Primary HD is dead. Can I just use my secondary HD?

[INTP]

I think my primary (C HD is gone. When I boot my laptop I hear a swooshing/knocking sound and it says that the operating system cannot be found. I have restarted several times... same thing happens. I even tried (in vain) to use my rescue disk to reinstall Windows, but I think the swooshing/knocking is indicative of a dead HD (correct me if I'm wrong).

Anyway, my question is this...

I have 2 HD's in my laptop [ (C and (D]. Can I just toss the (C drive, make the (D my primary and reinstall Windows on the (D. Am I making sense? Basicly, I'm cheap and don't want to purchase another HD right now. My secondary HD is plenty big for all of the work I do on my laptop and I'd just assume go to one HD until I get over being so cheap. How would I go about doing this? I'm clumsy when it comes to mechanical things such as building and installing hardware. Layman's terms would be great!

Thanks.

 

[mattjurado]

Yes, you can install Windows on the second drive. If there is data on it that you need, make sure you do not allow the OS to format the drive first. If you've never opened that laptop before, I'd think twice before you try... Laptops are tricky to open, its easy to snap a part or the case itself.

Matt

 

[INTP]

Hey thanks Matt!

I haven't opened one before. Mechanical (get down and dirty using your hands) kind of things make me nervous. If I can get inside the thing without breaking anything how would I go about making it my primary drive? Or will windows automaticly assume that it is the primary once it doesn't detect the original HD? Is that all I would have to do? Unplug the bad drive? Will it change the drive letter to (C or is that another step?

I think I can get some help opening the laptop...maybe. If not I'll just take it in to the local shop but I would still love to know the answers.

Thanks for your help.

 

[muthabored]

ajcerda:


Does your laptop have two PHYSICAL hard drives inside or do you only have one hard drive that's PARTITIONED into 2 drives (C: and D? The answer to this question will make a world of difference in answering YOUR question(s).

 

[muthabored]

I only ask because if they are actually two physical hard drives and the primary has gone bad, you will need to install an OS on the second hard drive (the soon to be only drive in the machine) in order to make it bootable. Back up any data on the second drive before installing the OS. You can even partition the drive prior to the install if you'd like to, C: and D: Laptop hard drives need to be jumpered properly as well so make sure you take care of that (assuming it was a slave to the dead hard drive). After the OS install, you can restore the data that you backed up onto it.

 

[INTP]

Thanks Muthaboard,

The laptop has twp physical HD's. I am going to have a buddy help me get the thing open and walk me through the steps today. Thanks for your help.