disk read error

[ThisBytes]

I did a forum search for help on this but didn't get anything other than http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php?topic=73021.0

Ok, so I have a desktop that's giving the following error message:
Disk read error... press ctrl+alt+del to restart

It's a Pentium 4 MDG running on windows XP.
I tried to boot from the windows xp cd to do the repair, but I'm still getting the same error message.
The files were copied but on the restart, the error message still appears.

Any help with this will be greatly appreciated. I don't want to lose the data I currently have on my hard drive.

[Broni]

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD, and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, unfortunately, you're out of luck, because Toshiba doesn't provide any diagnostic tool.

[ThisBytes]

Thanks Broni.. I'm trying that now.
It's a Western Digital.. so I follow the link until I reach here:
http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=502&lang=en
I'm not sure if I should be downloading Data Lifeguard Tools 11.2 for Windows or Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows
I put the first one (Tools) on a cd, but when I plugged it in to the other computer, it was not being detected.

[Broni]

No, you need to get Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for DOS (CD), and make bootable CD, using ImgBurn, as described in my previous reply.
You have to boot from the CD.

[ThisBytes]

I saved the .iso file.. burnt it onto a cd using imgburn
but when I put the cd into the other computer and select the cd_rom option, the cd is not being read.

The same error comes up
ie. disk read error.. press ctrl+alt+del to restart.

[Broni]

One more time. You need to boot from the CD.
Put the CD in, restart computer.
At some point, you should see this message:
Press any key to boot from CD
Press some key, and the CD should kick in.
If you don't see the above message, check boot order in BIOS.

[JJ 3000]

Does your computer have two CD drives?

[ThisBytes]

no, just one cd drive.

Problem is that I am not getting the "boot from cd" message.
In the BIOS, the boot order is
1st removable dev
2nd hard drive
3rd atapi cd rom

[BC_Programmer]

move the atapi CD ROM to the first position...

[JJ 3000]

Set the Cd drive as the first one. You usually press the plus and minus keys to move your devices up and down in the boot order. Insert your CD, then exit setup andsave changes (F10). The computer will restart. Keep tapping the space bar as the computer boots back up.

[ThisBytes]

ok, did that
cd rom first
hard drive second
and rem dev third

.. pressed f10 and saved.
tapped spacebar continuously and taken back to the initial error (a disk read error ocurred press ctrl+alt+ to restart.

aarrggh..

[killerb255]

What files are listed on the CD that you burned?  If there is only one file on the CD and it has the file extension .iso on it, then you did it wrong.

[ThisBytes]

I'm not sure at the moment. I gave everything to one of my friends so he can look at it instead. I should get it back - hopefully fixed - in the next couple of days.
If not, I'll be back at trying to fix it myself.

[patio]

Don't tap the spacebar on re-boot...just let it do it's thing.