I dont know what to do!

[FLOOB]

Hard drive is busted. Buy and reinstall a new hard drive and OS? Or just buy a new computer all together?

[Yankee67]

I'm in the middle of doing that.  Drive should have been delivered by now, and I'll install it whenever I get home from my trip.  My replacement hard drive was only a hundred bucks.  There's a PIA factor of reloading software, but I'm not ready to go out and spend money on a new machine.  The one I have is only 2 years old.   

[Wiley]

Hard drive is busted. Buy and reinstall a new hard drive and OS? Or just buy a new computer all together?

How well does the computer do what you need vs how much money you have to spend is the sliding scale.  If your PC's relatively new and does all you need, I'd say HD.  If it's old and doesn't do what you want and you have the cash, good a time as any for an upgrade.

Wiley.

[FLOOB]

Its only a year old. Thing is the cost of installing a new HD and OS is nearly the cost of a new pc. And then theres the time issue, i can go get a new pc today.

[FLOOB]

By the way, this has been the worst pc I'v ever owned. It's a gateway. Within a month of buying it I had to ship it off to have the motherboard replaced. Now this. And it came with windows 8 

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Its only a year old. Thing is the cost of installing a new HD and OS is nearly the cost of a new pc. And then theres the time issue, i can go get a new pc today.

Since when you get a new PC for 1 hour of your own work? And if it's only a year old it is probably still under warranty.

[FLS]

Hard drives are cheap. You already own the OS. Even if you buy a new PC you should still fix the one you have.

[Bizman]

Only a year old? Dead right after the warranty was over. Tough luck.

Normally I'd say buy a disk and reinstall, but in the case of a Gateway which you've already had motherboard problems with... Sounds like it never was intended to last. If that was your AH rig, the more I suggest you should get a real computer.

Not knowing the specs, but if you end up building/letting built a new one, the processor of the Gateway should be technically worth reusing. After all, all Intel and AMD processors should be of equal quality independent of the crap they've been seated in. With luck the RAM sticks might be worth reusing, too.

[FLOOB]

I dont own the OS. The HD and installation cost about $250 and thats not including OS. The warrant may be up not sure. But honestly the warranty isnt worth much to me because it involves me taking it to the Fedex shop and not seeing it again for two weeks or likely longer (holidays). Last time I sent it out I still had my old rig so it wasn't too bad.

[Skuzzy]

You already have a license key for the OS.  It should be attached to the computer.  From there, you just need a copy of any Windows 8.1 and then the drivers from Gateway. 

Only thing you should be out is the purchase of a hard drive.

[scott66]

I just replaced my laptop hard drive last week..then bought a new laptop for the graphics..you tube is your friend

[MrRiplEy[H]]

I dont own the OS. The HD and installation cost about $250 and thats not including OS. The warrant may be up not sure. But honestly the warranty isnt worth much to me because it involves me taking it to the Fedex shop and not seeing it again for two weeks or likely longer (holidays). Last time I sent it out I still had my old rig so it wasn't too bad.

The basic Windows installation is one of the simplest things you can do with a computer. The possible required drivers may be included in Windows 8 already or you can download them from the manufacturer. You should not pay someone for the installation that you can do yourself.

[Bizman]

Oh yes, you should own the OS. If it was preinstalled in the computer, you've bought it. In case of Windows 8 in a brand computer there might not be any sticker with a code, though. Only one saying Windows 8 installed. The license code will be in the bios or whatever they call it now and it should automatically add it during the installation process if you have the right media.

Nowadays you don't get any reinstall disks, you should create them yourself after seeing the nag screen often enough - unless you're one of those who simply check the "don't remind me again". However, those disks only work with the computer they've been created with.

Since this one seems to be your only computer, get a new one, a real gaming computer this time. Send the broken one to be fixed under warranty and either use it for less demanding tasks or donate/sell it to someone who only needs it for banking and e-mailing.

I just installed a new hard drive to a laptop and did a clean install. I charged €150 including 24% of VAT. The price of the HDD was €65, Windows7 license was on the sticker in the bottom of the laptop. That's the average charge for that kind of a job here.