Disk repair software for dying HDD

I posted a while ago about not being able to run windows scandisk or being able to boot into safe mode.
I'm looking into buying a new HDD but the funds are short and wont be available for three more weeks as yet, I'm wondering if a version of a disk repair utility might help prolong the lifespan of my present HDD!?!
I'm wondering if anyone knows where I can lay me mitts on a free download of a disk repair tool that actually works, and works whilst in present boot of windows.
Be well guys n gals, Hugs FF..........

 

You can boot into normal mode, but NOT safe mode??

What OS is this?

If XP, you can force the OS to boot into safe mode......

 

Hi there TF, thanx for taking the time to respond to me.
The operating system is XP.
Weird I know, but the pc does start without trouble in normal mode, but try and boot into safe mode and it hangs whilst installing Mup.sys file, what ever that little rascal is.
It's been intimated that my HDD is on its way out, this I came to suspect myself before posting here.
I am looking into purchasing a new HDD but it wont be for a while yet, 3wks in-fact, and I'm having no easy time in selecting a new HDD, but some marvellous folk in hardware are helping me on that one.
How does one force XP into safemode?
I've performed the standard F8 during reboot, but as I say, it hangs whilst trying to install this awkward blighter Mup.sys file.
The OS wont run scandisk either, it says it's unable to access the volume, hence my asking about a disk repair tool download.
Be well TF, regards FF......

 

Are you trying to run this through windows? If so, try this: open a command prompt (click Start --> Run, type cmd, press enter) type chkdsk /r. Again, it will say that it cannot access the volume, but will ask if you want to run on the next system startup. Restart your machine, and it will run.

 

Also, how long have you left it trying to start with Mup.sys, i've seen machines take nearly 10 mins to load from here (as its the final dll bwfore the gui etc is all loaded)

 

That was a terrible suggestion about forcing xp to boot in safemode, because it wont boot in safemode and I reset the boot.ini to safemode I couldn't get back into my computer at all!
I had to use my installation disk and battle my way through the prompt environment to figure out how to get back into my pc, it took me nearly 2hrs to figure it out, I have got the BIGGEST headache. I had no idea what I was doing in there, I ended up using a bootcfg /rebuild, AAAARRRGGH, a total nightmare.

I'm not so sure what the comment about waiting for the Mup.sys file is connecting to, any system taking 10minutes to boot-up on a regular basis must surely be clogged with malware, that's not my problem at all, I keep my pc extremely clean.
Just to clarify, the longest I left it for was about 1 1/2 hrs, that's a staggering length of time.

Whilst in the prompt mode I ran chkdsk /p, it reported bad sectors, so I ran chkdsk /r, it took over 1/2hr to run, I then ran chkdsk /p again, it reported no bad sectors.

I've reinstalled windows only yesterday from a clean format in the hope this would help resolve my HDD's issues, no such luck.

I still can't run scandisk nor can I reboot in safemode to clean my pc properly, I reinstalled windows from format as I guessed the software may have become corrupted. I did all the usual stuff to clean out the pc before format, excluding running malware removers in safemode, because I can't.

I'm totally lost............