Hard drive failure on my laptop

[M16MANIAC]

My hard drive has crashed, failed or whatever. I don't know anything about computers so if someone could help me out that would be great.
I get prompts that say damaged drive cluster and one that says it has detected problems with 1 or more IDE/SATA hard disks.
Also says private data is in danger.
I need a computer :ugeek:
Thanks in advance.

 

[Frost]

I think you may be infected

There is malware that will throw that error trying to get you to run a fake utility.

We need the complete exact message and have you run any new programs you downloaded?
Have you run any utilities you have never run before?
What brand is the PC
What operating system does it have.
We need as much information as you can give us.

 

[Low Branch]

1. Download Hiren's Boot CD and burn to CD
2. Turn off computer and then enter settings (F2, F10, F12 depending on computer model) and make cd/dvd rom the first boot device
3. Run a hard-drive test
a. Keep Hiren's for future use and look around the CD to see the useful tools
If the hard drive is bad, backup the important files and buy a new drive from a reputable vendor
If the hard drive is fine then continue.
4. Run Combofix (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofi ... e-combofix)
5. Install Malwarebytes (http://www.malwarebytes.org)
a. Run Malwarebytes
b. Uninstall Malwarebytes
Still infected
6. Install Superantispyware (http://www.superantispyware.com)
a. Run Superantispyware
b. Uninstall Superantispyware
7. Update virus scanner
a. schedule a boot-time scan
b. no virus scanner? get Avast (http://www.avast.com)
Still having trouble
8. Backup all important files to another drive
9. Reinstall Windows

All tools are free or have free versions, which I use constantly while repairing computers.

 

[Low Branch]

On a follow-up.
Backing up files is important and should always be done. Often people use an external hard drive and perform their backups themselves. But, most everyone has an old computer laying around that works but they have little to no use for it. Now you do! Download the latest Debian server cd and setup that old tower as a network server (it can even be an internet server to host your own website if you choose). Go to www.woodel.com for a step-by-step tutorial on creating your own network server for no cost and using equipment you already have. There are programs that can automatically back-up the files of your choosing from any computer on your network plus you can set this thing up to make your files accessible from anywhere.

 

[HHB Guns]

Once you get it fixed......Mozy.com Its an online backup service. Best money I ever spent. I have used it once because of 7 trojan outbreak. I use it for my business computer. Everynight at midnight it backs up everything on my computer. I was doing it manually to a external hard drive but was forgetting to do it everyday. The only thing i'm concerned with is my accounting files and business emails.

 

[M16MANIAC]

Thanks Guys, The help is greatly appreciated.

No new downloads or utilities
Dell computer with windows vista
Intel R Core 2 Duo CPU

When I start up my computer I get

PC Performance & Stability Analysis report
The is a click here to fix

There is a pop up that says
Critical error
Damaged hard Drive Clusters detected

Another that says
Critical Hard Disk Drive Error
Windows vista recovery detected a bad sector on your hard drive.
This error may cuase the following problems.
Data corruption and loss
Hard drive inaccessibility
System errors and failures

 

[Low Branch]

Unless you feel like learning the steps I mentioned you should skip right to reinstall windows...

 

[M16MANIAC]

Unless you feel like learning the steps I mentioned you should skip right to reinstall windows...

At the part where I turn off the computer and enter a code F2, F10 or F12. How do I know which code to put in?

 

[Low Branch]

When the computer splash screen appears look in the lower right hand corner for either boot settings or settings. If boot is an option choose that and then make sure your boot option is set to CD/DVD or whatever you have first. This will allow you to boot from the CD first.

 

[Low Branch]

Did you make any progress?

 

[M16MANIAC]

It only took several months but my laptop is back. Gave it to my business partner who insisted his wife could fix it. She did, but I lost all of my info. Oh well, you live and learn.

Thanks for the all of your responses guys!

 

[Clicker]

He's backkkkkkkkkkkk

 

[Drexellake]

If it happens again do a system restore. If it's malware you can recreate the Windows profile. Malware is profile specific.

 

[Tigerstripe]

1. Download Hiren's Boot CD and burn to CD
2. Turn off computer and then enter settings (F2, F10, F12 depending on computer model) and make cd/dvd rom the first boot device
3. Run a hard-drive test
a. Keep Hiren's for future use and look around the CD to see the useful tools
If the hard drive is bad, backup the important files and buy a new drive from a reputable vendor
If the hard drive is fine then continue.
4. Run Combofix (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofi ... e-combofix)
5. Install Malwarebytes (http://www.malwarebytes.org)
a. Run Malwarebytes
b. Uninstall Malwarebytes
Still infected
6. Install Superantispyware (http://www.superantispyware.com)
a. Run Superantispyware
b. Uninstall Superantispyware
7. Update virus scanner
a. schedule a boot-time scan
b. no virus scanner? get Avast (http://www.avast.com)
Still having trouble
8. Backup all important files to another drive
9. Reinstall Windows

All tools are free or have free versions, which I use constantly while repairing computers.

duh, huh?