Check Dsc runs from boot up, but loops endlessly " recovering orphaned files"

Hi all,
New here and not a techie by any stretch of the imagination, but would appreciate urgent help!
Started up my PC today ( Acer Travelmate 7520 Laptop running Vista) and it went straight into check disc. It gets 2 of the stages done, and then seems to loop endlessly at "recovering orphaned files"
I tried pressing F8 and going into safe mode, but it freezes after loading a number of driver files.
Now I am at a loss as to what to do, it sounds bad, and seems to be a hard drive issue but there my knowledge ends.
There's lots of confidential business info on there so I am very reluctant to go to my local store, although may well have to if I cant fix this myself.
Help appreciated!!

Richie2

Welcome
Sorry, but your symptoms are the typical indication of a bad hard drive. If you computer has a self diagnostic, use it to determine the condition of the hard drive.
If you do not have a self diagnostic, go to the website of your hard drive manufactuer and test the drive.
If you cant get to the web site, run in safe mode. If it runs its only software and we can fix it. If it does not run, most likely hardware, and again the finger points to hard drive

Thanks for replying. No, I think you are right, it is a defective hard drive. I can boot up, it now goes to a choice of "start windows normally" or " Launch startup repair" If I choose the latter it just goes in a loop back to this screen. Pressing F8 allows me to get to the safe mode otion, but that just runs a few windows driver files and freezes again. I think I am stuck with a broken hard drive.
I heard there was a way to replace the hard drive and then mount the old one externally to try and recover lost data? Sounds way over my head but any port in a storm.
Looks like I am headed for a new laptop...not an Acer!!

I think that you suggestion works when there is a hardware problem but not the haarddrive.
If you have important stuff, stop using the computer now.
Bring it to a professional and he may be able to salvage some of your stuff. The more you use the computer the more difficult it becomes to retrieve your stuff.

Ok cheers