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Resolved Error Message: A disk read error occurred

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by larsonjean, 2012/02/27.

  1. 2012/02/27
    larsonjean

    larsonjean Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hello,
    Last night I was trying to get my husband's computer cleaned up by running several programs, such as Clean UP, Easy Cleaner, and lastly Error-checking.

    My husband is in a nursing home and the Error Checking was still running when I had to leave for the night. I figured it would just run the program and restart normally.

    Well, when I got there this morning there was a message on the black screen saying:

    A disk read error occurred.
    Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to restart.

    I have tried to do this many times with the same result, the same black screen returns.

    Do you think that the hard disk crashed and he lost all his files or do you know of something I can do to see if I can recover some of his documents.

    I just don't know where to begin.

    Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.

    Jeanne

    P.S. I do have the original Windows CD but I am hoping I will be able to recover his files before I have to reformat it.

    His computer is a Gateway Windows XP Media Center Edition.
     
  2. 2012/02/27
    MrBill

    MrBill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Do any of the programs like Clean Up and Easy Cleaner do things to the registry? Sounds like it. Those programs will get you into trouble that sometimes a clean install is the only way out. You could try to a repair with the XP Disc.

    Somebody else will be along and maybe offer some more assistance.
     

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  4. 2012/02/28
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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  5. 2012/02/28
    larsonjean

    larsonjean Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I am not quite sure how to check out the harddrive using the manufacturer's disk diagnostics. Could you help me with this. I found the paperwork and it said that it is a Maxtor 6Y160MO.

    How do I run the diagnostic test?

    Thank you.

    Jean
     
  6. 2012/02/28
    MrBill

    MrBill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Go to the site and it will tell you how. You download the tool to a disc and then put it in the bad machine and it will do its thing, or try to.
     
  7. 2012/02/28
    rsinfo

    rsinfo SuperGeek Alumni

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  8. 2012/02/28
    larsonjean

    larsonjean Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I did download the file and burned it to a CD. I can't seem to have the computer recognize the CD in the CD ROM. I put in the original operating system disk that came with the computer. It recognizes this but not the CD I just burned.

    Any suggestions??

    Thank You.

    Jean
     
  9. 2012/02/28
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old

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    Did you burn the file to the CD (eg data disk) or did you burn the file as a Disk Image?
     
  10. 2012/02/28
    larsonjean

    larsonjean Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Yes I burned the file to a CD, I selected Data Disk from the Nero Burn screen.

    On the CD it says:
    SeaToolsDOS223ALLISO iMAGE fILES 8,660 kb

    When I put the CD in the drive, it doesn't recognize the CD. When I put the original operating system CD in, it does recognize this CD.

    I did hit F2 and made sure it says to select the DVD rom but still nothing happens.

    Hope you can help me.

    Jean
     
  11. 2012/02/28
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    That is the problem here - what you have on the CD is a copy of the image file which will not boot.

    You need to burn the image to create a bootable disk - in Nero 10 the command may be found under Recorder > Burn Image

    If that command is not available in your version of Nero (Nero Lite - free?) try ISO Burner
     
  12. 2012/02/28
    larsonjean

    larsonjean Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    OK, I was able to find the info on burning an image from the program Nero 8.
    I put the CD in the computer and I'm not sure if the following tells you anything about the Hard Drive. This is what the screen says:

    Maxtor 6Y160M0 Serial #Y444JROE, Revision YAR51EWO, Test Progress, Idle (Last column says "Test Result" and it is blank.

    Selected Drive Information:
    Device 0 is ATA Device Maxtor6Y16MO Y444JROE On Intel ICH5
    Max Native Address 920173055
    Device is 48 Bit Addressed-Number of LBAs 320173055 (163.929 GB)
    This drive supports Security Features
    SMART Is Supported and Enabled
    SMART Has NOT been tripped
    DST is Supported
    Logging Feature Set is NOT Supported
    POH 59902

    Test Information and Results
    Scanning for devices....
    Scanning for devices on Generic PCI ATA...
    Scanning for devices on Intel ICH5....
    Detected 1 devices
    Device scan complete
    --------------------

    That is all it says. Does this make sense to you. Is the Hard Drive gone?

    Thanks for your help.

    Jean
     
  13. 2012/02/28
    larsonjean

    larsonjean Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I just noticed that what I just typed to you was a "short test. "
    I'm running the long test now.
     
  14. 2012/02/28
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Cool. Keep us posted.
     
  15. 2012/02/28
    larsonjean

    larsonjean Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    OK, I'll type what some of the messages said and it doesn't sound good but you can advise me, hopefully.

    Long Test Errors
    Please save this code if you are planning a warranty exchange. (It is too old.)
    Unfortunately, your Seagate hard drive has failed an important diagnostic test, possibly caused by problem sectors which are difficult to read.

    Seagate recommends that you consider repairing the problem sectors. SeaTools for DOS may be able to save you from the inconvenience and down time of exchanging the drive. For more information on this subject see our help topic "Bad Sector Found.'

    Of course, I have no way of knowing how I can rpair the problem sectors.

    What do you think, is the hard drive gone???

    Jean
     
  16. 2012/02/28
    rsinfo

    rsinfo SuperGeek Alumni

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    Yes. If the hard disk is in the warranty, get it replaced.
     
  17. 2012/02/28
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Yes. As rsinfo said, you will have to get the harddrive replaced. Hopefully you backed up all the important data that was on the harddrive before it crashed.
     
  18. 2012/02/28
    larsonjean

    larsonjean Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    No, the computer is too old to be in warranty. I think we will just dump this computer and get a new one as it is quite old.
    Thanks for all your help.
    Jean
     
  19. 2012/02/29
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Your Welcome. Thanks for the update. :)
     
  20. 2012/03/03
    dpyamak49

    dpyamak49 Inactive

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    you are just confusing her
     

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