Boot Problem

[mrsk7]

Hi there

The problem started when I pressed alt-tab while I was playing a game. After alt-tab, the system froze and so I tried Task Manager with no result. I pressed reset button and then I realized that the computer cannot boot Windows (I only have installed windows 7). I tried system restore, fixing boot problems using Windows 7 installation DVD but it didn't help. I don't wont to format the Computer because I have important files that I haven't backed up. Can I do anything to save the files? Thanks beforehands

 

[severedsolo]

Hi Mrsk7, Im going to assume that you have access to another machine as you have posted here

Download a Linux Live CD (Ubuntu for instance: Ubuntu homepage | Ubuntu) burn it to a blank disk (i recommend IMGburn http://www.imgburn.com) and boot from the CD. That will give you a temporary OS to back up your files in, (for instance to a USB drive, or a External HDD)

OR Unplug your HDD, plug it into a working Machine, and copy the important files onto the other PC, then plug the HDD back into the "dead" machine and reinstall Windows/ recover using a system Image

 

[theog]

Try this to Copy & Paste your data:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

 

[mrsk7]

Thanks. I will try that

 

[theog]

You are welcome, we are here 24/7 to help.

 

[gregrocker]

Try marking your Win7 partition active using DISKPART from the WIn7 DVD Repair command line: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html

Now run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html?ltr=S

Does an installation show up to repair? Run Startup Repair anyway x3.

If this fails, follow theog's link to copy out your files.

 

[mrsk7]

I tried startup repair one time before posting here, but there was no result. Now, I try to do the solutions above but the motherboard gives me a message "hard disk error" on startup and the hard disk is not listed.

 

[theog]

Check to see if listed in your BIOS.

Check your HD.
Boot DVD, & http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/682-command-prompt-startup.html (for command prompt)http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html?ltr=S
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

Check with a hard drive diagnostic tools.
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

 

[gregrocker]

Check also the HD cabling and connection to the mobo. Swap out cable. Look in BIOS to see if HD is detected.

Is your Win7 DVD or Repair CD booting at all? Boot from CD - How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD - Boot to CD

Please post back the exact wording of the error message and fill in your System Specs.

 

[mrsk7]

Hi again
The drive is seagate 500gb. The motherboard(asus p5qd turbo) detects the drive (under the label "ide drive" and not stNUMBERCODE), it is listed in bios menu but not in the boot selection menu. I used the SeaTools only to find out the it cannot detect the seagate drive. The mobo gives me the error "Sata 1 Hard Drive Error. Press F1 to resume". I also changed the cables, plugged the drive into another computer but the result was the same. In the other computer, the drive was listed as stNUMBERCODE but again failed to boot (moreover the computer shut down after 20-30 sec). I don't know if this helps, but I was touching the surface of the drive to find out if it spins and I noticed that it spins for 10 sec after turning on the pc making weird noise and then it stops spinning.
I think that the the drive is heavily damaged and only replacement will save me. At least I can use my warranty (I bought the drive 3 months ago :sarc

Thanks for the help

 

[gregrocker]

Did you try the Seatools full CD scan or run it from Windows?

Sometimes CD scan can fix problems like this, but since you're under warranty I'd RMA it.

If you have data to recover you might make a stab at copying it off the HD this way from WIn7 DVD: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

 

[theog]

Is this the noise your HD is making:
YouTube - Hard Drive Click of Death Explanation and Live Demonstration