Disk Check

What brand of HDD is it? The manufacturer's website will usually have a diagnostics utility program that you could use to download and see if the HDD may be dying or not.

You should have access to the Dell Diagnostics by rebooting you system and pressing F12 while the Dell start screen is showing. From there, you can select the Diagnostics and run the Custom test on the HDD.

Not if the HDD has died completely. Do you have any system image backups that you could use to restore to a new HDD?

If your Dell is still under warranty, you could ask for a pre-imaged replacement HDD. If not, then you could contact Dell to try and get a replacement installation disc for free or a reduced price for your computer model.

What did you use to install the student upgrade with? If you still have those files, then you could use it to install on a new HDD.

Do you have your product key number written down? If so, then you could borrow a friends Windows 7 Home Edition installation disc to install it on your computer and activate with your product key number.

If not, then it might be cheaper to buy a OEM or retail upgrade copy of Windows 7 Home Edition and install it on a new HDD. You might consider comparing prices to see what may work best for you.

The original thing I upgraded Vista with was a download, rather than a disk. I can dig around in my files and see if I can find the upgrade disk. I don't have a clue if I still have my activation code kicking around. I'll look through my back up files on my external. Wait, I found this in my old receipt files: The charge(s) will appear on your credit card as "DRI*Windows7US". Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade - 32 bit * Product Key:[deleted for security reasons] * Electronic Download * Download EXE Save file DLMWin7HP32US.exe to your Desktop. After saving, run the file to install your new software. DLMWin7HP32US.exe * Download ISO Alternate download for clean installation (required for XP and Vista 32-bit users) ISO burning software is required. DLMWin7HP32US-ISO.exe It's an html file, which I save any time I get an electronic receipt. It's got some kind of downloader in the file, which I think is used to download the ISO. I called Dell, and the overall replacement would have been in the vicinity of two hundred dollars, which is kind of much. I think I do still have my Vista install disks on my back up spindle.

Wait, just found the install disk. Also, the drive seems not to have bricked, but it won't still boot. I've got it in an enclosure, and can read at least some data off of it. The disk I found says it's an upgrade. I'll have to try and run an install with it. Hm, I'm having trouble getting into my files on the old disk. I had my account password protected, will this cause issues?

You may need to take ownership of the files and set their permissions to "Allow" your user account "Full Control" before being able to access them.