it started when my computer kept running chkdsk almost every time i booted my computer, this was going on for a few days.

one day it froze up and i restarted it, it ran chkdsk but it froze up on my at 80 percent during the stage 3 of the process.

when i restarted my pc i was getting a "bootmgr missing press crtl, alt, delete to restart" message.
so i tried using the vista recovery console to try and rebuild the bcd and to try and fix the bootsect. it wouldn't work when it said that a bcd didn't even exist.

i later realized when i went to setup that my master hard drive wasn't detecting in the bios. i also ran a diagnostics check and it didn't show up.

i thought my drive was dead, but pressing F5 to restore the system defaults brought my drive back in the bios. then i just simply boot my main drive back at the top of the list in the boot sequence and my computer seemed to start up again.

it ran chkdsk and of course it froze up again at 80 percent. i then went back to setup to see that it didn't show up in bios again, pressing F5 didn't seem to bring it back into the list either.

the next day i tried it again, i went into setup right away and wouldn't you know my hard drive showed back up again. i exited it but this time i skipped chkdsk and i actually got to my desktop.

everything seemed fine, but after about an hour it completely froze again. i checked my bios and the drive was gone again.


so there seems to be a pattern here. my computer freezes after about an hour, then it won't detect in the bios and i'll get a bootmgr missing message. my hard drive seems to come back into the bios list after several hours of not turning it on.

i've already asked this question in another forum and they said it was definitely a hard drive problem, hence why i'm posting it in these forums, to get help from you guys and get your opinion on the situation.
the thing is my computer is only 6 months old, so i don't know how my drive could just die like this.

since it most likely is the hard drive my main concern is getting all the data off of it onto a new drive.

i was suggested clonezilla to use, but i'm afraid i might end up doing something wrong and losing my data, which is pretty important to me. i have to transfer 320 gigs onto a new drive in less than an hour (or else the drive will die out again).
i'm not sure if i should do this myself or get a professional to do it for me. but i'm kinda on a tight budget.

i have an HP Pavilion a6607c
and i think my drive is 320gig seagate
if any of that even matters.

i appreciate any help and advice
thanks.

your problem is that your hard drive is failing its can be down to this crc errors
bad sectors
i know this as i had a seagate drive brand new have the same problem.
crappy factory design possible rushed out quick

its reading information on the drive and then it comes up to the bad sector with information on it
and locks up your machine


backup your hard drive and dont use the drive any more
as its a sign of failing

next time you might not be so lucky

thanks for the reply, would you suggest that i just sent it to a data recovery place.
or do you think i'll have enough time to back it up myself.
i don't know if i want to try and risk doing it myself since the next time i turn it on could be my last.

If your data is really important, send it to DR.

But there is NO quick, easy and CHEAP solution to recovering failing hard drives for normal users.

Agree.

One wrong move in trying DIY data recovery only worsens the condition of your hard drive.

Tell us where in US you are located and we can recommand a member here on this forum to help you out in this one. this should not be too expensive of a job and you can contact them directly

_________________
Iorana Haraharaini

ok, so i've decided to just send it into a recovery place since i don't want to risk it.

a couple people have left me some messages, and someone else from here also helped me fix another one of my drives a few months ago. so i think i should be good to go.