I’ve been thinking about a few different ways we could tackle this. One idea might be to try fixing the GPT structure using this guide: https://neosmart.net/wiki/fix-mbr/.
If that doesn't do the trick, your best bet might be to plug the drive into another computer and try to pull the data off using some recovery software. I say that because things could potentially get a bit messy if we start poking around too much—since the partition structure seems to be missing, the partitions themselves aren't even showing up right now. Tools like Recuva or File Scavenger might be able to help. Honestly, I think it might be safer to try those first before you start messing with anything else on the disk.
EDIT: Oh, one more thing. When you boot up that other computer using a different drive and run Windows 8.1, can you actually see the drive listed in Disk Management? (Just hit Start >> run >> diskmgmt.msc). Because, if it isn't showing up there at all, then none of the steps I mentioned above are really going to work.
Maybe check if Disk Management can actually see it and how it’s showing up. It’s possible the file table just went haywire, leaving the drive stuck in RAW format.
I’d suggest testing them one by one. If the PC manages to POST with a single module installed, then there's still a chance we can fix this. I’d run either MemTest or GoldenMemory—though, in my experience, MemTest usually gets the job done a bit faster—and if everything passes without any errors, then you should be good to go.
It looks like the drive is giving him some trouble for one reason or another; based on the symptoms, that seems to be the case. It’s possible the disk is just reaching the end of its life. I guess it might be a good idea to test it out on a different machine, just to make sure we aren't actually dealing with a faulty controller or some sketchy connectors instead.
You might want to try downloading CrystalDiskInfo to see what the status report actually says. Honestly, having a few bad sectors usually isn't an immediate catastrophe since the system just marks them as bad and avoids using them, but I guess the real issue is that they tend to multiply over time. Long-term, you really should probably look into replacing the drive before things get messy.
That’ll probably end up becoming a meme, honestly. I’d actually prefer grabbing some used sticks over brand-new ones straight out of the box—you just never know if you're getting a dud right off the shelf. Though, there's a fair chance it's just a compatibility issue. Maybe try testing it with some different older modules first, and then you could eventually look into flashing the BIOS.
Don't even bother buying one. I'll just give you a whole pack of defective ones instead. 😁
@Randy, honestly, I think even if they were completely totaled, I could probably still dig the data out—as long as nobody went and scratched the platters with a screwdriver.
Of course, just because you start hearing clicking sounds doesn't necessarily mean everything is completely lost, but once you mention it’s not even showing up outside of the BIOS anymore, that's usually a pretty solid indicator that the drive has likely kicked the bucket. As far as getting your data back goes, there are several specialized firms here in the States that handle this kind of thing (like Bell Labs and similar outfits); honestly, prices have dropped quite a bit over the last few years, so it shouldn't cost you an absolute fortune 😁
As soon as those clicking sounds started, I'm thinking it was probably already a lost cause. Honestly, there’s no point in trying to DIY this at this stage. If you think there’s actually important data on there, your best bet is to just hand it over to some specialists at a professional data recovery lab. If there isn't anything vital on it, though, you might as well just toss it or maybe crack it open if you want some cool scrap metal for a desk ornament.
It feels like data recovery services have become a whole lot more affordable over the last few years. I think some places even offer free diagnostics now these days.
Or maybe just hand it off to someone who can take a quick look and figure out what's actually going on. My buddy isn't exactly a tech expert, but his best guess was that something is definitely broken—and I'm not even talking about missing drivers here.
Yeah, honestly. You can pick up used ones for next to nothing, and even if you want something brand new, they aren't that pricey—at least not the last time I checked. Most of them are pretty much plug-and-play, so you don't really have to mess around with any complicated setups. Just a heads-up though, you'll need to clean out the dust under the shroud; since there's already a layer of dust sitting on top of the cooler, it basically blocks the airflow from reaching the radiator altogether.
I’m wondering if your operating system is just acting up or if the drive itself is actually failing to read. You should probably check the BIOS first to see if the HDD even shows up; if it does, there might still be some hope. Maybe try plugging it into a different machine to see if you can pull your files off, or if the drive was partitioned and you don't have anything critical on the system partition, you could just try a fresh OS reinstall. Just a heads-up though, trying to swap out the controller board usually ends up corrupting your data anyway—those old tricks for SATA drives don't really work as reliably as they used to.
Honestly, you can't really test the Pro unless you physically plug it into another board, but in my experience, those things almost never fail—unless you go ahead and fry it, of course. I’d suggest looking for used ones; paying $75 at a retail store is just way too steep. You're better off hunting through online classifieds; you can usually snag one for maybe $100 or so if you look in the right places.
If this was happening even before you installed macOS, then we’re looking at a hardware issue right from the boot sequence. I mean, maybe it's just something silly like a loose cable if you're only seeing color shifts, but if you're getting full-on artifacts on the screen, it's probably the graphics card acting up.
System One isn't actually a bad service provider; in my experience, they usually handle things pretty quickly (at least with everything I've sent their way—sometimes I've had replacements ready in just a single day). I guess your bigger issue is just having such an exotic laptop. They probably don't have all the specific parts sitting in stock right away, which is why there's a wait; they likely have to order whatever they're missing directly from Asus in Germany or somewhere similar.