[ale] OT: Migrating off dying HDD

[John Mills]

Robert -

Thanks. I was considering tools like 'cpio', but 'rsync' might be more 
graceful with re-trys.

On Mon, 14 Nov 2005, Robert L. Harris wrote:

> Put the thing on an IDE->laptop adapter in a computer with the case
> open.  Get a can of the dust-off stuff from compusa.  Flip the can
> upside down and every couple secs pop it with a blast of cold air.  If
> you can keep it running for any durration this way use rsync to copy the
> files off the drive so you can progressively get more.

> Thus spake John Mills (johnmills at speakeasy.net):
 
> > ALErs -
> > 
> > I have a problem repairing a friend's MsWin Dell 'Inspiron 2600' notebook.
> > 
> > The old HDD will only run a few minutes before it ceases to respond,
> > probably due to internal overheating. I get the same results when the HDD
> > is extended externally on a 'Simple Drive' PCMCIA adapter, so I really
> > think it's the HDD that is causing the problem, not general internal
> > overheating of the laptop.
> > 
> > No problem installing a new drive (now done, in fact), but I foresee a
> > long and painful migration of user data, even after a clean &8-) MsWin
> > reinstallation from CD.
> > 
> > The drive's current, usable half-life is far too little to transfer any 
> > great fraction of [say] the user's documents, etc. I get perhaps 300 MBy, 
> > then it clams up. Turn off, cool down, try again, and repeat ...
> > 
> > Questions:
> > 
> >  1. What directories should I copy first to migrate e-mail and web links
> > of importance?
> > 
> >  2. It would sure be nice to migrate the whole installation if 
> > I can find a suitable MS tool. Any recommendations?
> > 
> >  3. Other than a fan, any clever ideas to keep this #$%&!! working long
> > enough to dump a good fraction of its data? (I plan setting it on a
> > cold-block and see if that helps.)
> > 
> > I have MsWin and Linux both available as hosts, FWIW. I also have an
> > adapter to connect the 2.5" notebook HDD to a standard PC-format IDE
> > controller.
> > 
> > Thanks for any guidance.
> > 
> >  - John Mills
> >    john.m.mills at alum.mit.edu
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Ale at ale.org
> > http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >  ** CRM114 Whitelisted by: mit.edu **
> 
> :wq!
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Robert L. Harris                     | GPG Key ID: E344DA3B
> 
> DISCLAIMER:
>       These are MY OPINIONS             "We can't solve problems by using
>        ALONE.  I speak for                the same kind of thinking we used
>        no-one else.                         when we created them."
>                                           - Einstein
> 
> 

-- 
 - John Mills
   john.m.mills at alum.mit.edu