help. can't boot computer

I turn on the computer and I get a message saying something about a disk read
error has occurred and to pres Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart. I do it and it keeps
giving me the same error. Anyone know how to fix it?

"KerahLee" wrote in
:

I turn on the computer and I get a message saying something about a disk read
error has occurred and to pres Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart. I do it and it keeps
giving me the same error. Anyone know how to fix it?

If you have access to another computer, go to the hard disk
manufacturer's web site to see if they have a diagnostic utility. Some
have images that you copy using their executable program to create a
bootable floppy so you can boot using the floppy and run their
diagnostic program. "computer" gives no indication what brand and model
it is, what brand and model of hard disk(s) are in it, and if it even
has a floppy drive (there are some bootable CDs that might help).

The hd mfg diagnostic utility is one way to go,however only the MS-DOS
utility will give descent readings of any kind..The other choice & one you
should do,boot to xp cd,press r For recovery @ menu screen,select 1 For C:
Press enter for password,or type:CHKDSK C: /R When its thru,type:Fixboot
Agree,type:EXIT Let xp start..Also,look for new hd,repair in CHKDSK might
help for short time..

"KerahLee" wrote:

I turn on the computer and I get a message saying something about a disk read
error has occurred and to pres Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart. I do it and it keeps
giving me the same error. Anyone know how to fix it?

"Andrew E." wrote in
:

The hd mfg diagnostic utility is one way to go,however only the MS-DOS
utility will give descent readings of any kind..

The mfr diag utilities that I've seen boot off a DOS floppy (usually
Caldera DOS).

I don't know what you mean by boot to xp cd. I don't have any cds and the
only recovery screen I see is system recovery if I push F11 and the screen
says it will erase all my files and rstore the system to original manufacture
files. Is that what I have to do?

"Andrew E." wrote:

The hd mfg diagnostic utility is one way to go,however only the MS-DOS
utility will give descent readings of any kind..The other choice & one you
should do,boot to xp cd,press r For recovery @ menu screen,select 1 For C:
Press enter for password,or type:CHKDSK C: /R When its thru,type:Fixboot
Agree,type:EXIT Let xp start..Also,look for new hd,repair in CHKDSK might
help for short time..

"KerahLee" wrote:

I turn on the computer and I get a message saying something about a disk read
error has occurred and to pres Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart. I do it and it keeps
giving me the same error. Anyone know how to fix it?

On Fri, 30 May 2008 21:25:01 -0700, KerahLee
wrote:

I turn on the computer and I get a message saying something about a disk read
error has occurred and to pres Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart. I do it and it keeps
giving me the same error. Anyone know how to fix it?

Your computer has a major problem if it can't read from the hard drive, which
certainly describes your problem. You fix it by taking it to your local computer
shop for repair as opposed to a Best Buy or Circuit City or some other large chain
where you will certainly lose all of your data, you'll pay at least double what it
actually costs for repair, you'll wait a week or two for them to even look at it and
when you call to inquire about your computer, you'll have to explain who you are,
what your computer looks like, when you brought it in and if you're lucky they'll
tell you it'll be two weeks at least until you get it back.

Hard drive replacement cost (includes 320GB SATA Drive & Reloading Windows):

Best Buy & Circuit City $350
Local Computer Shop $195

PS In addition, you'll be fortunate if BB or CC does not force you to repurchase
Windows since you have no 'Official' Windows CD....

Good Luck

"KerahLee" wrote:

I turn on the computer and I get a message saying something about a
disk read
error has occurred and to pres Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart. I do it and it
keeps
giving me the same error. Anyone know how to fix it?

"KerahLee" wrote in message
...
I don't know what you mean by boot to xp cd. I don't have any cds and the
only recovery screen I see is system recovery if I push F11 and the screen
says it will erase all my files and rstore the system to original
manufacture
files. Is that what I have to do?


KerahLee:
The best thing you could do at this point is to have a friend/acquaintance
who has some knowledge of computers try to help you through this problem.

It's very difficult, if not impossible, to diagnose your problem from this
distance. It could be due to either a corrupted operating system or some
type of hardware problem.

Now since you've indicated that by pressing your F11 key and apparently you
were able to access your "system recovery", you might want to trigger that
process. If the problem you're experiencing is truly due to a corrupt
malfunctioning XP operating system the recovery process may very well work.
Please understand that if it does work it will return your system to the way
the PC left the factory - so that all of your programs & data that you added
since you first got the machine will be gone. Is that acceptable to you? If
it is, then you can give it a try. Hopefully you have a User's Guide or
manual that came with your machine and you can get some guidance from that
source. Or you can contact the computer's tech support website. Since you
were able to post your messages to this newsgroup I assume you have another
PC available to you.

If it's not, unless you can get some help as I indicated above, it may be
best as others have suggested that you take the machine in to a local
computer shop and let them take a look at it. I'm assuming, of course, that
the computer is no longer under warranty.
Anna