Is my HDD dead?

[themanwithnoname]

So heres wat happened, I left my computer on cuz i was downloading something and i left for vacation. When i get back i find my computer unplugged (i think while it was on too ), so I set it back up and find out, while i'm uploading some pictures i took, that it crashed like froze (couldn't move the mouse or anything). So I kept trying to restart the computer but it wouldn't even boot up, so I shut off the power supply and reboot w/ insert and went into cmos cuz i thought some of the settings were changed or my processor couldn't take the minor oc that i had been using for years. When I finished setting it at stock speed the computer was able to start up windows but right after the welcome screen it just froze again. After trying numerous restarts I just gave up and checked on my hardware but nothing seemed to be overheating or anything, so I took out the HDD and put it into my other computer, but it didn't boot up either it just froze on a blank screen w/ a blinking "_". So now, i'm pretty much outta ideas. Do you guys think unplugging it while the computer was on could have damaged it? Or do you guys have any suggestions on how to fix it? Anyhow sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance.

 

[xonik]

Most likely the OS is hanging up during start-up. Try entering Safe Mode by hitting F8 prior to OS initialization and selecting Safe Mode. If you can enter Windows without a problem, then restart, press F8 again, and this time selection Last Known Good Configuration. If none of these work, I'd suggest reinstalling the OS.

 

[Zidoas]

Doesn't sound like a harddrive problem to me, although it is a little disconcerting that it didn't boot when you connected to your old computer.

Do what the above poster said. If that doesn't solve the problem try using different RAMs. Sometimes a memory failures can lock up a computer as well. Keep us posted.