disk read error

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nnaemeka David
  • Start date Start date
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Nnaemeka David

On a dell420 I have this message when trying to install windows os:
disk read error.
unfortunately, on f12, the bios setup detects a hard drive. the cd/dvd is working fine.
what does it mean?
thanks
david
 
Nnaemeka said:
On a dell420 I have this message when trying to install windows os:
disk read error.
unfortunately, on f12, the bios setup detects a hard drive. the cd/dvd is working fine.
what does it mean?
thanks
david
Click to expand...

Isn't that a "disk read error" on the installation media ?

If you're using a USB connected slim CD/DVD drive, sometimes
there isn't enough power to run that, and so a failure to
run or to read stuff, is because the drive lost power.

I use a CD/DVD drive that uses a wall adapter for power,
and it never does stuff like that.

Paul
 
Isn't that a "disk read error" on the installation media ?

If you're using a USB connected slim CD/DVD drive, sometimes
there isn't enough power to run that, and so a failure to
run or to read stuff, is because the drive lost power.

I use a CD/DVD drive that uses a wall adapter for power,
and it never does stuff like that.

Paul
Click to expand...

It might be advisable to install by USB? The laptop can only afford external CD/DVD. tnx
 
Nnaemeka said:
It might be advisable to install by USB? The laptop can only afford external CD/DVD. tnx
Click to expand...

You can load the Windows 7 installer onto a USB flash key.

https://web.archive.org/web/2012070.../msstore/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

https://web.archive.org/web/2012070...ork/w7udt/1.0/en-us/Windows7-USB-DVD-tool.exe

The Windows7-USB-DVD-tool.exe program installs on your preparation computer.
If the DVD you're working with, is for installation of a 64 bit OS, the
preparation computer should be running a 64 bit OS as well. This has
to do with the crazy scheme they used. When they needed a copy of
bootsect.exe to put a boot sector on the USB key, they extract a
copy from the DVD they're working on. If the DVD you're using is
64 bit, then that means the bootsect.exe they extract is 64 bit
as well. Which won't work on a machine running a 32 bit OS.

To circumvent that, you can extract a bootsect.exe from a 32 bit installer
DVD, and place that in the same folder as the Microsoft program. That's
how I fixed mine so it would work with anything. The Microsoft USB
loading program, looks for a bootsect.exe in its own folder
first, before looking on the DVD. And by doing that, I can guarantee
it gets a working 32 bit copy every time.

Also, to work with that program, the input should be an ISO9660 (.iso)
file. You can convert a DVD in hand, to an ISO9660 file. An example
of a way to do that, would be with Imgburn or with some other
burner program (Nero). There should be an option to capture
the DVD as an ISO9660 (.iso) file. Then, feed it to the Microsoft
program, and it will transfer the ISO contents to the USB key,
as well as write a boot sector to the USB key.

Imgburn (version with no toolbars) is here. Disable updates
in the preferences, immediately. The download button is the
smaller one, below the "ratings: (stars)" thing.

http://www.oldversion.com/windows/download/imgburn-2-5-0-0

2.5.0.0_SetupImgBurn_2.5.0.0.exe 2,169,915 bytes Jul 26, 2009
CRC32: 39CD6FC6
MD5: F3791CFACDAC03B9E676E44AA2630243
SHA-1: E07BCC23B495D0A966BAE359EA9E0E3A11888454

Then, when you reboot the computer, use the popup boot menu
(F8 on Asus), you can select the USB key and boot from it.
And be sitting in the Windows 7 installer.

I had trouble with this process the first time, and it
took a bit of effort to figure it all out. For a program
intended to make this easy, it doesn't make it easy...

The Windows7-USB-DVD-tool.exe works with Windows 7, Windows 8,
and it might even work with Windows 10. I doubt it works to
convert a WinXP installer CD to USB key. In your case, it'll just
be for the Windows 7 installation work.

Paul
 
Paul said:
Isn't that a "disk read error" on the installation media ?

If you're using a USB connected slim CD/DVD drive, sometimes
there isn't enough power to run that, and so a failure to
run or to read stuff, is because the drive lost power.

I use a CD/DVD drive that uses a wall adapter for power,
and it never does stuff like that.

Paul
Click to expand...

I only recently realised that disks read from the bottom. This after 18
years. Ahem............
I had to chuck my cherished Blade 3 disk out as the bottom was like a piece
of sandpaper.
 
I only recently realised that disks read from the bottom. This after 18
years. Ahem............
I had to chuck my cherished Blade 3 disk out as the bottom was like a piece
of sandpaper.
Click to expand...

You mean from the EDGE?
Or from the bottom platter in a multi-platter disk?
 
B00ze/Empire said:
You mean from the EDGE?
Or from the bottom platter in a multi-platter disk?
Click to expand...

He's likely referring to which surface is
closer to the active layer on an optical disc.

This picture gives a nice summary.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Comparison_CD_DVD_HDDVD_BD.svg

*******

On hard drives, the platters are double-sided, and a head rides over both
surfaces. Aerodynamic forces lift the head off both surfaces to the
flying height (and I've seen claims it is now around 3nm).

Paul
 
I only recently realised that disks read from the bottom. This after 18
years. Ahem............
I had to chuck my cherished Blade 3 disk out as the bottom was like a piece
of sandpaper.
Click to expand...

Repair it for $1800
http://www.repair-disc.com/index.php?s=news&set=5

Fix it for nothing
http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-clean-repair-CDs-DVDs-/10000000010796662/g.html

Or back a disc up if needed.

I got rid of any added boxes for discs with HDs, which, due to the
costs of half a dozen drives, necessitates rethinking both time and
effort, as well a relative cost for convenience to duplicate media.
And, I'm still thinking.
 
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