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Dell Inspiron 530 bad hard drive, maybe?

Picked up a PC to repair because it would not boot. I tried the "fix the computer" using the F8 function key but got nowhere. The hard drive is a SATA drive. Last thing I have tried was I connected the hard drive to another Vista PC and it ran a check disk on the hard drive I had just added. During step 1 of 3 it started showing this error message..."File record segment 16505 is unreadable" then 16506 and 16507 then it start rolling them off as fast as the PC could read the unreadable segments. Looks like they are all unreadable from file segment 16505 on. Does that mean the hard drive is bad? If not what can I do to get this PC going. I have some extra SATA drives lying around and the customer says that she has nothing important that she needs saved or backed up. And I have all the software that came with the PC including the OS. But here is the catch. I was originally going over there to upgrade her PC to Windows 7. OK experts, what would you do if you where in my shoes?
Thanks
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David

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celdridgeMadman

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nobus

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davidlevans13

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Bryon H

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ASKER

@celdridgemadman.. Are you saying I dont have to install vista at all to run Winows Upgrade cd? I would think I would have to install vista on the new hard drive first and since I done have a copy of the full install handy and I have the upgrade right here I was going to install vista the do the upgrade. Experts, please give me your opinion.
Thanks
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davidlevans13

I read of a way to do the upgrade without a pre-existing OS but it sounded like more trouble than just letting the Vista install, having a coffee, and coming back and doing the upgrade.

I tried doing a clean install on a new bare drive with an upgrade license but it wouldn't let me do that.

So.... I did the Vista thing and Upgrade went smoothly.

Bryon H

this guide should help you install on bare metal with a win7 upgrade disc
http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/clean_install_upgrade_media.asp

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ASKER

I have went ahead and reinstalled Vista and all the drivers are installed. I am now doing the updates. Should all the important updates be installed before upgrading to Windows Home Premium?
Thanks everyone
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davidlevans13

You don't need any updates or drivers or anything... Just as long as the Windows 7 install CD sees that there was a previous windows install it will be fine.
Best bet is to boot from Win 7 CD and do a clean install.
Do not carry over anything from Vista. Don't do an inplace upgrade.

nobus

i would first upgrade to W7 - it should have a lot of the updates already

Bryon H

yeah upgrading from vista to 7 is like building a new house on a 150 year old crumbling foundation with a leaky basement

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ASKER

@DavidLevens13, you are confusing me. You tell me to install then upgrade and now you are saying
First you said this:I read of a way to do the upgrade without a pre-existing OS but it sounded like more trouble than just letting the Vista install, having a coffee, and coming back and doing the upgrade.

I tried doing a clean install on a new bare drive with an upgrade license but it wouldn't let me do that.

So.... I did the Vista thing and Upgrade went smoothly.
......................................................................................................................................................
Then you said this: Best bet is to boot from Win 7 CD and do a clean install.
Do not carry over anything from Vista. Don't do an inplace upgrade
Its to late now. I install vista and then upgraded to 7. Seems to be running fine. Thanks to everyone for there imput.
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davidlevans13

Well, I may not have been very clear in my advice but you did what I was intending to suggest..
The only difference might have been.... when the Vista was installed ( as it was) there is still an option to do a clean install. As long as the install software found a pre-existing Windows install( the vista) then it would allow you to use your upgrade.
If you have any troubles, you could still do a clean install over the Windows 7 install.

I am glad it worked out for you. Sorry I wasn't more precise in my instructions.

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ASKER

Thanks for all the suggestions and sorry for the slow resounse.
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