Originally Posted by flapsforty
PC was sent to a reputable outfit for saving of data and re-installment of OS.
Ah yes, when choosing a professional to do something properly to your computer there is an art to avoiding the cowboys, just as there is in any other walk of life.
(1) You don't say whether you had cast-iron proof before giving the machine to these people that (a) it couldn't be fixed without a re-install and (b) a re-install would actually fix it. (Well yes, it would if you completely wiped the disk first, but really ...) So it's not clear from your post whether the "reputable outfit" should have accepted a commission to re-install or whether they should have advised you that they'd prefer to fix it properly.
(2) As they screwed up, I take it you no longer consider them "reputable".