'Hard Disk Error' showing before computer starts.

[FrannyL]

I have tried all the diagnostics and still can't get beyond that 'Hard Disk Error' screen. For now the priority is to recover all the files I have - is there anyway of doing so, and if so, how? Many thanks in advance!!

[WAWood]

@FrannyL 

Your best bet for recovering data now is to do the following:
1) Remove the hard drive from the old PC
2) Purchase a USB-to-Hard Driver adapter kit (like the one illustrated below)

3) Connect the old drive to a working PC using that adapter
4) Try to retrieve the files and folders you want to save from the old drive and copy them to the new PC.

If this does not work, then you need to do the following:
1) Download and install this utility on a working PC http://www.majorgeeks.com/news/story/recover_data_in_3_steps_with_minitool_power_data_recovery_free_...
2) Run the data recovery utility to see what can be retrieved from the old drive.

If that tool does not find what you need, an alternative is Recuva http://www.piriform.com/recuva

And, if that does not work well, the best tool out there is this one, but only the trial version is free http://www.file-recovery.com/

[FrannyL]

Thank you so much for the advice WAWood! I'll certainly give that a try first thing tomorrow and will post the results once done. Your help is much appreciated!