I have a Toshiba Satellite A300 which is about 18 months old. Problems started when i got error messages constantly popping up telling me i had corrupt files and to run chkdsk utility. I was unable to run a chkdsk utililty nor was i able to do a system restore. I sent it to a friend for repair who said my problems were because i had vista and i now have bad sectors on my hardrive because of it. He told me to consider downgrading to XP. Within a few month the corrupt files messages came back. With windows 7 recenbtly being released i asked my engineer what he thought of it. He told me it was meant to be good and anything was going to be better than vista. I bought windows 7 and passed it on to him to install it.It was not a complete new install as it was only an update version that i had bought. I've had my laptop back for a couple of days but it is much worse. I love the look of windows 7 yet sometimes it turns itself off and some times it doesn't recognise the built in mouse or keyboard. It also sometimes starts up with a different screen resolution. After speaking to the engineer again he told me my problems are now because of windows 7 and also because i have a toshiba. He has now told me i need to get a new harddrive and go back to vista or XP. I am completely confused and do not trust anything this man tells me. A technician from my uni has since told me it doesn't sound like i need a new harddrive and suggested just doing a full recovery to take it back to new.

confused student, November 2009

I very much doubt it has anything to do with which version of Windows it's running. None of XP, Vista or 7 should have the problems you describe. Vista cannot cause bad sectors.

With bizarre intermittent problems like you seem to be having, it's often a nightmare to diagnose without lots of time and effort.

If you're going to try to diagnose the problem yourself, the 1st step should be to put the laptop back in the condition you got it, using the restore disk (don't forget to back up all your files 1st!). Use it in this pristine condition for a while; if the problems with corrupt files still occur, then the problem is with hardware somewhere. The hard disk is one possible culprit, and replacing it isn't a bad idea, but at this stage you need the help of an expert you trust.

More likely however is that your problems will go away when you use the restore disk. In which case there's nothing wrong with the hardware, and something was probably up with your Windows installation. You can try upgrading to Windows 7 again, I suspect this time it will work fine (often the reason there's something wrong is that something went wrong during the upgrade process, but will just as likely go right the next time you try it!).

John, November 2009

Your have been misled...

Vista is robust and really very good - people just don't like it because of look & feel not because of errors and unreliability.

Your windows 7 is probably an early release and if you haven't paid for it then it's illegal.

Go back to your Vista and listen to your new technical chum and not the old one - he speaks with forked tongue. You do not need a new disk - just a new OS install, some decent security and regular housekeeping.

Good luck...

Peccavi, November 2009