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Harddrive issue

Rudedawg

Rudedawg

Android Expert
So I was trying to reinstall some Bluetooth drivers this morning when applications began vanishing in front of my eyes. My start menu was empty and my C:/ driver was back to almost empty save for the windows file.
Panic stricken I rebooted the Lap top and It would not reboot. Stuck in a boot loop and Operating system does not exist messages. Dell are sending an engineer to examine it now but likely Ive lost everything now anyway. A very expensive Brick.
 
Unfortunately what you describe sounds more like very aggressive malware rather than mechanical failure. If the drive were damaged, it would have locked or crashed.

If you have access to another PC, you can download the Parted Magic live CD disk image, burn a live CD and boot the laptop from it to examine the hard disk. You'll know pretty quickly if it's toast.
 
What I figured. I only downloaded drivers from Broadcom too :-(.

My Cd drive has stopped responding as well so my only hope is a usb stick.
 
lunatic59 said:
Is the CD failure concurrent with the drive? It could be a failed controller.
Click to expand...

First couple of times the Pc rebooted (gets to Windows start up then 'windows is loading files' before crashing) You could hear the Cd drive whirl like it normaly does on power up. Then 3rd or 4th time it stopped. I cant even insert a disc. It just pings it back at you.

So I tried all the F8 options , resetting my bios and thats all I really have to work on right now.
 
I take it this is a fairly new laptop. That is starting to sound more like a controller failure, although the disappearing app description is puzzling.

BTW,if the Dell tech is from Texas and has a teenage daughter, check him for firearms before you give him your laptop. ;)
 
Year old with Less than a week left og warrenty. Not happy lol. And sorry if he is coming from Texas to the Uk ill be impressed ;-)
 
I agree with lunatic it sounds like the controller however If you are able to use a USB drive then you could install a Live Linux on the usb and then check and run testdisk and PhotoRec if you need some recovery. Just make sure you have a large enough external drive that you can use to save your backups to.
 
Tech showed up. Pulled it apart and installed a new optical drive. Windows currently installing . so far so good.
 
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