failure, and most of the information that I would = like to access is there on the hard drive.  It will boot up, but it will = not run Windows, even in the 'safe' mode.  I've tried running the = Scandisk program that was onboard, but it keeps finding errors it can't = fix.  When it gets to the disk scan, it keeps finding sections of the hard drive = that are "about to fail" and moves the info to another part of the disk.  = And talk about slow... the Scandisk program files tell me that it 'should' take = about 10 minutes for a disk scan... it took 4 hours to go through 10% and = then quit because it couldn't handle the job. Anybody have any = suggestions?  Do you think a program like Norton utilities or another similar program would = be able to help me?  or is it too late?</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT face=Georgia size=2>I've been a bad boy for not = backing up my work earlier.  I'm thinking of replacing the hard drive on the = old computer, and perhaps looking into a zip drive for a little more = secure backup.  I'm also in the market for a program like Norton = utilities, or a similar product.  But I sure would like to have some of that old info...</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT face=Georgia size=2>The upside is, now I have a = portable computer and can play with the Tunelab program I = downloaded!!   </FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT face=Georgia size=2>Anyway, if you have an idea, = thought, suggestion, or note of sympathy, I'm receiving them all with open = ears.  :-)</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT face=Georgia size=2>Thanks,</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT face=Georgia size=2>Brian Trout</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT face=Georgia size=2>Quarryville, = PA</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Georgia size=2><A = href="mailto:btrout@desupernet.net"><EM>btrout@desupernet.net</EM></A><= /FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>