I ran the chkdsk /r also. the chkdsk /p sometimes showed a problem and sometimes didn't. However, I also ran the diagnostic disk that came with it - it is a dell dimension 4600c - and it gave ne an error message of:

SATA Disk S/N = 3JT47AZ6 - Read Test
Error Code 0F00:0244
msg block 6324272:uncorrectable data error or media is write protected

also same eroor for msg block 213238419 & 213238420 & 213238423 & 21343008
The REST of the test is still running

Does ANYONE know what may have caused this to happen? Thanks for all the help
Run the free diagnostics from the appropriate hard drive maker's site.can't get past the BLUE screen to run anything except what is on a cd romThe diagnostics can go on a bootable floppy or a CDROM. This is all before Windows even loads.Thanks but according to Dell -very unhelpful - it is a CMS hard drive and according to the CMS site they don't make a hard drive with my specs.Then try using SeaTools from www.seagate.comThank you for your help.  I tried everything and finally did a REPAIR install which maintained my data and brought me back up.  I think I need a new hard drive and am WORKING on that next