Tried booting from the Win 7 disc and using the command prompt. Chkdsk gave an unspecified error and the startup repair said it couldn't complete.
tried that FIXMBR thing and the other one I can't remember?
No. If it is trying to boot but getting stuck would that work? Worth a try. What's the other one? Might try another boot CD or putting the HDD from the laptop in my computer and see if I can scan it on there.
Then I'm guessing either the physical disk, or the partition map is hosed. All that's left is to attempt data recovery from a linux boot cd, or put it in an external enclosure and try to mount it on another pc. You could then try to reformat the disk, in my experience it is probably a waste of time.
That was my guess. I did boot a random Linux live CD I had lying around and could access the pictures on there so hopefully the stuff they want I can get off.
The other one is fixboot I think.
Will it fix my boot? It keeps dropping down on my head unexpectedly.
Keep them by the door, like any normal person would. Putting them on top of the wardrobe is just asking for it.
Definitely dead HDD. I used my USB to SATA cable (with my PATA USB dock providing the power (I think I need a proper SATA dock)) and Windows immediately said there is a problem with the drive. It's trying to do a scan and just clicking every now and then. Maybe I should stop it in case I break it more.