I have tried to install a data recovery programme called Search and Recover 3.0. I am unable to open it either from the desktop icon or Programmes listing. A window has opened on occasions SAYING “Nt_read error/error no. 1167/drv: 129 LBA: 0 BLOCKS: 1/Abort, Retry or Ignore”

Only when this window has opened and I click on Ignore has the programme appeared to open.

I’ve run a read scan on the installation disk which FOUND no problems.

I’m running XP home and have never experienced this problem in five YEARS of installing programmes on my PC. However, assuming there may be an access problem on my hard drive, I ran a reliable hard drive scanner which found no read problems either.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Sounds like a hard drive problem...
What was the name of this reliable hard drive scanner you used?
Avanquest Fix It Utilities 8.0 Professional.The most reliable way to test the condition of a hard drive is to download the diagnostic utility provided by the manufacturer of the hard drive.
If you can't find the tool, tell us the brand name of your hard drive and we can most likely provide you with a link.Maybe try the data recovery program on another computer (drive) to test the validity of the program. I assume you have defragged your drive? Perhaps there are programs/files that cannot be easily read from the data recovery program, hence producing errors - e.g. ISO files or passworded files...Hello Deerpark and pcsourcepoint and thanks for the input.

I have now scanned by sector my hard drive with Seagate's own DOS diagnostic software and no problems were found.

Yes I do regularly defrag the HD and clean out my registry.

I have also downloaded and installed the trial version of Search and Recover 4.0, the latest offering from the software manufacturer and that opens perfectly OK. I'm still waiting for a response to this problem from this manufacturer.