missing vgaoem.fon, i/o device error, windows cannot reinstall, please help!

Question

Yesterday morning when I booted up my dell 8100 I an error message popped up on my screen and windows wouldn't start. The message is as follows: Windows could not start. The following file is missing or corrupted \windows\system\vgaoem.fon. You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows setup using the original setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair. I found what I thought was an easy solution on http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315338. But when I try to expand the file from the cd it says it couldn't expand the file. I thought this may have been the cd so I tried copying the file onto a floppy and it came up with the same error. I tried taking out the hd and putting it into another computer so I could copy the file directly into the right folder but it came up with an I/O error, which I think was 'The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error.' This was very strange because I could access the other folders fine, just the system folder had a problem which is frustrating because all I had to do was put a file back in. The next thing was a repair of windows, the first time around it couldnt delete a whole bunch of ini/inf files or something and I had to keep skipping them, in the end I canceled it and redid it. after a few tries windows installation has finally come to the conclusion that the drive is corrupt. Check disk also stops at 75%.. I'd just like some1 to confirm whether there's any way of fixing it and if it is actually dead (its probably about time anyway, it came with the dell when I first got it). When I plugged my hd back into another pc to retrieve the files on my desktop I cant access hardly any of them. I can see the files but when I attempt to run them I just get the I/O device error message. Aaaahh! Is there any software out there that will let me retrieve these files? some of them I can do without but there's important ones of my holiday that I have on there which I cant retrieve a single one of.. Please help!

osprey4 · Answer

Run the 90-90 diagnostics. Reboot your computer. At the Dell blue logo screen, press the Ctrl + Alt + D keys at the same time. The computer beeps once to acknowledge that the hard drive diagnostics have been initiated. Follow the on-screen instructions.   After the hard drive dies is really a bad time to start thinking about a backup strategy. There's a small chance your files can be retrieved.

RahXephon · Answer

Thanks for the reply. While diagnosing my hd, its says: IC35L040AVER07-0 - Fail. Return Code: 7. Nothing else has happened tho, just says press enter to reboot. What does that code mean?

osprey4 · Answer

Code 7 means the drive has failed. At this point, your best chance is to remove this drive from the system, install a new drive, install the OS, drivers and applications, then plug the old drive in and see if you can retrieve your data.   There are some who've reported being able to repair a code 7 error, but I strongly suggest you not try this. Your priority is getting your data off the drive.

osprey4 · Answer

Any internal IDE drive will do. They're all pretty cheap. Look for a local store ad.

RahXephon · Answer

dangit!! ok, thanks for your help osprey. I hope i can get my pics off it.. time to shop for a new hd :/

Storage, Drives & Media

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