is this hdd dead?

[trenchfoot]

trying to troubleshoot a gateway pc running small celery and win98, on boot the message "disk I/O error, replace the disk, press any key" appeared.... when i tried a win98 boot disk, i got to the a:\ prompt, went to c:\ and tried to run scandisk but got message "data error reading drive C, abort retry fail? i hear noises like the pc is trying to access the hdd a few times, then the message appears. this prob is a first for me and i'm not sure what to try next, or is my feeling correct in that this hdd is trashed beyond repair? thx all twx2

 

[John]

Grab a working harddrive, and hook the drive in question up as a slave. See if you can access the data that way.

 

[trenchfoot]

ok, sounds like a good way to go john, i do have a coupl'a small hdd's stored away somewhere. thx!

 

[Jiggz]

Try fixing the MBR first by booting with a boot disk and typing
Fdisk/mbr on the a:\ prompt. Then type Sys c:. Try re-booting if the same problem shows, it could be dead HDD.

 

[trenchfoot]

thanks jiggz, i can't get on the ill 'puter right now, but i will definetly try that at first opportunity. will post back soonest on results. again, thanks all!

 

[trenchfoot]

john, jiggz, just to let you guys know, i tried both suggestions and it pointed directly to a hdd that died at a very young age. i'm waiting for word on warranty issues from my friend who owns it before i yank the deceased drive. thanks for your advice. twx2