Thread: replacing dying HDD in Toshiba laptop Win10

new SSD's are a drop in replacement for laptop HDD's,,
biggest improvement you can make.
twice the cost for half the storage at twice the speed,, sorta

Sounds like you have faulty segments on HDD. You may have difficulty getting windows to recognise the disk image as c drive. Even duplicating this to the new HDD using another computer creates pruoblems which mean programs have to be reinstalled. If you dont want to re install programs best way is to do a direct clone of your existing HDD to new HDD using external HDD duplicator. It will look like and work exactly as your old HDD without intermittent errors. Unfortunately it doesnt correct any data errors as it copies but will fix your read errors. hdd duplicator | eBay

Would this work Inc/Mark etc,,
install new Hdd, boot with Hirens, run win xp, copy to new HDD from ext HDD.. ?

Unfortunately it doesnt correct any data errors as it copies but will fix your read errors. hdd duplicator | eBay

Thanks for that. It's an option I didn't know about.
It also looks the cheapest option unless the disk image can be installed on a the new disk.

Re SSD, I am looking for the cheapest fix as the Laptop is 5 years old. The safest and quickest fix seems to be replace the HDD with exactly the same one.
I mainly use the computer for just browsing and some Word and PowerPoint work, and I have an 11 gbps NBN which runs at about 3-6 most of the time so HDD speed is the least of my concerns. LOL

If you simply want to keep an old machine running, do some internet browsing, and office work (spreadsheet and text) have you considered Linux. I use a USB key Puppy version that loads to RAM - no need at all for a hard drive - and anything loaded to RAM it is very quick and gone when you tun off - no virus programs/windows systems nagging you for updates. You will still have access to Windows in the normal fashion, but after getting used to Linux you will find yourself hardly using Windows at all.

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Thanks for that. It's an option I didn't know about.
It also looks the cheapest option unless the disk image can be installed on a the new disk.

Re SSD, I am looking for the cheapest fix as the Laptop is 5 years old. The safest and quickest fix seems to be replace the HDD with exactly the same one.
I mainly use the computer for just browsing and some Word and PowerPoint work, and I have an 11 gbps NBN which runs at about 3-6 most of the time so HDD speed is the least of my concerns. LOL

You'll be surprised at how much difference a new hard drive will make to the every day running of the PC(or laptop in your case).

I'd also recommend to get an SSD, even tho you ordered a new HDD.. not only much quicker but use less power too(if you ever use it disconnected from power).

Also, do a clean install .. the last thing you want is an old install of a cluttered up HDD onto a new system.
Your Windows key will be printed on the underside of the laptop.
And you don't then get all the crapware that Toshiba pre loads onto it too ... you get all the preloaded crapware that Windows installs instead!

All you then need to do to recover old files off the old HDD is get it connected somehow ... easiest way is via a cheap USB enclosure and connected via USB.(about $20-ish).

And as you have already ordered the new 500G HDD .. once you've copied all the files off the old drive, remove the old drive from the HDD case, install the new HDD and use it as a backup location(if you don't already have something to back up too that is).

ps. SSD are pretty cheap and are about the cheapest 'old laptop upgrade' you can do for them.
My daughter still happily uses her 10 yo AMD powered cheapie laptop I got the kids al those years ago.
At $299, it was the cheapest soak test I could find to see how durable a laptop would be in their hands. Cheapie not so fast SSD has extended it's life.
Son is the gaming geek and he got a newer laptop about 5 years or so ago. He killed his HDD(bad temper) .. and had to do without for a couple of weeks(as punishment! ) until I got him a faster SSD then the previous SSD, and it flies.
I accidentally hit the power button a few times yesterday whilst cleaning it out(pulled apart to clean out dust within) and couldn't believe how quickly it still booted .. considering the crap he's installed on it now(games and mods for games).

This site explains how to use the inbuilt Windows tools to transition from Hard disk to SSD:

How to clone HDD to SSD with Windows 7′s own software - Editor Sean

I used it when the tools provided with a SSD didn't play nicely and it worked a treat. You should be able to use it to transition from a hard disk to another.

Thanks for that.
Basically that is what I thought is the way.
I have the passport with a system image on it and a repair disk.
AFAIK , I should be able to set the boot to read DVD first, then turn off the computer, remove the old HDD , insert the new HDD, then boot the computer to the repair disk.
Once in the repair disk, I should be able to transfer the system image to the new HDD.
I will give it a try and if it doesn't work , I will then try to clone the old HDD, which should still be Ok as I have removed it before doing anything else.
Regards Philip A