My computer won't boot. It just says A disk read error occured. I cant go in safe mode either. What do i do

Answer 1

Try booting with your installation CD.

I am assuming that you can get into the BIOS - you may need to do that to change the boot order for your computer devices. You would need to make sure the first boot device is your CD (assuming that you have the installation disk). You can run the installation and tell it to attempt repair.

(I am assuming that you do not have another boot device like a floppy or CD in the system with a higher boot priority than your current hard drive?)

If you can't get it to work you may want to pull the drive and jumper it to function as a slave drive and put it in another computer (which would jumpered to be a master drive) and pull all of the data off of your hard drive that you need if the platters still spin.

Answer 2

It's possible that it's trying to boot from either a floppy or a CD/DVD. Make sure both drives are empty, and try again.

Failing that, it's not seeing your hard drive... check that it's connected correctly, no cables fell off, etc...
.. and be prepared to replace and/or rebuild it.

You do have it all backed up, right?

Answer 3

Check if there's already a floppy disk inside the drive. If so, take it out and try again

Answer 4

use your windows installation disk to boot from and run a repair install
http://mypchelp.blogspot.com/2006/10/windows-reinstallation.html

Answer 5

A config file may have become corrupted. You will need to do a repair installation.. Here's a link to the proper steps to do it...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

Answer 6

Replace the hard drive.

or, until then, boot and run in the LiveCDrom http://pclinuxos.com

Answer 7

scrap the windows and get a mac mac is 20 times faster cant get virus's doesnt need to restart and just owns in all areas