Thank you SpywareDr

It is some time since you helped me, and once again I am grateful for your assistance.

I followed your instructions and, as this is an Acer and Win7 sits on an Acer platform, there was a further option.... that of resetting to factory status. This I did, and thankfully was able to start the computer again. Then I transferred my data on from my Adata 500Gb portable hard drive now all is as before.

I took great pleasure from telling the local shop that I thought they were 'Kidding me' when they first told me 'The hard drive had failed' then next 'The motherboard needs replacing This will cost £400 plus! '

Once again I am so happy to have access to the forums and the wealth of knowledge that you folk share with us.

Very best wishes

John Richardson