A Disk Read Error Occurred

johnn · Dec 31, 2008

About six weeks ago (November 13), I bought a new computer.
The OS is Windows XP Home Edition SP3
The MB is an Intel Corporation DG35EC AAE29266-205.
The BIOS is Intel Corp. ECG3510M.86A.0107.2008.0826.1637 08/26/2008

About ten days ago, when restoring the computer from hibernation, an
error message appeared:
"A Disk Read Error Occurred. Press CTRL ALT DEL to restart"
This is now continuing.

When I Google the above line, thousands of sites appear that have
questions about that message, but none (that I can see) have any
answers (well, I did not check all the thousands of sites, but
several that looked promising).

I'm reasoning that, because this message appears before the machine
boots up, it does not have anything to do with installed programs.
Just the same, I did restore to the earliest point I have (about
three weeks ago).

I seem to have the latest BIOS update, and anyway, I'm not fussy on
flashing the BIOS unless I feel with cty that it will do some good.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
If I have omitted any significant info, please ask.

May the new year 2009 see you enjoying health and happiness!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

Malke · Dec 31, 2008

johnn said:
About six weeks ago (November 13), I bought a new computer.
The OS is Windows XP Home Edition SP3
The MB is an Intel Corporation DG35EC AAE29266-205.
The BIOS is Intel Corp. ECG3510M.86A.0107.2008.0826.1637 08/26/2008

About ten days ago, when restoring the computer from hibernation, an
error message appeared:
"A Disk Read Error Occurred. Press CTRL ALT DEL to restart"
This is now continuing.

When I Google the above line, thousands of sites appear that have
questions about that message, but none (that I can see) have any
answers (well, I did not check all the thousands of sites, but
several that looked promising).

I'm reasoning that, because this message appears before the machine
boots up, it does not have anything to do with installed programs.
Just the same, I did restore to the earliest point I have (about
three weeks ago).

I seem to have the latest BIOS update, and anyway, I'm not fussy on
flashing the BIOS unless I feel with cty that it will do some good.

New computer + hardware problems = exercise your warranty and call their
tech support. The hard drive is probably going. You can test it yourself,
but since the machine is still under warranty I'd just have the computer
mft. fix it. Don't let them try to get you to reinstall Windows since this
will not help with failing hardware.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

Malke

Andrew E. · Jan 1, 2009

Carefully think about the error you recieved...A disk read error is just
that,
error in the ability for the hd to read the data on the disk....Youre
problem(s)
are in the hd,to repair,get more info,boot to xp cd,at xp cd boot menu
press r
for recovery console,select 1 for C: press enter for password,type:CHKDSK C:
write down info,type:CHKDSK C: /R once its thru,type:EXIT let xp
start,remove
cd.Or,get the hd MS-DOS check utility from the hd mfg web site,download &
install to a MS-DOS formatted floppy,boot pc to floppy,run the tests.Or/and
give the CHKDSK C: /R some time,it may have resolved the problem.

Unknown · Jan 1, 2009

It appears you are getting an error reading the hibernation file. This is
the file (the image of memory contents) written on the disk when the
computer hibernates. When bringing out of hibernation the computer does not
'boot up' but merely
reloads memory from the hibernation file.
To recover from this type of problem you must reboot. To do this repeatedly
tap F8 after pressing power on
and select to boot. Hopefully it was only a temporary error.

Gerry · Jan 1, 2009

John

Is the error occuring only when coming out of hibernation or was that
just the occasion when it first occurred?

Try HD Tune only gives information and does not fix any
problems.

Download and run it and see what it turns up. You want HD Tune
(freeware) version 2.55 not HD Tune Pro (not Freeware) version 3.00.
http://www.hdtune.com/

Select the Info tabs and place the cursor on the drive under Drive
letter and then double click the two page icon ( copy to Clipboard )
and copy into a further message.

Select the Health tab and then double click the two page icon ( copy to
Clipboard ) and copy into a further message. Make sure you do a full
surface scan with HD Tune.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

johnn · Jan 5, 2009

John

Is the error occuring only when coming out of hibernation or was that
just the occasion when it first occurred?

Try HD Tune only gives information and does not fix any
problems.

Download and run it and see what it turns up. You want HD Tune
(freeware) version 2.55 not HD Tune Pro (not Freeware) version 3.00.
http://www.hdtune.com/

Select the Info tabs and place the cursor on the drive under Drive
letter and then double click the two page icon ( copy to Clipboard )
and copy into a further message.

HD Tune: WDC WD3200AAKS-00VYA Health

ID Current Worst Threshold Data Status
(01) Raw Read Error Rate 200 200 51 0 Ok
(03) Spin Up Time 180 179 21 3975 Ok
(04) Start/Stop Count 99 99 0 1225 Ok
(05) Reallocated Sector Count 200 200 140 0 Ok
(07) Seek Error Rate 100 253 51 0 Ok
(09) Power On Hours Count 99 99 0 1410 Ok
(0A) Spin Retry Count 100 100 51 0 Ok
(0B) Calibration Retry Count 100 100 51 0 Ok
(0C) Power Cycle Count 100 100 0 896 Ok
(C0) Power Off Retract Count 200 200 0 132 Ok
(C1) Load Cycle Count 200 200 0 1229 Ok
(C2) Temperature 105 102 0 42 Ok
(C4) Reallocated Event Count 200 200 0 0 Ok
(C5) Current Pending Sector 200 200 0 0 Ok
(C6) Offline Uncorrectable 200 200 0 0 Ok
(C7) Ultra DMA CRC Error Count 200 200 0 0 Ok
(C8) Write Error Rate 200 200 51 0 Ok
Power On Time : 1410
Health Status : OK

Make sure you do a full surface scan with HD Tune.

The "Error Scan" showed 100% green.

Does anything in trhe above numbesr give you any indication of trouble, Gerry?

Thanks for trying to help!

__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

Gerry · Jan 5, 2009

johnn

I can see no problems in the information provided.

Is the error occuring only when coming out of hibernation or was that
just the occasion when it first occurred?

Can you copy the contents from the Info tab?

What is the CPU and how much RAM does your computer have? Right click on
the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties to get this
information.

Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

johnn · Jan 5, 2009

johnn

I can see no problems in the information provided.
Thanks.

Is the error occuring only when coming out of hibernation or was that
just the occasion when it first occurred?

I do not recall the problem ever occurring when booting the computer from a "shut-down" state.
It does happen virtually every time when I try to restore it from a hibernated state.
It did not do so originally, but started about 2 weeks ago now.
My original post in this thread gives more details.

Can you copy the contents from the Info tab?

Part: 1 Drive "C" Cap 305242 MB usage 5.47% NTFS Bootable: Yes
All supported features are checked EXCEPT "Advanced Power Management".

What is the CPU

Belarc tells me:
2.53 gigahertz Intel Core2 Duo
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
3072 kilobyte secondary memory cache

and how much RAM does your computer have?

3.24 gig ( ithought I specified 4 gig) - Belarc says:

3318 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'J1MY' has 2048 MB
Slot 'J2MY' is Empty
Slot 'J3MY' has 2048 MB
Slot 'J4MY' is Empty

Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

Total (changes constantly) 546512 - 547248
Limit 3231720
Peak 627196

I did a Western Digital Data LifeGuard diagnostics (my hard drive is a WDC WD3200 AAKS).
It showed no problems.

Thanks, Gerry, for taking an interest!

Good night! (my bedtime in Ontario, Canada).

__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

Unknown · Jan 5, 2009

If it occurs every time you come out of hibernation take this approach to
the problem:
Object is to create a new hiberfil. That is a dedicated section on your hard
drive where the hibernation data is stored.
This file CANNOT be deleted while hibernation is configured to run.
You must turn off hibernation, then search for 'hiberfil' (it will be
C:\hiberfil.sys) and delete it.
Then go back and re-enable hibernation and a new hiberfil will be created.

johnn · Jan 5, 2009

If it occurs every time you come out of hibernation take this approach to
the problem:
Object is to create a new hiberfil. That is a dedicated section on your hard
drive where the hibernation data is stored.
This file CANNOT be deleted while hibernation is configured to run.
You must turn off hibernation, then search for 'hiberfil' (it will be
C:\hiberfil.sys) and delete it.
Then go back and re-enable hibernation and a new hiberfil will be created.

Thanks for your interest in my problem, and for suggesting a solution.

That thought had occurred to me also.
What I did is this:
1. disable the hibernate feature - this removes the file hiberfil.sys.
2. defrag the hard drive. (my resoning was that, when I re-enable the hibernate feature the file
may not be located on the very same space on the hard drive).
3. enabled the hibernate feature.

The problem continues . . . . . .

__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

Gerry · Jan 5, 2009

johnn

Is the computer a Desktop or Laptop?

What are the Power Option settings -Start, Control Panel, Power Options?

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unknown · Jan 5, 2009

Cancel the above. I turned off hibernate and did a search and could not find
hiberfil.
I take that as an indication the file was really deleted.

johnn · Jan 5, 2009

Try disabling hibernate and then deleting the hiberfil. (Defrag may not have
moved the file at all)

When I uncheck "Enable hibernation" the hiberfil.sys file disappears - nothing to delete.

That's why I disabled hibernate, then defragged the drive, then re-enabled hibernate; hoping that
the hiberfil.sys file would be written to a different location on the drive.
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

johnn · Jan 5, 2009

If the computer is only six weeks old, contact the seller and tell them the
disk is defective. (let them fix it)

Matter of fact, the company that made the computer (Neutron Computers, locally in Kitchener, ON)
just replied to my email saying the would replace the hard drive.

Not sure what that will do, though - I tested the hard drive using both "HD Tune" and "WD
Diagnostics - neither test showed any surface defects.

Well, we'll see what happens when a new hard drive is installed - I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for all then suggestion and help so far!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

Unknown · Jan 6, 2009

You have a most interesting (challenging) problem. I would love to work on
it.
Could you tell me the size of the hiberfil file?
Would you try turning off hibernate, reboot and then turn hibernate back on
and try? Thanks.

johnn · Jan 6, 2009

You have a most interesting (challenging) problem. I would love to work on
it.
Could you tell me the size of the hiberfil file?

3,397,368 KB

Would you try turning off hibernate, reboot and then turn hibernate back on
and try?

I did the above (well, sort-of).
I turned off hibernate, defragged the hard drive, re-booted, turned on hiberhate, and the problem
still exists.

The company thay assembled my computer (a local firm) has offered to replace my Hard drive.
They will also take an image of the current drive, and transfer it ti the new one, soI won't have to
re-install Windows and all the programs.
I'll make arrangements to have that done, and see what happens.

__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

Unknown · Jan 6, 2009

You have 4 gig memory?

johnn said:
3,397,368 KB

I did the above (well, sort-of).
I turned off hibernate, defragged the hard drive, re-booted, turned on
hiberhate, and the problem
still exists.

The company thay assembled my computer (a local firm) has offered to
replace my Hard drive.
They will also take an image of the current drive, and transfer it ti the
new one, soI won't have to
re-install Windows and all the programs.
I'll make arrangements to have that done, and see what happens.

__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

johnn · Jan 6, 2009

You have 4 gig memory?

In my computer? Yes, I hope.
In my head? probably less that 640K (it seems to wear out after almost 75 years of use).

Rergardng my computer:

Belarc states:
"Memory Modules
"3318 Megabytes Installed Memory
"Slot 'J1MY' has 2048 MB (serial number 0x693A0429)
"Slot 'J2MY' is Empty
"Slot 'J3MY' has 2048 MB (serial number 0x693A4929)
"Slot 'J4MY' is Empty

System Properties states"
"3.24 GB of RAM

EVEREST Home Edirtion states:
"Physical Memory
" total 3317 MB

My computere invoice states:
"2GB 800 MHZ DDR2 DIMM (AKVR800D2N5-2G) Qty 2.

Why the system tells me I have only 3.18 (or so) GB, while my invoice says I bought 4 GB, I can not
explain.

The reason I bought an extra 2 GB is because memory is cheap, and I don't like the possibility of
using swap files. At least, that was my rerasoning.

HTH!

__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

Unknown · Jan 6, 2009

The reason the system tells you that you have 3.1 Giga bytes is because the
hardware architecture uses some address bits
for other purposes and therefore those address bits are not available for
memory use. Perfectly normal.
I cannot think or even rationalize how the HD can cause this problem. I.E.
Why doesn't the problem show up when the HD is written to--when hiberfil is
being created?
Some facts:
You bought the computer with 4 gigs installed?
Problem showed up first about 10 days ago?
You were hibernating the computer before 10 days ago?
Any hardware added within the last 12 days?
This is really a challenge I enjoy.

Ken Blake, MVP · Jan 6, 2009

Belarc states:
"Memory Modules
"3318 Megabytes Installed Memory
"Slot 'J1MY' has 2048 MB (serial number 0x693A0429)
"Slot 'J2MY' is Empty
"Slot 'J3MY' has 2048 MB (serial number 0x693A4929)
"Slot 'J4MY' is Empty

System Properties states"
"3.24 GB of RAM

EVEREST Home Edirtion states:
"Physical Memory
" total 3317 MB

My computere invoice states:
"2GB 800 MHZ DDR2 DIMM (AKVR800D2N5-2G) Qty 2.

Why the system tells me I have only 3.18 (or so) GB, while my invoice says I bought 4 GB, I can not
explain.

All 32-bit client versions of Windows (not just Vista/XP) have a 4GB
address space. That's the theoretical upper limit beyond which you can
not go.

But you can't use the entire 4GB of address space. Even though you
have a 4GB address space, you can only use *around* 3.1GB of RAM.
That's because some of that space is used by hardware and is not
available to the operating system and applications. The amount you can
use varies, depending on what hardware you have installed, but can
range from as little as 2GB to as much as 3.5GB. It's usually around
3.1GB.

Note that the hardware is using the address *space*, not the actual
RAM itself. The rest of the RAM goes unused because there is no
address space to map it too.

The reason I bought an extra 2 GB is because memory is cheap,
and I don't like the possibility of
using swap files. At least, that was my rerasoning.

With the first 2GB, users of XP will hardly ever use the swap file.
2GB is already considerably more memory than most XP users need
(although the amount you use varies depending on what apps you run).

A Disk Read Error Occurred

johnn

Malke

Andrew E.

Unknown

Gerry

johnn

Gerry

johnn

Unknown

johnn

Gerry

Unknown

johnn

johnn

Unknown

johnn

Unknown

johnn

Unknown

Ken Blake, MVP