If you ran chkdsk /f /r from SIW2 WinPE you checked the USB drive witch you booted from, not the HDD.
You must specify the volume label. chkdsk X: /f /r (replace X with the HDD letter)
Download CrystalDiskInfo. It is a portable, don't need to install. Extract to a folder on the USB drive and run under SIW2 WinPE.
It will show all the HDD SMART status.
Since my last posting there's been an interesting development concerning the errant laptop.... My daughter, having found a local whizz kid who 'does' laptops and everything else electronic/electrical/mechanical has decided that in deference to my advancing years, short temper and limited eyesight, has asked the said gentleman to have a look at the laptop. Ever the optimist I hope he manages to sort it but...
Using SIW2's WinPE disk I did manage to save the contents of the documents folder before it went out of the door and put them on another old W7 laptop for my grand-daughter...
I'll keep you posted of events and many thanks to all those who posted suggestions and advice, they were gratefully received.
Oh and Megahertz I did change the drive from X to C when I ran chkdsk but just to be sure I ran it again and it said it had not found anything wrong.
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