How do you fix this computer problem?

Question

When i start my other computer, it just gives me a message saying, "A disk read error occured. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to restart." How do you fix this?

Answer 1

change the flat IDE cable

Answer 2

If the computer gives you that error every time you reboot, you can try rebooting in SAFE mode by pressing F8 when the system is booting. See what happens after that. If it still gives the same error, I am afraid that your hard disk may have been damaged or corrupted, or has died on you.

You can also try rebooting from the Windows CDROM to see if it will at least boot so you can try to run some hard disk diagnostics (scandisk, chkdsk). It could be that the boot sector was corrupted and the rest of the disk is still okay.

Answer 3

First things first, check to see if you have a floppy in the floppy drive. This would be the #1 cause of your problem. If not, then your hard drive might be going bad (or might be dead allready). In which case, you'd need a new hard drive, and you'd have to re-install everything, including Windows. One other thing you can check besides your floppy disk is the BIOS. Usually you have to hit F2 or Del durring the initial boot phase to get into the BIOS setup. What you want to look for is the Boot order. Generally, the boot order goes 1) Removable Media (floppy) 2) CDROM and 3) Hard Disk. If hard disk is missing, or if it specifies multiple hard disks (if you have a secon, data drive), make sure the first hard disk is the correct one. You may need to check model #s to do this.

Answer 4

If CTRL+ALT+DELETE does not solve the problem it means that the computer is not able to read part of the operating system on the disk. It may be a permanent disk problem or may mean that you will have to reinstall part of or the complete operating system. I would bring it in for repair to have it checked out.

Answer 5

1 - Have you tried a different IDE cable?
If not give it a go and do a repair if needed again.

2 - You may have a corrupt MBR (master boot record). You will need to reformat and do Fdisk /mbr to delete the master boot record. Save all data first as this will not allow you to access any of your data as all file location addresses are located in the MBR.

3 - Your harddrive may have a bad sector get a zerofill tool(low level formatting tool). This will rewrite you HD's sectors putting them back to factory spec's!! Maxtors is called Maxblast you can get it from thier site.

4 - or it could be a defective drive, but most read errors are due ot corrupt MBR or a bad sector.

Answer 6

Is there a disk in drive A (assuming you have a floppy drive.) If so remove it. If not, sounds like a failing HDD. When was the last time it booted OK? Any problems lately with errors on boot-up? Have you checked cables that connect the HDD to the motherboard? If you do get it to boot, make a backup ASAP!

Answer 7

I replaced to Avast some months in the past, I honestly have even were given superantispyware and Malwarebytes. i lately replaced to Comodo firewall which looks fantastic and that i seem besides up faster. they're all loose for own use and that i have had no trouble with Viruses Trojans Hackers etc. I also use homestead windows Defender from the Microsoft web site. it really is chance-free to apply 2 anti-secret agent products yet by no ability use more effective than one A/V because it would want to reason conflicts. you may run A/V and anti secret agent weekly. desire this helps

Answer 8

Press Control, Alt, and Delete in that order and your computer should restart and the problem should be resolved.

Answer 9

Verify that the drive appears in the bios
Check drive power cable and IDE/SATA cable
Verify that the Jumper settings are set properly with the bios and the cable (IE Master is set to master)

If drive is still not loading may be crashed head on the drive.
Could be corrupt MBR but unlikely

Answer 10

Disk read error means that your hard drive is failing. You need to replace it asap.

Answer 11

Well it's time to get your computer cleaned out. You most likely have way to much junk on the hard drive and this is causing conflicts. Your hard drive is the source of a computer and is also the only part that keeps everything working. So, below I have everything listed that you need to do.

This is very much in depth and long as well, I suggest that you print this out for later.

How to clean up a computer and keep it running smooth and what you need to do.

Click on My Computer icon and locate your hard drive (Local Disc C or ?)

Right Click on the icon that represents your (Hard Drive). At the bottom of the drop down window Click on Properties.

Click on the tab (Disk Cleanup) and allow this to run the cycle.

Once complete Click on the tab above (Tools). Now click on the (Defragment Now) tab. Once again allow this to complete the cycle. Once done Click on the Tab (Check Now) tab. This will check for errors and repair them.

Now once again (Click on the My Computer Icon) and then (Right Click on the Hard Drive Icon). Now look for the file called (Programs File) and Left Click on it to open it up. Look for any programs that you do not have installed or may have deleated. These simply have been left behind and never un-installed. Deleate any you do not need.

Now you have gotten lots of junk off of your computer. Turn off your computer to end this cycle. Once your computer shuts down, restart it. (This step is very important as you do have to end the cycle).

You now will need to clean out your REG System. (You can not do this with out software). These files are tracks for all your activity you ever have done on your computer as well as installed and uninstalled programs and just lots of Junk Files as well as old shortcuts..

Click this link and downlosd http://www.ccleaner.com and install this program. It's FREE as well as safe. No Pop Ups or SpyWare as well as AdWare.

Run this program once installed and all the junk will be removed from your computer. Left over Short Cuts, left over deleated files etc.

Shut down your computer once again and restart it.

You now have a clean computer. Run the CCleaner once a week and keep your computer like new.

Here are a few useful add on software programs you might consider downloading if you do not allready have them. Please keep in mind that none of these programs come with SpyWare, AdWare or Pop Ups. They are all 100% FREE and extremly very useful.

(1) Windows Defender http://search.microsoft.com/results.aspx?mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&q=windows+defender Windows Defender is a free program that helps you stay productive by protecting your computer against pop-ups, slow performance and security threats caused by spyware and other potentially unwanted software.

(2) CWShredder. http://www.download.com/3000-8022_4-10301587.html Eliminate an insidious pest that Spybot http://www.spywarebot.com/ and Ad-aware http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ can't stop.Even if your PC has Ad-aware and Spybot Search & Destroy, you still can't stop some versions of an insidious and virus-like pest called CoolWebSearch.

CWShredder finds and destroys traces of CoolWebSearch. CoolWebSearch is a name given to a wide range of different browser hijackers. Though the code is very different between variants, they are all used to redirect users to coolwebsearch.com and other sites affiliated with its operators.

The CoolWebSearch Trojan installs dozens of bookmarks, mostly to porn sites on your desktop; it also adds a toolbar to Internet Explorer and changes your home page without asking. Furthermore, it significantly slows down the performance of your PC, and introduces some modifications which cause Windows to freeze, crash or randomly reboot.