Aspire 5750-2418G75mnkk - possible issue with hard drive

The above has 750GB hard drive, 8GB RAM, and Core i5-2410M processor. Back in 2011 when I bought it that was a decent spec. I would like to upgrade the existing Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 10. No issues until in recent times its been seemingly slowed the past year or so with Microsoft Windows 7 updates (one in particular slowed it right down and by setting it back to a date just before that it was lightning quick again - that was by getting rid of an optional update but essential updates since slowed it), but when it isn't connected to the internet its fast again.

I reckon that I need to change to Windows 10. However, in recent times there have been some odd noises from the hard drive and a couple of times it seemingly lost its registry on booting up, in one instance it then went through a "repair" process and seemed to be ok, but on trying to save an image of the hard drive it has failed, I've tried 3 times now and each time it has failed halfway through. I suspect the hard drive is faulty and probably not repairable. A friend suggested putting a solid state drive into it. That's ok for him as he works in electronics and has in the past worked for the likes of HP but I've no idea if that's even possible. I was reckoning having the hard drive checked and potentially replaced with another hard drive and changing over to Windows 10.

Your thoughts and advice would be appreciated. Many thanks.

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JackE

The slowness is more likely due to read difficulties that are getting worse due the the head starting to nick the platters.

If it was mine and I needed the space, I'd go for a 1TB WesternDigital 2.5" HDD with a decent size 128MB cache at less than $45 with free shipping. It would be at least as fast as your old HDD used to be. If I wanted some extra speed, I'd go for AdataSU635 2.5" series SSD at about $35 for the 240GB model.

I'd go here to this link and use Microsoft's USB Win10 installation media creation tool to install Win10 on the new drive from a USB port. http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery

Then I'd order an HDD-to-USB 2.5" adapter for $13 to connect my old HDD up to my new Win10 powered 5750 . Then copy the files I really need from the old drive to my new WD HDD or Adata SSD.

Jack E/NJ

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SpeedKingHighwayStar

JackE said:

The slowness is more likely due to read difficulties that are getting worse due the the head starting to nick the platters.

If it was mine and I needed the space, I'd go for a 1TB WesternDigital 2.5" HDD with a decent size 128MB cache at less than $45 with free shipping. It would be at least as fast as your old HDD used to be. If I wanted some extra speed, I'd go for AdataSU635 2.5" series SSD at about $35 for the 240GB model.

I'd go here to this link and use Microsoft's USB Win10 installation media creation tool to install Win10 on the new drive from a USB port. http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery

Then I'd order an HDD-to-USB 2.5" adapter for $13 to connect my old HDD up to my new Win10 powered 5750 . Then copy the files I really need from the old drive to my new WD HDD or Adata SSD.

Jack E/NJ

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLNNDL2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HJZJI84/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I don't think you've really understood what I've said. First of all the computer itself is not slow. Nor is that the issue. I carefully explained that only in certain circumstances has it ever become slow and this was attributable to Microsoft updates - one in particular that was "optional" did have the effect of slowing things and on reversing the date pre-update it was lightning fast again. So there is not a slow issue - as such. Only in recent times after certain Microsoft Windows updates, I got rid of the optional ones but obviously the essential ones couldn't be. Also, any detectable slowness (or comparatively less fast) is alleviated as soon as it has been taken off the internet - i.e. when offline it opens big files instantaneously and navigates quick as ever. It was never a slow laptop and it isn't now. in fact it puts a new computer at work to shame at how quick it opens big files. So, no, the issue is not speed.

The actual issue has been occasionally when booting up, a few times it has apparently lost its registry on booting up, on one or two instances there's been odd noises coming from the hard drive, and on one recent instance it had to go through a "repair" procedure. Attempts at saving an image of the hard drive have also failed halfway through. So, it is a suspicion that the hard drive may have an issue. I'm also looking to change from Windows 7 to Windows 10. That's all.

SpeedKingHighwayStar

To assist anyone else, please note clarifications as follows....

1. The only issue is a suspicion that the hard drive may have some kind of fault given noises coming from the hard drive, booting up issues whereby a fee times it seemed to lose its registry, and on one instance it went through a "repair" procedure. Attempts to save an image of the hard drive have also failed halfway through. These factors have caused me suspect a problem with the hard drive. And if I do replace it then can it be changed to an SSD. That is the issue. Nothing else.

2. Any mention is speed is s misnomer - it was never a slow laptop and it isn't now, especially when offline it is still lightening quick in opening big files and navigating between several things open and navigating to various folders and applications, to the extent that it puts a new desktop at work to shame at how much quicker it opens big files.

So, the issue is purely a suspicion about the hard drive due to: (1) noises coming from the hard drive, (2) booting up issues, and (3) attempts to save an image of the hard drive have failed halfway through.

JackE

>>>So, it is a suspicion that the hard drive may have an issue. I'm also looking to change from Windows 7 to Windows 10. That's all.>>>

I suspect you're correct. There's enough other evidence you've posted besides the slowness issue that could've very well been coincidental to the updates. I suggest replacing the HDD or at least get your personal files onto another drive before it fails. Jack E/NJ

SpeedKingHighwayStar

JackE said:

>>>So, it is a suspicion that the hard drive may have an issue. I'm also looking to change from Windows 7 to Windows 10. That's all.>>>

I suspect you're correct. There's enough other evidence you've posted besides the slowness issue that could've very well been coincidental to the updates. I suggest replacing the HDD or at least get your personal files onto another drive before it fails. Jack E/NJ

Jack,

Hi. Thanks for your time and help. Re your point "so, its a suspicion that the hard drive may have an issue" - yes the title of the thread is "possible issue with hard drive".

I've come across many that cite Microsoft Windows updates as being the cause of many Windows 7 machines to slow somewhat, a computer shop also mentioned to me that sometimes they get machines of all the same make after some updates as the updates can sometimes upset particular brands and set-ups, a recent update it might be one make of machines that are adversely affected, next time it might be another make. And certainly I've personally found a couple of instances of reversing optional updates has resulted in booting up quicker again and being back to usual speed. But that isn't the issue.

The issue for anyone wondering if it has been answered yet is essentially no. I still don't know if the odd noises, the booting up problems, the recent "repair" mode, and failing to save an image of the HDD are indicative of an issue with the hard drive. And whether the HDD can be replaced with an SSD. These questions remain unanswered and would appreciate advice on.

Many thanks.

JackE

Heh-heh. Major Win10 update versions are the root cause of many issues like yours even with newer factory-installed Win10 machines with earlier Win10 versions, let alone Win7. IMO, Win7 is arguably Microsoft's last halfway-decent, stable Windows version.

For these reasons, my two workhorse Win7-era laptops (an ACER netbook & a giant HP 17 incher) are now dual boot and default to LinuxMint19.3. They're both setup up to have nearly the same look, feel, functionality & predictability of Win7. You'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference. My two newer Win8x & Win10 laptops are also dual boot with the same Mint version also set up to look and act like Win7.

So I'm now free from the fear of what problem the next major Windows update might cause. Mint updates have been bulletproof so far AND use-controllable. The only reason I boot to Win7, 8x or 10 anymore on any of these machines is to check out and try to address issues that ACER community folks might have with these WinVers.

For me and for what I do, Win8x & especially Win10, were the open windows of opportunity to change the status quo in PC GUIs. Pun also intended. I have access to all my previous Windows system & personal files through the Mint GUIs. And with the Wine overlay, I can run all my favorite non-Microsoft Windows programs that I previously relied on like Irfanview etc, The LibreOffice suite also opens and edits all my native Windows Office & Office 365 just fine.

You might want to consider doing the same, instead of Win10, esp on your Win7 relic. Of course, only after you break down and get a new WD 1TB HDD or Adata SSD.

Jack E/NJ

SpeedKingHighwayStar

Jack,

Many thanks. You obviously know what you're talking about and your time and advice is greatly appreciated.

Re my "relic" (...I guess it is haha) but then in some ways it still hasn't been overtaken by newer machines e.g. its 8GB RAM (and yes I know its DDR3 whereas its now DDR4) and its a Core i5 processor (and yes I'm aware that its now 10th generation whereas mine is so called "Sandy Bridge" second generation i5-2410M) and of course the storage capacity is 750GB and all that was as bought in 2011 whereas many machines still have a fraction of that capacity - its paid off as I have a lot of music on it at high mp3 sample rates and also a lot of lossless WAV so it eats up space. So I have about 350GB and that also includes quite a bit of "working at home" files due to the coronavirus lockdown. It still handles and opens big files quicker than my new desktop machine at work so it isn't slow (so long as I stay offline). When I bought it I'm sure I did the right thing in not taking a machine with 1GB ram and 128GB HDD, nor e.g. with a Celeron processor, at least its still half decent and as I say it still opens big files quickly - and quicker than my new computer at work does with the same files. I've always hated "wait-for-it" performance and the swirly doughnut, that drives me mad, my old 5750 still opens big files in a split second (so long as its offline). Its just a pity that its recently started to make some odd noises, has had some booting up issues, gone through repair mode etc, and attempts to save an image of the hard drive have failed halfway through.

I will have to get the hard drive checked out although I doubt that they would change it to SSD, they will either tell me there's nothing wrong with it or if they do assess it as defective they will no doubt replace it like for like.

Thanks again.

JackE

Good luck whatever you decide. Jack E/NJ

Kittykat1661

Hi don't know if anyone can help, I'm trying to upgrade from hdd to sdd drive on my acer aspire 5750 i7, have the last window 10 1909 on hdd drive on It but when I put sdd in on copying from my media creation windows, which I took a new copy on a new usb a couple weeks ago, and I now get, cannot install need to update drivers .I have no idea how, I have tried a new smaller hdd to test and get the same the the version of the 2004 media creation I think is the problem, I have had no problem in the past upgrading all the win 10 upgrades, I have mine and my grandsons aspires I am tying to upgrade to sdd. I have just upgraded my husbands 2015 hp pavillion to sdd no problems, I have also put extra storage into his cd drive. But alas my acer I'm stuck. Has anyone been able to upgrade their old acer to sdd with the new windows 10 1909. Much appreicate any help thanks