Windows 7: Random appearance of A disk read error has occurred

I have 2 hard drives- Windows 7 on one and Ubuntu Linux on the other. When I start the computer I see the Gigabyte BIOS screen, then GRUB, asking me whether I want Linux or Windows 7. If I select Windows 7, very infrequently, I will see "A disk read error.. etc Press Ctl/Alt/Delete. The computer restarts, I select Windows 7 again and all is well. The disk read error message happens maybe 1 in 10 or 15 starts- no pattern that I can see.

Should I be concerned?

John in Houston

Try running the Windows 7 check disk: Disk Check

I ran the disk check. The results flashed on the screen so briefly that I had no chance to read them. I hope the result was good.

Thanks. John

Post back your logs for the checks after finding them using Check Disk (chkdsk) - Read Event Viewer Log (you may need to search for wininit instead of chkdsk).

+System
-Provider[ Name] Microsoft-Windows-Wininit[ Guid] {206f6dea-d3c5-4d10-bc72-989f03c8b84b}[ EventSourceName] Wininit
-EventID1001[ Qualifiers] 16384
Version0Level4Task0Opcode0Keywords0x80000000000000-TimeCreated[ SystemTime] 2012-05-31T01:05:15.000000000Z
EventRecordID5394Correlation-Execution[ ProcessID] 0[ ThreadID] 0
ChannelApplicationComputerJohn-PCSecurity
-EventData
Checking file system on C: The type of the file system is NTFS. A disk check has been scheduled. Windows will now check the disk. CHKDSK is verifying files (stage 1 of 5)... 181760 file records processed. File verification completed. 135 large file records processed. 0 bad file records processed. 2 EA records processed. 44 reparse records processed. CHKDSK is verifying indexes (stage 2 of 5)... 231796 index entries processed. Index verification completed. 0 unindexed files scanned. 0 unindexed files recovered. CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (stage 3 of 5)... 181760 file SDs/SIDs processed. Cleaning up 442 unused index entries from index $SII of file 0x9. Cleaning up 442 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 0x9. Cleaning up 442 unused security descriptors. Security descriptor verification completed. 25019 data files processed. CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal... 35248016 USN bytes processed. Usn Journal verification completed. CHKDSK is verifying file data (stage 4 of 5)... 181744 files processed. File data verification completed. CHKDSK is verifying free space (stage 5 of 5)... 56573588 free clusters processed. Free space verification is complete. Windows has checked the file system and found no problems. 312466431 KB total disk space. 85797824 KB in 141932 files. 81412 KB in 25020 indexes. 0 KB in bad sectors. 292839 KB in use by the system. 65536 KB occupied by the log file. 226294356 KB available on disk. 4096 bytes in each allocation unit. 78116607 total allocation units on disk. 56573589 allocation units available on disk. Internal Info: 00 c6 02 00 33 8c 02 00 34 7d 04 00 00 00 00 00 ....3...4}...... 14 51 00 00 2c 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 .Q..,........... 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ Windows has finished checking your disk. Please wait while your computer restarts.

You should also run the Western Digital Data Lifeguard diagnostics for your model(s). WD Support / Downloads / SATA & SAS

I looks like the WD diagnostic is happy with my hard drive:

Test Option:EXTENDED TESTModel Number:WDC WD3200AAKS-00V6A0Unit Serial Number:WD-WCAWFE148577Firmware Number:05.01D05Capacity:320.07 GBSMART Status:PASSTest Result:PASSTest Time:12:12:30, June 01, 2012


I'm not sure what the results of the chkdsk are. I don't see anything that indicates a bad hard drive but most of the log means nothing to me.

John

I have highlighted the message in blue that you should look for. The other message will say that Windows made corrections to the file system.

Check your hard disk connections. Contemplate replacing any cables, as well.

As you add and remove hardware, follow these steps for ESD safety:

1. Shut down and turn off your computer.
2. Unplug all power supplies to the computer (AC Power then battery for laptops, AC power for desktops)
3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds to close the circuit and ensure all power drains from components.
4. Make sure you are grounded by using proper grounding techniques, i.e. work on an anti-static workbench, anti-static desk, or an anti-static pad. Hold something metallic while touching it to the anti-static surface, or use an anti-static wristband to attach to the anti-static material while working. If you do not have an anti-static workbench, desk, or pad, you can use your computer tower/case by finding a metal hold in it, such as a drive bay.

Once these steps have been followed, it is safe to remove and replace components within your computer.

Thanks.

No problem. Let us know if you need any help or if the problem is solved. I see the thread marked solved, so hopefully that means it is?

Let us know the solution if you find/found one.