Thanks to everyone for your help! Grandms, I already had an external HD and all data backed up before I got the error message, but it does seem much better to clone the drive. Ravencajun.. thanks for the links. I have downloaded the imaging software and have cloned my defective HD to the external HD. With that done, I am now going to start searching for a new drive(no warranty). I do have another laptop (same model) that has problems with the motherboard. I was thinking of taking the hard drive from it, but it's just as old as the defective one. These two laptops were bought at the same time for my daughter and I when she went away to college(abt 2007). Good or bad idea, anyone? My daughter's HP was replaced by a Macbook Pro about 6 months ago and I will probably buy a new laptop for myself soon. I was hoping the HP would last until I could make up my mind whether to stick with PC or buy MAC. New drive or daughter's old drive? PC or MAC?Any input appreciated!! Thanks so much to all for your help.

Thanks for all of the help! I have contacted Tech Support again. I was told that the 1GB of RAM that the Laptop came with is really not enough to run Windows Vista--even though it is industry standard to sell the PC that way. I was advised to upgrade to 2GB. I was told that Compaq would send me a shipping box and I could send the laptop for them to check over and restore it to original--But isn't that what I have already done 3 times? One problem is that there are only 2 slots and the RAM that is in there is 2-512s-so that means buying 2-1GBs. Tech support doesn't list anything larger than the 512s-so sending it in isn't an option for RAM. My second problem is that every web site I go on to find the right Memory for this PC, doesn't list the Compaq Presario C700. The sites that list the C700 don't list the NR Model-so I'm not sure what to buy. I can't use the Memory Scanner (located on some sites)-because when I try to log the laptop onto the internet I get the not responding error message way before I ever get this far. So... as soon as I can figure out what to buy I guess I'll opt to upgrade the Memory? Is this likely to fix my problem?? Any input is appreciated. Thanks again!!

Thank you all for answering. owbist, I downloaded a program called HDD Health (recommended by Kim Komando) and that is what is giving me the Attribute seek error message. It was giving me the message about the Temp Critical and with the dust that was there, I'm sure I was headed for a crash. It said the temp ws 48 degrees celcius, so I feel very lucky that HDD Health caught it. I haven't had that message since I cleaned it out. I will try PC Pitstop when I finish here. I did a Balarc Advisor report and all it says about the hard drive is "160.04 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity",so I have to do a little research to find out what make it is. I do have the case up off the floor sitting on my desk top, but it still was very dusty. It has plenty of free space around it for ventilation. I really don't want to replace the whole set up, because this has every thing I need except smaller size and still feels like a "new" one to me, except I have a bulky 17" CRT monitor. Until now I have had zero problems with it. I think I bought it in 2004, so it isn't that old, at least for me, and it has everything most of the new ones have. I have 135 GB free out of the 160. How do I backup my bookmarks and address book? I use Firefox and Outlook Express. cboy,I think cloning to a new hard drive is what I want to do, so I might be back to ask how to do that. Thanks again

STOP: 0x00000050 suggests a video card driver may be at fault. Ever updated your video driver? If you do not know what video card you have click Start/Control panel/System/Hardware/Device manager. Now look down the list and double click on Display adaptors. You can then go to the appropriate site and see if updated drivers are available for your machine. Have you been inside the case or moved the tower at all? Check the video cable is securely fastened at both ends. If you have a separate video card as opposed to built into the motherboard ensure it is seated properly AFTER shutting down, removing the power cable from the rear and resting you bare hand or arm on the metal case frame to ground yourself.