[anorth]

Hi I'm new. Just found your site after frustrating issues with my gateway laptop model MT6706 purchased 5/07. Vista operating system has been SLOW and freezing up alot the past week. Not sure what is relative to mention since it seems that the bottom line is that my hard drive is toast. Yesterday I got a black screen message:Smart failure predicted on hard disk 2:xxxxxxxxxxxx Immediately back- up your data and replace hard drive Press F1 to continue. Once I press F1 the screen just goes black. After pressing F8 and waiting for safe mode and waiting some more the blue screen appears that a problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage. Bios log mentions preboot error 12/27 memory was changed...must have been after my son, trying to help by "downloaded a program to update the bios".

At this point, I need to try to retreive some information on the hard drive before replacing but don't know how to do that. I found something on the site here that mentions hooking up to another computer with Vista but my hubby's got business version, mine was home. Does that matter?? If not, how do we go about trying this?

Thanks!
anorth

[Glitchy81]

No, it doesn't matter, heck, they could be different versions of Windows all together and it wouldn't matter. But not to confuse you. You should try that way you "found on a site".

[Mumbodog]

1. Remove the hard drive from the MT6706 laptop

2. Install that hard drive in a external USB hard drive enclosure you buy. Be sure to buy the correct one,
a. it is for a laptop hard drive (2.5")
b. it supports the hard drive connections, Gateway says its a Sata hard drive.
c. It supports Sata II

3. Connect the external USB enclosure to hubby's PC, if there is any life left in the drive it should show up in Windows explorer on hubby's PC, copy and paste any data you need to save to hubby's PC.

4. Buy new hard drive and install it in MT6706 and re-install windows using recovery Cd's that came with the laptop.

Some enclosures
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...10%20-%20%2425

Gateway MT6706 component replacement manual, page 5 to remove and replace hard drive.
http://support.gateway.com/s/Manuals..._Oasis_RPL.pdf


All your literature for that model
http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/...05915Rnv.shtml

[anorth]

Thanks for the links and useful instructions!! Great forum!! Will post results.

[anorth]

So I've discovered my laptop is still under warranty!! I'm off to get an external hard drive tomorrow to try to back up my data before shipping it out for service. Any suggestions on EHD that's reliable, easy to use and will store everything including program files? I'm looking at a Seagate Free Agent 500 GB and a Western Digital My Passport Essential 250 GB Portable. Any thoughts?
Thanks Again!!

[Mumbodog]

I like seagate free agents, they have a 5 year warranty where most others have 1 year, some 2 or 3. Only seagate offers 5 year on the free agent models.

But hey, buy what makes you happy!