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#21
All that does is make sure that your windows installation is like it should be. It has nothing to do with your hard drive failing. It's worth a shot to see if anything is messed up. I still suggest making sure you have a backup of any of your important data just in case. It may have just been one of those things...computers do strange things one day and then work fine for a year sometimes.
I'm cleaning out all of my files now then going to compress them using winrar to transfer them to another laptop. Then I might do a clean install or just replace the hard drive with another one.
The hard drive may not be going bad, the fact that it's not recognizing it could also mean that the sata connector isn't connected good. But the only way you can honestly guarantee that your data will be ok is to replace it. There is software out there to test the integrity of your drive. I suggest you google one of them and check it. If it comes out good, then I'd check to make sure that it's inserted good, because that in itself can cause a lot of problems.
*edit*
But even new drives have been known to fail within 6 months or less.
I probably will replace it since I have a spare old Laptop. But before I replace it I'll check if it works. That's a good idea. Just to be sure.
if the integrity of the drive is okay should I check the sata connector?
It couldn't hurt. But like I said earlier bud, there's no need to rush and replace it. It was probably just a bug that was fixed by one of the things you did earlier. Or maybe it was just having one of those days. Seriously, computers can do odd things and then you'll never be able to reproduce it again. But anyways, yeah, If you know how and feel comfortable, I'd say check the connector. Laptop hard drives usually have a screw holding them in place, so it's unlikely that it got jarred loose, but you never know.
Thank you once again mate for your help. Couldn't have done it without you. Also the Sata connector wasn't loose so probably a bug. I'll take your word for it. Take care.
You need to test the hard drive as specified in Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7
to be sure of its condition.
If the hard drive tests OK then work through the other steps, reporting back as you go in case others are indicated.