[garlmitch]

I have a Dell Dimension 8400 pc and I received the blue screen of death error message. Last line reads 0x0000007E (0xC000001D,0x80537008,0xF7A0D3B8,0xF7A0D0B4).
There are no devices or drives listed just the normal beginning message. I cannot boot in safe mode or regular mode at all, I can only get to the BIOS. I have also tried my XP disc for a repair and also for a reinstall and both state no hard drive available. Is there any way to fix this and still recover my files on the computer? I have not installed anything new on the computer at all. I left the computer on when I went to bed and woke up to this screen. The only thing it did strange the day before is redirect me a few times when I tried to go to some sites from yahoo. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I have average knowlege of computers I am by far not an expert.

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It looks like your hard drive is gone.

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, unfortunately, you're out of luck, because Toshiba doesn't provide any diagnostic tool.

[Broni]

It looks like your hard drive is gone.

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, unfortunately, you're out of luck, because Toshiba doesn't provide any diagnostic tool.

[garlmitch]

ok I have a maxtor drive so dowloaded the maxtor tool, then got the imgburn put it on a cd, it booted up fine i answered the questions then it went to
scanning for drives (up to 1 minute)...

It has been about 15 minutes and still nothing.

[Broni]

I surely don't remember all of those tools settings, so....
Are there any different scan options, or just one?
It looks like the tool can't find the drive at all.

[garlmitch]

No just one, it finally said general error so I re ran it and general error again, so it can't find it which means it is probably toast. I have no idea what kind of hard drive to put in or even where to get one at, let alopne figure out how to install it. So I guess this means even if I can figure out everything with the new hard drive I have lost all of my files on the computer.

[Broni]

Installing new hard drive is really not that complicated.

Before you go there, you can try one more thing...
Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer: http://www.smartestc...showtopic=38317

[garlmitch]

Ok I am going to try that and then hit the sack, work in 5 1/2 hours. Thank you so much for all of your help you have been great. I'll tackle the whole hard drive thing after work tomorrow I guess. Thnks again I really do appreciate it.

[Broni]

You're very welcome
Keep me posted.

[garlmitch]

ok ubuntu is installed on the computer now and it rebooted fine and went into ubuntu. My problem now is I have no clue where to go to recover my files and pictures.

[Broni]

Apparently, you didn't follow manual.
You're not supposed to install Ubuntu, but:

Now that you have the boot cd (which you should keep in a safe place, as it’s very useful), just stick it in the drive of the computer and boot from it. You should see an option to “Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer”.

[garlmitch]

I knew I would screw something up. Ok I am booting from it now.

[Broni]

You should have printed that manual out.

[garlmitch]

It never gave me any manual. I burned it to the disk and nothing happened so I had no clue what to do. Well I think I lost everything because it wont even give me the option to try without making changes to the computer.

[Broni]

Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer: http://www.smartestc...showtopic=38317

[garlmitch]

What can I say I'm a [bleep]. I was in hurry , and like a moron thought I knew what I was doing, and messed up my chances of geting my files.