Please help disc I/O error

I just came home from vacation and I want to cry. I have a small on line bussiness and I have big PC problems. I may have a virus but I tryuly don't know. Long story short.. each time I turned on PC problem got worse.. monitor dim.. then page froze.. then mouse froze then would not load.. and on and on.. now turn on pc and grey screen says.. Disc I/O error replace the disc and then press any key.. I do not have a disc to this.. and I already tried to use the recovery cd.. i really need to get to my files that are in my hard drive.. Please help anyone

 

Hi Beachcity, You don't give details of your PC but with all thats happening could it be the PSU packing up? Some one with more knowledge may wish to know what system you run so it might pay to post full details. Neil.

 

To back up the files you will need to take the hard drive out and connect it into a another computer and copy the files to the other HDD, or, buy another HDD, set it as the primary master, install Windows on that and copy the files across. With the instability in the computer, the second option is not a very good one.

Has the case been opened and the dust cleaned out? I would agree about the power supply.

Disk I/O means communication with the drive. It may just be a matter of reseating the cables. The grey screens suggest other problems as well, I would suspect hardware rather than a virus.

If you have not worked inside a computer before, you will need to take it to a technician, although you should know or learn how to clean the insides.

Matt