Hi Guys, Im not sure if this is a Hardware or Software problem.
Recently my C drive is not loading up windows, even when i TRY to load safe mode i keeps switching tiself off, so I believe there is a corrupt file on this drive. I have bought a new internal hdd and was hoping there was someway to copy all the data from the old hdd to the new.
Thanks for your help and advice.What is new or different since the last time everything worked properly (ie, new hw, new sw, virus, error, etc)? What OS are you running? Tell us EXACTLY what happens when you try to boot.Hi thanks for your reply. Basically the only thing I can possibly relate it too would be, it was shortly after we had a power cut in the area ( not that that has caused this type of thing in the past ). When i switched it back on it would load fine for a few hours then started to randomly switch itself off. This happened a few times over the next few weeks at different periods (nothing notable like pc was too hot or anything that I could find a pattern with).  I didnt use it for a few weeks as I was away, when I came to try it again it is how it is now.
It starts up and on the screen it shows the black screen with the white writting showing info like, prosessor type and graphinc card etc... as you would normaly find. Then it takes you straight to the safe mode screen, saying

' windows did not start succesfully. A recent software or hardware change may have caused this'

you get 5 OPTIONS as below:

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with networking
Safe Mode with command prompt

Last known Good Configuration

Start Windows Normally

then there is a countdown of 30 seconds, then it try to start window normally and GOES back to the black screen with the white writting on it at the begining. If you leave it it does this process over and over again.

Sorry for the lamants terminology and poor spelling but I hope you get the gist of what im saying.

Thanks AgainWhat happens if you choose "Last Known Good" or "Safe Mode"?It just keeps looping over and over back to the black and white screen....then to the last page with all the options with the timer, once the timer has gone to zero it trys to reload itself and back to square one again...Candidly, the countdown time confuses me. Are you running XP? If so, try a repair install (boot to the XP CD and choose the SECOND repair option). After the repair you'll have to go to Windows Update and download and install all updates.yes I am running XP. The only problem is a friend of mine built the PC a few years back so I will have to get hold of a Windows operating cd and try your suggestion. If that fails, do you think that it is possible to copy / ghost the infected HD and copy it file for file to a new internal HDD? My main worry is there are loads of photos on there and i have commited the cardinal sin of not backing up...I have since learned (the hard way) what a mistake that is.Slave Drive Tutorial...

For retrieving your important data...Good teamwork patio That looks like an excellent step by step guide. I havnt got the time now but will definatly try this out either tomorrow or Sunday and report back how I got on.

Guys thank you so much, and I really appreciate the help and advice. Its good to know there are people out there how are willing to help people like me and not charge exstortionate fees.

Cheers You're welcome. And you haven't gotten the bill yet - careful haha fair playWe'll give you the First time visitors Discount... Quote from: patio on November 26, 2010, 03:58:00 PM

We'll give you the First time visitors Discount...