"A disk read error occurred, Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart" How do i fix this?

Question

I am running Windows XP on an acer aspire 5500 laptop (it's pretty old, but contains valuable data)
The last thing i did was run the windows disk clean up tool, windows de-fragment tool. It was working fine up until i restarted it, then i received the error.
I have tried to boot using the windows xp cd but when it tries to boot it just freezes at a black screen. I don't know much about computers so i didn't understand things that i read on other sites.
Could someone please help me without using lots of complicated computer terminology. Simple step by step instructions would be really helpful!

Thanks!

Answer 1

Keep tapping F8 when the PC is booting until you see "Loading Boot Menu" at bottom of the screen



Choose Last Known Good Configuration



If it still does not boot coose Safe Mode next time and

go to System Restore





If those fail it's time to boot with a Live CD like Ubuntu or Knoppix or Open SUSE and mount the C: partition and copy the files

http://www.ehow.com/how_5260009_recover-files-using-linux-livecd.html

Answer 2

Run a checkdisk from the windows recovery console. To do this, insert your WinXP installation cd and wait untill you get the option to enter the recovery mode. It might be the case that you'll need to load drivers for your hard disk controller (this is usually the case if you have a SATA hdd), you'll need a driver disk and when the setup asks to press F6 to load the drivers, you should do this. So, when you are in the recovery console you'll have to select your windows installation (there should only be one) and you'll have to enter the administrator password. Then you type the following: chkdsk /r and let the computer do it's work. The /r option finds bad sectors, re-allocates them and tries to recover information. If you get a message that there isn't a hdd or a windows installation available, then one of the following things might be wrong: * completely dead hard disk drive (in this case, the BIOS shouldn't find the hdd either) * you haven't loaded the drivers for the hdd controller

Answer 3

Ok, for this problem the only step-by-step actions you can take are:



1) Remove the hard drive from the computer.

2) Buy a new hard drive

3) Install the hard drive into the computer.

4) Install your operating system onto the hard drive.



Your hard drive has failed. I hope you have a backup of all that valuable data... otherwise you're looking at an expensive data-recovery job to restore it all.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Check if you have any flash drives or memory cards inserted - remove it. Just Sayin.



I think its a hardware fault. If you can boot the cd and can get to the screen where it says".......If you want to install windows xp now press enter...."



Press R on that



After it loads , press 1 and enter



asks for passwords? - press enter. if it asks again saying its wrong type your password and enter.



type fixmbr and enter



type y and enter.



Hope this works.



Dont pour ammonia on your laptop.

Answer 6

there are a few things that can cause that kind of error, the most common is hard drive failure (meaning your hard disk is dead and you need to replace it) other cause of this is the hard drive controller failure(which is a little uncommon) , it's the port where the hard disk is attached. if you have a hard disk enclosure, its something like a converter for your hard disk so you can plug it into the usb port (you can borrow from a friend if you don't have one) try doing a check disk on your hard drive on another computer.

Answer 7

This isn't really anything that people on here can help you with, especially since you can't use your Windows XP disc. Your best bet, in this case, is to get a computer nerd/guy to help you.

Answer 8

First try running it in safemode by pressing F8

Also have a look at these?

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/itprovistasetup/thread/37f1395e-8331-46c4-882d-78d111005f48

Answer 9

como estoy apasionada del mundo de los ordenadores me gusta hacer mi propia configuración de ordenador, como todos las otras componentes los he comprado de sitios web y han sido excelentes, el hard disk también lo compre aquí, el hard disk es exactamente como esperaba, muy buena compra.

Answer 10

The hard drive has failed.



You need to buy a new one.