Hello All

I have just recently come across this error that is driving me insane. I would normally just reformat the drive and reinstall Windows but I have very sensitive data on this machine. I recently restarted my computer after freezing and started it to a "Disk Read Error Occured Press CTRL-ALT-DELETE to restart". I don't know what's going on but it happened all of a sudden. I checked the drive for Viruses but nothing was found. I tried doing a chkdsk /f but it did not accpet /f so I sued /P It didn't complete and stopped at 50%. Is there anyone out there that has experienced this error before? Please let me know

Marcos

Two things:
1. If you try to run chkdsk /f against the system drive, chkdsk will
ALWAYS refuse and ask you if you want to run it at the next reboot. The
system will never relinquish control over the partition it is installed
on, and since chkdsk /f must lock the partition for exclusive use and
can't, you must reboot so chkdsk /f can be launched before the system is
fully operational.
2. Download and run the drive manufacturer's drive diagnostic. This will
be a bootable floppy image. Boot with it, and follow your nose to check
the hard drive and if necessary deal afterwards with tech support. Some
drive errors may be repaired by the diagnostic, and with others you may
be offered a free replacement drive. And do what you can to get that
sensitive data backed up pronto.

Marcos Resendiz wrote:

> Hello All,
>
> I have just recently come across this error that is driving me insane. I would normally just reformat the drive and reinstall Windows but I have very sensitive data on this machine. I recently restarted my computer after freezing and started it to a "Disk Read Error Occured Press CTRL-ALT-DELETE to restart". I don't know what's going on but it happened all of a sudden. I checked the drive for Viruses but nothing was found. I tried doing a chkdsk /f but it did not accpet /f so I sued /P It didn't complete and stopped at 50%. Is there anyone out there that has experienced this error before? Please let me know.
>
> Marcos

"Marcos Resendiz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:2F48B06F-0808-41F0-A67C-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hello All,
>
> I have just recently come across this error that is driving me insane. I
would normally just reformat the drive and reinstall Windows but I have very
sensitive data on this machine. I recently restarted my computer after
freezing and started it to a "Disk Read Error Occured Press CTRL-ALT-DELETE
to restart". I don't know what's going on but it happened all of a sudden.
I checked the drive for Viruses but nothing was found. I tried doing a
chkdsk /f but it did not accpet /f so I sued /P It didn't complete and
stopped at 50%. Is there anyone out there that has experienced this error
before? Please let me know.
>
> Marcos

It sounds like you have some bad sectors on your hard drive. I would follow
the following procedure:

1) BACK UP all your important data.
2) Download and run the drive manufacturer's drive diagnostic (as Dan
suggested.)
3) Alternatively, if you can't find (or use) the diagnostic, try checking
the disk from the command console.
4) Be prepared to send the drive back to the manufacturer for warranty
issues, or replace it if it's out of warranty.

I was able to do a the Diags from the manufacturer (DELL $%&) and the test failed because it is apparently a bad drive. The only thing that I am thinking is that I can still browse the drive through recovery console only it is dog slow. I did chkdsk and no luck. Do you think that it is possible to do a MBR fix or is this drive pretty done?

Call Dell tech support with their diagnostic in your drive. They should
take you through the diagnostic results, and deal with them. As I think
I said earlier, they may offer a replacement drive.

If the drive is toast - and it seems so - do whatever you can to get
important stuff off it RIGHT NOW. Don't waffle around. Drive failures
are progressive little beasties. :-)

Marcos Resendiz wrote:

> I was able to do a the Diags from the manufacturer (DELL $%&) and the test failed because it is apparently a bad drive. The only thing that I am thinking is that I can still browse the drive through recovery console only it is dog slow. I did chkdsk and no luck. Do you think that it is possible to do a MBR fix or is this drive pretty done?