Windows 7: urgent help needed

Right firstly my laptop disk drive doesn't work so a factory restore is out of the question.

Disk checker was running and my laptop shut off midway through, since then my laptop hasn't been working because windows explorer is not responding. Safe mode works perfectly fine.

What could be the problem and how should I resolve it?

Before anything else I would try running Disc Checker in safe mode which I guess you have.

Other than that, windows restore via the windows CD comes to my mind. I believe there are better options out there though which I'm not aware of.

How about replacing the CD/DVD drive so you can use it if needed?

Anyway, boot to Safe Mode, open a Elevated Command Prompt, type chkdsk c: /r and press Enter.

You will get a window that says the check could not be performed ....
Do you want to schedule this disk check to run the next time you restart the computer?
Click on Yes.

Shutdown and reboot. Let chkdsk run to completion. It can take an hour or more depending on the size of the hard drive.

Boot to Safe Mode, open a Elevated Command Prompt, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

Let that complete also.

See how things are.

If what Z says doesn't work then how about the rescue disk you probably didn't make??

If you do not have a Windows 7 installation DVD or Recovery discs, you can download a legal copy with SP1 integrated from here: 2.1 Microsoft Windows 7 Official .iso Download Links

Make sure you get the same version you have, Home Premium, Pro or Ultimate and 32 or 64 bit. Note that Basic or Starter is not available.

I recommend using ImgBurn at 4X speed (or the slowest available) to create the DVD from the downloaded .iso file.

You can do this on any computer capable of burning a DVD.

YOU MUST HAVE A VALID KEY TO INSTALL THIS .ISO. The one on the COA sticker on your computer will work.

For techies or folks who work on computers: Create Windows 7 Universal ISO With All Editions Selection On Install with ei.cfg Removal Utility.
This will fit on a 6GB flash drive or can be burned to a DVD.

Z just as a matter of interest you said burn at slowest speed is that to prevent the copy having faults even if the optical is a current model?

It's just something I've always done. Seems to make better bootable discs. Don't know if it's still a problem with today's hardware or not.

I know on my CD/DVD RW combo drive, the slowest speed I can get is 12X, even when I select 4X.

Work through these steps for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start.

Since you have no disk drive, there are bootable flash stick alternatives for most steps. Using Hiren's BootCD From USB Flash Drive (Pen Drive) you can check the HD using maker's diagnostics and run Disk Check from bootable XP explorer. That will confirm the HD condition which needs to be done first.

If those don't work Hiren's also has bootable Partition Wizard Check File System and Partition Wizard Partition surface test to check HD condition.

Once HD is confirmed, Hirens also has bootable AV to check for infection, then you can check the Active flag is on System Reserved partition or C using Partition Wizard and then run Partition Wizard Rebuild MBR Video Help.
If that doesn't start Win7 boot into the Win7 installer provided in Step 5 of Troubleshooting steps along with tool to write to flash stick, to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times.

So as you can see, almost every step in the tutorial which offers everything possible to repair unbootable Win7 can be run from bootable Flash stick, up to copying out your files using XP explorer to run Factory Recovery from its partition on the HD, or getting the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Thanks Rich I'll do my ISO in future as you do I think:)