BUM HARD DRIVE

You can try re-installing the OS on top of itself.
Some versions of windows offer a repair OS. You don't
mention your version of windows? If you get in, I would such backing up your important data. I would recommend doing a clean install of the OS. Then restoring you data to your programs. Some programs will need to be install again rather than just restored. I know it's not the answer you want to hear but it is the best way to get a stable unit.

Good Luck.

If your recovery discs do not allow an incremental recovery, then unless you are running XP, you may need to perform a clean install. XP offers a Restore Point feature, accessible in normal AND Safe Mode. Go to your Start Menu and select Programs>Accessories> System Tools> System Restore then follow the on-screen prompts.

If you are running W9x, try to obtain a startup disk and Retail CD of 9x, boot to floppy and select "Start Computer with CD Support" or "Start from CD-ROM and follow thesteps to "upgrade" your system. All this will do is replace the corrupt files, etc. Then reboot after it completes. DO NOT allow reformat. Once you reboot, then back up all your files then perform a system restore from your restore discs, if desired. It may not be a bad idea to do so but if the system works fine after the reinstall, then you know the old addage, "If it works, don't fix it!" :)

I am making 2 assumptions here;
1. the PC does not boot.
2. You have access to another PC.

The simplest thing to do, is to remove the hard drive from the PC, and install it as a secondary, or slave drive in another PC.

Back up your critical files to a new folder on the other PCs hard drive.
Then, back them up to CD or tape.

Remove the drive, and place it back into it's PC.

I recommend that you then go beyond a re-format of the hard drive, and start over clean.

Boot from a startup disk, and run fdisk
delete all logical drives and partitions.
re-boot,
run fdisk again, and partition the drive as desired
re-boot, and format at least the C: drive.

For more information on partitioning, check out www.aumha.org and www.fdisk.com/fdisk

Chas

In reference to Chas:

This is assuming he has a second drive, not all are fortunate to have that luxury. He may not and drives are not necessarily all that inexpensive.

In reference to Chas:

This is assuming he has a second drive, not all are fortunate to have that luxury. He may not and drives are not necessarily all that inexpensive. The most cost efficient way to recover from this would undoubtedly be the passive install I outlined above.

Hey hi:) First from another computer go to the hard drive web site and down load any fixes and updates they have. And check their trouble shooting ideas. Did you try booting to a dos disk to see if you could get to the drive? Try booting to a win95 boot disk and typing sys c: it might fix your problem. If not let me know I have more suggestions.

As Usual I like Chas's advice. However something else that might work from a DOS prompt iss to fix the "Master Boot Record"
C:\fdisk /mbr [Enter}

Go to another computer that is running the same OS as your own assuming you are possibly running Windows and format a floppy diskette copying the system files to the diskette. Also coppy the COMMAND.COM file to the floppy diskette. Use the floppy disk to boot your computer and then copy the COMMAND.COM from the floppy disk drive to the root of the C drive, remove the diskette and reboot.