[Thinkpad] What to send for repair? [was: File-recovery programs]

Thanks for the follow-ups on the File-recovery question. I went with GetDataBack on the basis that it received 2.5 votes (1 from a list member, 1 from someone off-list, and half a point for being on RayBay's list ;). If I notice something important missing, I may try another one and see if specific files are recoverable. GDB was easy to use, though it's not really that much cheaper than SpinRite ($79 for GDB/NTFS, vs. $89 for SR). All these utilities seem to run $60-$80.

Started it last night and it finished about 30 minutes ago. It probably took about 8 hours but when I got up this morning, there was one of many "I/O Error" windows waiting for me to click "Yes".

It reported 16064 directories, 196741 files, and 51.1 GB before starting the actual recovery; Windows reports 15005 folders, 196719 files, and 51.1 GB in the recovered hierarchy. Is that grounds for demanding a refund? ;)

I believe it restored everything, not just lost or stolen files.

Now I'm faced with fixing the notebook (well, I was faced with it before, but could ignore it on the weekend). I've downloaded PC-Doctor from Lenovo's site and will build a boot CD. I'm expecting (and therefore hoping) that the screen will blank and the computer will lock up without the HD installed (i.e. memory problem). It was doing this earlier with other test apps. Of course I had the extra SODIMM removed. My question is the HD, though I think I've decided.

Normally I wouldn't give them the HD since they could only break it. My first reaction was to include it, since it has bad sectors and I (shamefully) don't have a recovery CD, and thus (as I understand it) can't return it to factory install with the ThinkPad apps. I do have other WinXP original media though not TP-specific.

I've since decided _not_ to include the HD, since I don't actually know if my restored email files are readable, nor if my QuickBooks file is corrupted, nor much about any of the other 196000-odd files. I do have a spare data HD from which I could move the files and wipe the drive. Then when the TP comes back working, I'd put that drive in and start installing. I could keep this faulty drive intact for a while, until I'm comfortable with my recovery, after which it could be a data drive, or if it's damaged, returned for service.

If I do that, are there instructions on how to set it up in the ThinkPad-approved manner, with Hibernation space, TP utilities, etc.?

And is there any way to get recovery CDs at this point without paying Lenovo to mail them to me? Downloading a couple of .iso files is nothing in today's world. I suppose I could try to do it from this faulty HD (after the TP is repaired) but only if there's no chance of overwriting any more sectors!

Thanks again for the help so far, and for any advice going forward!

=andrew
_______________________________________________
Thinkpad mailing list
Thinkpad@stderr.org
http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
Received on Mon Jan 22 10:29:55 2007