Shorter version: Hard disk corrupt, vendor claims warranty does not apply since it was "due to a virus" and "problems due to software are not covered under the warranty".

Longer version: My Dell laptop recently refused to boot, and all attempts to 'repair' the Vista installation using the provided installation CD failed. I called up Dell support, and a representative took the laptop and after a day said the hard disk is corrupt. When I tried to ask for a replacement under the warranty, an official replied that the corruption was due to a virus, and "problems due to software are not covered under the warranty".

Now, I get a doubt that he's trying to avoid having to provide it under the warranty. Is it possible for a hard disk to get corrupt due to a virus? If yes, is there any way we can detect it was due to a virus (as he claims to have detected)?