Bad Sectors on Hard Drive, Can no longer boot Windows 7

[funk7997]

Hi,
I was using my Acer Aspire 5250-0639 to root my Android phone using unrEVOked and it required me to install some different drivers for my phone. It didn't work but I tried a couple different guides. A lot of guides recommended that I use Linux for rooting since you didn't need additional drivers, so I tried to burn a live DVD of Linux Mint 13 (Cinnamon) and when I right clicked Windows Explorer stopped responding. So using Task Manager I ended the process and tried to restart Explorer, but it didn't work. So I tried rebooting, but now it hangs on the Starting Windows screen for around 20 minutes, then when it finally gets to the Login Screen, my mouse and keyboard don't work. One thing that does work, though, is that the Fn key combination to change volume and screen brightness still work? I had a live disc of Cruchbang Linux and used that to launch gparted (A disk management tool). It claimed there were bad sectors. I have never had this problem with any of my computers before, so I looked it up on my phone and most people said to run a chkdsk /r from Startup Repair. However, when I do that, it says that it can't lock my disk. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
-Funk7997

 

[R4dul]

Very likely you do have a bad disk. As few as one bad sector can prevent you from doing anything. You'll need a bootable CD with some diagnostic/repair software like hdd regenerator 2011, hdat, victoria or manufacturer specific software (ex: if drive shows up as Seagate use SeaTools) Yes, some hard disks can be repaired via software that marks bad sectors as unusable - provided the disk does not have mechanical failure that produces bad sectors continuously. Then after repair is complete it should boot in Windows just fine without reinstall, it will probably just run a checkdisk on first boot.

 

[funk7997]

My hard drive is a Seagate. I did try running SeaTools for DOS since I needed a bootable disc but it Hung at the booting bcdw... The drive is still accessible through Linux and when I used a SATA to USB adapter. I'll try some of the other programs that you mentioned and post my results.-funk7997

 

[karlsnooks]

funk,

Download the ISO file for SeaGate Tools for DOS.
Burn to Cd.
Boot from the CD.

http://www.seagate.com/staticfiles/support/seatools/SeaToolsDOS223ALL.ISO

In Win 7, you need only to double-click on an ISO file to burn the ISO to DVD/CD.

 

[R4dul]

Then sorry to say it may be beyond redemption. Try the other programs anyway, maybe you'll get lucky. However some programs such as HDD regenerator can also run from Windows and repair directly from there. That means you need a pc with Windows 7 and HDD regenerator ( the windows version). Then you must plug the laptop hard disk "on the go" thus avoiding the hang on boot issue. Then you can probably fix it.

 

[karlsnooks]

funk,
Let us know the results of following the procedure I gave.

Then, depending upon the results, we can proceed.

 

[funk7997]

Karlsnooks, unfortunately when I booted into Seatools for DOS, it got stuck at a black screen that said: booting into bcdw... I'm going to see if I can get hdd regenerator to work. -funk7997

 

[F5ing]

Do you have all the data on that disk backed up somewhere?

 

[funk7997]

It's not backed up at the moment but I can still access the data from another computer. If I cloned it to another drive would it boot correctly? Also, what is the best way to back up an entire 400 GB of data? I was running hdd regenerator and it found and repaired 181 bad sectors by the time it got through about 26 GB of data. However, because I was borrowing my sisters computer to do this, I had to stop it there. I put it back in my laptop and though it booted quickly, I still couldn't get my mouse and keyboard to work. I'll try continuing it tomorrow. -funk7997

 

[F5ing]

First things first. If you can use another PC and have space to recover the personal data from it, do it. Just use Explorer to copy out your stuff. Don't worry about the OS as that's easy to restore, you need to note what apps you have on it and locate install media or internet links to installers. Also a good idea to have a copy of your network driver to allow for a network connection for downloading updates/apps.

Then focus on hard drive health. Before installing a fresh copy of Windows you need to ensure that the drive is healthy. If you cannot run Seatools using the PC something is wrong. Try running the Seatools bootable media on another computer. If it loads okay it may indicate other issues with your PC. Use that USB/SATA adapter to use Seatools on the PC that loads Seatools properly.

Post back with results...

 

[wanchoo]

As for me, when the hard disk starts showing bad sectors, even one bad sector, I back up the data that I want to save elsewhere and replace the hard disk.

I would advise you to do the same.

 

[karlsnooks]

funk,
follow the procedure given in post #4. Do not deviate one iota from that procedure.
Notice that means you do a fresh download and a fresh burn to DVD/CD.

You must BOOT from the DVD.

The error msg you are showing indicated that you deviated from the procedure.

 

[funk7997]

I am following the procedure that karlsnooks gave me. I will post my results as soon as I can. I am looking at replacing my hard drive anyway since I was running low on space. Any recommendations on how to copy the data over easily.
-funk7997

EDIT: Karlsnooks - does it matter whether its a DVD-R or CD-RW?

 

[karlsnooks]

I am following the procedure that karlsnooks gave me. I will post my results as soon as I can. I am looking at replacing my hard drive anyway since I was running low on space. Any recommendations on how to copy the data over easily.
-funk7997

EDIT: Karlsnooks - does it matter whether its a DVD-R or CD-RW?

No. Either DVD or CD will work fine.

 

[funk7997]

Unfortunately, I recently moved and I don't have any discs. I wont be able to get them until Saturday, so nothing until then. -funk7997

 

[karlsnooks]

Pity. Here even the larger grocery stores carry empty cd/dvds.

 

[wanchoo]

So do bookshops and stationery marts.

Pity. Here even the larger grocery stores carry empty cd/dvds.

 

[funk7997]

Sadly, I cant find any here. In the mean time I have an old hard drive in my laptop that is running windows 7 ultimate. I cant get the display to switch from the generic to the one I installed. Link to the thread here sevenforums.com/drivers/236061-32bit-dirvers-work-windows-7-ultimate.html

 

[karlsnooks]

funk,
I don't know what you have in mind, but certainly you can purchase a cd/dvd in you neighborhood.

I will also leave you with this piece of factual knowledge:
1 license = 1 machine
1 machine = 1 license.

I wish you good luck.

 

[funk7997]

I burned a fresh disc of SeaTools for DOS and I still get stuck with this screen that says Starting BCDW... How long should it take to get past this for a 500gb hdd? Funk7997