[tommym]

Hi. I have a Toshiba Satellite C660 laptop. Three times today I've had a message pop up telling me that my hard disk is failing and that I should back up my data and contact the manufacturer to determine if I need to repair or replace it, and that I shouldn't turn it back on in the mean time. I clicked 'yes' to backup the data on a DVD RW+, but it wouldn't accept it. Since then there's been an intermittent clicking sound coming from the right side of the computer. I've begun writing my important files to disk, but I don't know if this is the same as what the backup refers to. Does it mean that I need to save all the software that runs the computer (Windows etc.)?

I bought the PC around three months ago without insurance. Do manufacturers typically cover this type of problem in the standard warranty, and if not is it there any reason why I shouldn't go to a private repairer? I assume they would be cheaper. Anything else I should be aware of?

Thanks for any help and your patience with a clueless user.

 

[makinu1der2]

You should back-up/save any important data that you need.

The hard-drive is failing and will need to be replaced.

 

[tommym]

You should back-up/save any important data that you need.

The hard-drive is failing and will need to be replaced.

I'm already aware of that. Can I run the PC with an external hard drive?

 

[pip22]

In practical terms, no.

Apart from having to overcome several issues installing Windows on an external drive, it would take forever for Windows to start, after which it would run painfully slowly owing to the relatively slow USB transfer speed compared to an internal hard drive port.

It's slow speed would be such that you just wouldn't want to use it (and that's assuming you even managed to get that far). There's no alternative but to fit a new internal hard drive, which, on a laptop is even easier than fitting one to a desktop PC.

But by all means get an external hard drive as soon as possible to backup all your data to while that data is still accessible, because it will be too late when the internal drive fails completely.