HELP - HDD Problem

[nivrip]

Hi All

I think I have a serious problem with the HD. Over the last week or so I had occassional warnings that there was a problem with the hard drive and ideas on how to solve it. I ran the diagnostic tool and it came up with a solution that involved moving several files which it did. It obviously didn't solve the problem as the same warning box appeared.

I could still use the system but it gradually it got slower and slower and the warning kept reappearing. I tried a few more of the diagnostic "solutions" but still no joy.

Eventually I decided to try PC Restore which worked very well a couple of months ago and set it in motion. After about 20 - 25 minutes of "Restoring Disk to Factory Settings" it stopped with an Error Box but no explanation as to what the error was.

I thought I would run it again but now am not able to access PC Restore at all, or anything else for that matter. On boot up The F12 button needed for getting into Boot Options is ineffectual and I get nowhere. I am concerned that the original Restore has wiped most of the disk and now there is no way of getting back to it.

Anyone got any brilliant (or simple) ideas?

It's a Dell E5000 running Vista.

 

[Abarbarian]

If you are just after recovering data then try a Live Linux CD or System Recovery CD or Ultimate Boot CD the last two options may have tools to help with solving the problem. Other than that sounds like you have a unique paperweight.

 

[nivrip]

I've managed to get a bit more info.

Seems like the Boot Manager failed to find the OS loader and both a file repair and a boot config data store repair both failed.

Is this of any further help to anyone?

P.S. Would a PC Restore that did not complete correctly wipe part or most of the info from the disk?

 

[Abarbarian]

I'm guessing yes. I had some problems with Acronis backups and lost the ability to access data. Also it screwed up the hdd MBR. Took me some time to get it working again. If I remember correctly I had to put the drive in another pc and mess around with trying to wipe and format it before I could get it working again. The Seagate tools did not help at all. Think I used Partition Magic aswell as Acronis to get it working.
Sorry I can not give details but I was in a panic situation and trying all sorts so me memory is a bit clouded.