disk read error

  • Thread starter Thread starter justin
  • Start date Start date
J

justin

how can i fix when i boot up i get a disk read error has
occurred, press alt ctrl del to restart?

or is my hard drive shot?
 
This is often a symptom of impending hard disk failure and my be a sign the
disk has already failed. Go to your hard drive manufacturer's website,
download their diagnostic tools, make note of the instructions for making
the diagnostic floppy and how to use. Then, run their diagnostic test as it
should tell the health of the drive. If it has already failed, there is no
fix except to replace it.
 
Try booting to xp cd,recovery,press enter key for password,
at cmd screen type:CHKDSK C: /R When thru,type:EXIT
Remove xp cd,back on desktop run disk defrag
 
If the hard drive has failed, chkdsk won't run and if he already has bad
sectors, assuming chkdsk can even repair them, it's simply prolonging the
doom. Further, if the drive hasn't failed, chkdsk can't tell him if the
disk is about to fail, it won't diagnose in that fashion but the diagnostic
utility from the hard drive manufacturer will give that information.
 
Michael said:
If the hard drive has failed, chkdsk won't run and if he already
has bad...

Here's my take on the problem (which I have yet to solve):

Tuesday night: Shut PC down normally. No apparent problems
Wednesday: Nobody used the PC
Thursday morning: Turned PC on, heard one beep, screen went black,
and message displayed:
A disk read error has occurred
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart
Following that instruction resulted in the message repeating, and
never got beyond it.

An internet search resulted in a lot of guessing by "experts", mostly
about fried hard drives, but nothing concrete to really solve the
problem.

Using Symantec Recovery disk, I ran a virus check (none found). All
disk utilities were able to “see” and “read” all directories and
files, so the 200 Gb hard drive appears to be in good shape. I was
able to run all Norton Utilites, and did a complete surface scan.
Everything checks out okay.

Using the original XP installation disk, I was able to reach the
Repair function, and log into C:\Windows. Not sure what they mean by
“log into”, but all directories and files are visible and accessible.
Also, I am able to Change directories to “D” (CD) and “A” drives, and
view all content.

I viewed the boot.ini file, and it has what supposed to be there.

I ran the diagnostic files that came from Western Digital, and the
drive and all media checks out okay.
Clicking F8, I am able to get into the BIOS, and all looks good
there. Since I apparently cannot get beyond the BIOS, there's no way
to start the PC in SAFE or other diagnostic modes.

Everyone points to hard drive imminent or actual failure. None of
the above checks seem to substantiate those conclusions. From the
speed with which the error message appears, something being checked
in the BIOS is not acceptable.

Any ideas?
 
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