Windows 7: UPDATE OF SOFTWARE CRASHED PC

Hi guys, long time between posts for me.

I'm not sure that what I think is the cause is actually the cause, I am assuming and will explain why.

My PC has been running well for quite some time, nothing has been giving me any problems.
I use Incredimail, and have done since the beginning. I chose to update it a few days ago and part way thru the installation of the update my PC froze. I couldn't do a thing with it... so had to soft crash it. Now I get "cannot find OS or C drive".
I would deduce from that that my C drive may have failed... again. Or my OS has been compromised.
So I organised for the PC to boot off the OS disc. It also could not find C drive.
My PC is one month over warranty... typically. I don't wish to pay someone to fix it at this time and was wondering what if there is anyone here who may be patient enough to steer me through what I need to do. Or tell me that I will have to send the PC off to be fixed.
I have had no BSODs.
Hopefully I've explained myself well enough, and if not please ask what you need to know.
Thank you.
Cheers
Willow

I have an idea, if you have run startup repair and it cannot locate your HDD (C drive), can you enter the bios and see if you can see it there?

If your bios can detect the HDD, i would boot into a live CD like UBCD and run HDD diagnostics to check for errors.

Let me know how you go with this and we can continue from there.

Awesome, thank you I will try that tomorrow.
Sure will let you know how I go. Fingers crossed.

OK... no SSD or C drive found. I was able to run UBCD diagnostics and it was only able to locate D drive (Hitachi 1 tb) and my WD external (1tb). This is the second time in 12 months that the SSD has failed. This one was a new replacement of the first one... go figure.
I don't know what else to do except return it to the store and use my extended warranty.
If you have any further advice it would be much appreciated. But I have a good idea that I'll need to return it to store/manufacturer.

Thanks so much
Cheers
Willow

Only other thing it might by is the physical connection, make sure the SATA cable is ok and working properly if you have a spare, switch it out and try that one instead. If thats no good, you might want to look at taking it back. Sorry i couldn't be of more assistance maybe someone else has a suggestion.

You've been a great help! I needed to ascertain if it was the SSD before I did anything further. I had a sinking feeling it was. Just hoping it wasn't and I could get out of losing the PC for a couple of months. Thats how long they had it last time.
I can't interfere with the insides of the PC whilst I have the extended warranty in place, so I guess I'll just have to take it back.

Thanks again.
Have a great day
Cheers, Willow

Thats a shame because being able to get into the PC would at least give you the ability to have that machine running in the meantime. Hopefully it isn't not a couple of months this time, that is not ideal.