Can changing a video card affect my hard drive data?

K

Kostrowicki

New Member
Hi,

My video card recently died, and so I wasn't able to access my OS (windows vista). Since my computer's extended warranty was still valid, I brought my computer to be repaired at the shop (when I was told that my video card was wrong that the problem was with my windows...).

Now, the files that are on my hard drive are not saved and it is vital that I preserve them. The guy who will repair my computer told me I better save my hard drive data before he proceeds with the replacement of my video card. BUT, for that, I need to buy an external hard drive (about $90) and some hard drive dock (another $90), and then save my hard drive. Is that really needed/safe? I don't really want to spend some 180$ just to save my hard drive....

Thanks
 
it depends how confident you are with working on pc, you could remove the hdd from your laptop connect it to your desktop and transfer the files from desktop hdd to laptop hdd, but don`t try if your not sure about it, we can come up with something else.
 
I don't see why you need to save your data if the video card is the only problem. All you have to do is pop in a new video card and install the drivers.
 
voyagerfan99 said:
I don't see why you need to save your data if the video card is the only problem. All you have to do is pop in a new video card and install the drivers.
Click to expand...

This came up on another thread earlier voyager, is it not because if his pc has oem windows, it may need a new copy if video card is changed ?
 
Ok, so I guess I'll just ask clearly if the only problem is with the video card. If it is, then I'll let him change it. If not, i.e. if there's another sort of scary problem, ill buy the stuff and save my hard drive...sigh.
 
well if the new video card won`t affect your windows kostro, i don`t see why you would need to backup your data, maybe just as a pre caution, anyway you certainly don`t need to go buying any stuff, best thing you can do is partion your hard drive and just move your personal files into the 2nd seperate partion, this means that no matter what the computer shop does to your c: windows partion, your files in the 2nd partion will remain safe and unaffected
 
That sounds very interesting james, but also awfully complicated. Lets say I have my tower and my lap in front of me, what do I do? I open the tower, ... then what?
 
no forget about the laptop now you don`t need to do anything with it now !

On your desktop when you go into your drives section, do you have one single c drive partion and if so what size is it ?
 
I do not know what is a partion! When you say "go into your drivers section", do you mean physically, when I open the tower, or virtually, on the computer? Because I can't access my windows...
 
I think it is yes. Btw, I just read the wikipedia page about disk partitioning...i understand better now.

So there's nothing I can do right? If I want to backup my data, I have to buy the things fore-mentionned?

And, if we assume that the problem is only with the video card, do you maintain that I should not need to back up my data?
 
If the only problem with your desktop is the video card kostro, i would strongly recommend that with the assistance of the users on here you could very easily change it yourself, it is a very simple job, open the case and take out one screw thats pretty much it.

you will save yourself a few quid and not risk not knowing what a pc shop might do.
 
Uhhh, james. I need the shop to do it, since my desktop is on warranty...if they dont do it themselves, i have to buy myself a new video card...!

And yes, I do have a video card that came with my desktop...is that what you're asking claptonman?
 
no claptonman means even though your video card is dead, if your motherboard has a vga port on it you could connect to that ?

If you look at the back of your desktop, you will see a long narrow plate with all the usb ports etc, is there a blue coloured port usually with gold pins ?
 
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Sounds like the computer shop guy is ripping you off. There is no way that a defected video card can affect your hard drive, he's just trying to make you spend extra cash. Tell him just change the video card. BUT, if you learn how to do it yourself, you'll only have to pay for the card and the process of removing and installing the new card is fairly simple.
 
Ok, thank you everyone.

James, my desktop is currently at the shop where it was being diagnosed, but i'm going back there tomorrow. What if there is a vga port? Is that good?

And I feel more confident on the questions that ill ask him. I hope its only the video card. If it is, ill just ask him to change it (and i know its fairly easy to do it myself, my brother just bought a new one and we installed it together - but i get it free (cuz of warranty) if i let the shop do it).

Ill come back to you with more details once I've visited the shop again tomorrow.
 
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