Hard drive troubles and windows errors

alyseshadow said:

I have already lost everything. Is there anything else I can do, besides having someone replace the hard drive?

Why didn't you make backups of important data? Or even better your whole drive?
There's normally no way to retrieve the data. But.....

"I have already lost everything"=>what do you mean by saying "lost"? No partition, no folders, no files at all anymore?

How are you stuck? Your HD may be failing. I already wrote out what to do to confirm this, how to replace the HD if necessary and get Win7 back up and runnning more perfectly than you've ever had it. Did you miss my post?

gregrocker said:

Not a good sign. Which diagnostics are you running, and for what model/make HD?

Is the HD detected in BIOS setup? If not check or replace the cable.

Have you tried running ▶ Dell Hardware Diagnostics from F12 Menu?

To replace the HD on your Dell, google the model number + replace Hard Drive or disassemble to find a video showing how. You can also google for a replacement drive.

Then Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

If you have files to rescue from the HD I would back them up now, if necessary using Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console or Paragon Rescue Kit Free Edition 11.0 Free CD.

You may be able to use revuca but am not holding my breath Recuva - Undelete, Unerase, File and Disk Recovery - Free Download

Or you can use a Ubuntu boot

BOOTABLEUBUNTU

Make a bootable Ubuntu disk http://www.ubuntu.com/download

Set the BIOS to boot from theoptical when the machine boots it will show you a screen with TRY or INSTALL> select TRY

When it is finished - it takes verylittle time you will get a screen like in the pic .

Open the drive you want > Userand dig down until you get to the data / settings you may be able to copy /paste the material you want to an external source or other installed drive doingthis.

I am not sure if it will but I haverecovered tons of data etc using this method both on "dead" or justplain drives that you cannot get data from using Windows.

This is a good example of hat happens when we don't do regular backups eh?

As Greg says and if you want try the Ubuntu I quoted first - if you need data - it may still not give it up but worth a try.

alyseshadow said:

So, I'm back! I bought a new Western Digital Harddrive and now I get an error stating I need to reseat the hard drive . If I try to install windows 7, it can't find the hard drive and in BIOS it says Hard Drive (none)
Anyone have any advice?

Does harddrive work in other computer? Does harddrive have power, so does it spin (you can feel it)? Is sata cable connected correctly?