robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Please click "Quote Reply" so we know exactly what you are responding to.

My computer is a 7 year old iBuyPower gamer with a few modifications and upgrades. i7 6 core 3.2Ghz, Win 10 Pro with 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD 'C' drive, 1TB HHD 'D' document drive, 3TB 'P' HHD photo/video drive, 4TB 'G' external drive always plugged in for automatic whole computer backups weekly and a 2GB video card. With a 27" Asus graphic arts monitor. The rig was new in Nov 2011 and still more or less does what I want/need.

I don't game either. I got it because I figured if it could do on line gaming it could edit pictures. I did have Angry Birds on it for a while but got bored with the game in all it's versions and took them off. I do have "Media Monkey" and Bose computer speakers for my music and a Blue Ray/DVD reader/writer.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Sounds like either Master Boot Record (MBR) or the Boot partition - may be damaged or corrupted. If you have data on the drive that you need you can take it off by connecting it as an external drive to another computer, and just copying it. If I am correct, you should be able to restore the MBR and/or the boot partition using widely available software. I use EaseUs with some help from a Windows Utility - bootrec.exe. You need to create a bootable device - memory stick or DVD - to be able to start the computer with the bad drive - then use the utilities to fix stuff. If the drive is damaged, it may not be recoverable.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

SyncBack Free is, as the name suggests, free. There is no need to pay for a back up solution, and SyncBack is full featured. I've been using it for over 10 yrs to manage my backups and it has never failed.

https://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/sbpro.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnZXbBRC8ARIsABEYg6BvbEwVZzQIoFJmKkvq3-prj61Qx2i9GwUXwM8gDdO_gjdzI2YlX6MaAoieEALw_wcB

11bravo

I no longer trust WD's (well, maybe their blacks for the OS), and while I do use Seagate and Toshiba 3.5 HDD's, it's not for anything important. Anything important goes on an HGST. I have a number of hard drives that run 24/7/365, best I've found are HGST NAS 4 TB drives being a sweet spot. Don't have to be used in a NAS. Can be found on sale for $100.

I use Rosewill HDD enclosures with a built-in fan:

https://m.newegg.com/products/N82E16817182247

Yes, there are 6 screws to remove, and another 4 to mount the drive, but the fan is worth it. Temperature is critical.

Before use, I provision my hdd's (windows, sure Mac's have an equivalent):
1. Do a LONG, not a quick format.
2. Command line chkdsk [drive letter]: /x /v /f /r / b
fully checks the HDD again.
3. I use StableBit scanner to run a 3rd disk check.
After all this (around 20 hours for a 4tb drive), I'm satisfied that the drive is solid. Fan ESSENTIAL for keeping drive cool with all this continueous access.

Macrium Reflect backups work for me. I have both paid versions and free versions (paid allows incrementals, free only differentials).

Also highly recommend 2 other software programs: Hard Disk Sentinel and StableBit Scanner. Bit of duplication between the two. I use Sentinel to monitor disk temps and to sound alarm if get too hot, and Scanner to run periodic surface scans for health (also monitors temps, but Sentinel has more options, including automatic shutdown). Both paid, but have group price packages as I use on all my computers. Both well supported, and very responsive to questions.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Quite the specifications! Will you be doing at-home work for NASA, too?

That will work fine for processing, but you could probably buy two acceptable computers for what it would cost.

Memory -
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-much-ram-does-your-p
c-need-probably-less-than-you-think/
http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-much-ram-does-your-pc-need/

Processor -
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/intel-core-i9-vs-i7-vs-i5-cpu/
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/intel-core-i5-vs-i7/
http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/core-i5-vs-i7
https://www.extremetech.com/computing/210703-intel-core-i5-vs-core-i7-which-processor-should-you-buy

Setup -
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2861858/computers/7-critical-things-to-do-immediately-with-a-new-pc.html#tk.rss_all
http://www.computershopper.com/feature/13-essential-steps-set-up-your-new-pc

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

And get CrystalDiskInfo. There seem to be several versions. They tell you the temperature of your drives, how many starts, how many hours, and more.

11bravo

Having been burnt by windows system restore points, never rely on them. Macrium Reflect has a free version for backups.

I didn't catch which version of Windows you are using. You might try using the original windows install disks, or recovery disk to boot from. That will give you access to built in rescue tools. They can identify missing windows files and restore. But we're talking command line use, so you might want to ask family or friends if one is a geek. There might even be a recovery partition on the hard drive, but find a geek for help. You don't want to wipe out your data.

However, this just might be the opportunity to get an updated computer. As others have suggested, pull the old hard drive and see if another computer will recognize it. If so, copy what you want. But if the drive is not recognized and you get a message you have to format before use, DON'T. There are programs to recover data, just ask a geek for help.

I've used Norton for years; it works for me. A more likely culprit is a corrupted shutdown so windows loses track of where files are (they're still there, windows just doesn't know where - in geek speak, FAT or MFT corruption).

A supplemental protection program is Malwarebytes, free requires you to scan, paid works automatically.

Finally, let this be a lesson learned: buying a $100 hard drive for backups and you'd be back up and running in an hour or so.

Bison Bud

While I too think that the Ops computer choice is a bit of overkill, I guess when you want the best and are willing to pay for it, than there's no reason not to go for it. What bothers me about this thread is the number of folks that still recommend that he purchase/rent the Adobe CC package after he specifically stated that he wanted to stay away from CC "Like the Plague!" Frankly, there are still many of us out here that don't like that business model or much of "Cloud" anything for that matter. I know that I'm an odd bird on this, but due to repeated problems with my Windows based photo workstation, it no longer goes online for anything and I have a Chromebook (I don't use the "Cloud" on it either) for all my internet activities. Again, probably overkill, but I haven't had a virus or a failed update since going offline with it. Frankly, I'm very happy with how it works now, so updates aren't a big issue for me. Besides, most Windows updates are for security issues anyway and I've had no end of problems with them. So, if I have to use older software rather than pay monthly for the rest of my life then so be it. This should be an option not a requirement, but now it's becoming the norm and I for one think we screwed up big by letting that happen when we could have nipped it in the bud by just saying no from the start. In any case, the Op must also have his reasons for steering clear of the CC software and I think we could at least read his post and respect his opinion about not wanting to use it. It's bad enough that the software folks are trying to force it down our throats, do you really need to help them every chance you get? Think about it!

Nikon1201

One very important thing is your video card having a OPEN GL Alf 3.3 or higher . If you choose to use ON1 PhotoRaw or Topaz some of the presets within these programs won’t run . Almost all gaming PC s do have it.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I might be mistaken, but I don't think computers come with disks anymore. They have a backup section on the hard drive. Of course, if the hard drive isn't accessible, then you have no installation software. Maybe you can ask Dell to send you the disks when you order the machine.

johntaylor333

You don't mention the CPU - I would go as high end as you can afford.

I love my dual 4k monitors and have the exact GPU you mention. If I did it again, I would go with a 1080 rather than a 1070.

My storage is set up like this - 1TB M.2 boot drive (Samsung 960 Pro - there is now a 970 Pro), a 2TB 960 EVO and a 5 TB HDD. I have the folder(s) I am currently working on stored on the very fast boot drive. When finished with them, I move them to the large SSD which holds the last couple of years photos, after which they are moved to the HDD for long term storage. Backup is to a 12TB 4 bay RAID array and to Crashplan in the cloud. Make sure the system you are buying has sufficient drive bays and SATA ports (mine has 6 ports).

Hope this helps. It won't be cheap!

LenCreate

You’ll need a monitor calibrating device in addition to a good monitor to see colors accurately.

LenCreate

You’ll need a monitor calibrating device in addition to a good monitor to see colors accurately.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

The OP is a she not a he and it's obvious that she had all the wrong ideas about Adobe CC, thinking, for example, that she would lose all her edits if she stopped paying. Sometimes the best advice is to tell the person that they're mistaken.

SyracuseOrange Loc: Manlius,NY

[quote=11bravo]I no longer trust WD's (well, maybe their blacks for the OS), and while I do use Seagate and Toshiba 3.5 HDD's, it's not for anything important. Anything important goes on an HGST.

You might want to check out the fact that HGST is a subsidiary of Western Digital.