Error loading operating system on boot

Ok so I'll keep this simple, Sony Vaio Windows 7 OEM laptop.

So for about 2 days I was receiving 'I/O device errors' and couldn't find what was causing the errors, I performed a chkdsk which took a full day to get to about 80% then the laptop died on me, it switched off and that was that.

After rebooting the machine I was presented with 'Error Loading Operating System' and the machine just sits there doing nothing.

I tried booting to the hidden recovery partition however the function buttons don't appear to work properly and the only thing I can get into is the Bios.

I booted into the Bios, changed the arrangement to boot from optical disk, created a Win7 recovery disk on my home pc and rebooted with the disk in the drive.

Booted to disk, it runs, 'loading files' appears and then I'm left on a blank screen with a large white cursor, waited about 6hrs but still no change.

I discovered that if I reboot a few times I get a 'failed to read disk, press ctrl + alt + del to restart' error.

Tried booting from an external device with a recovery disk on the device, doesn't even recognise it.

Any idea's?

If possible I would like to keep all the data on the disk, if not then as long as I can trigger the Hidden recovery partition I'm happy.

Kindest Regards





Craig

Tried booting from an external device with a recovery disk on the device, doesn't even recognise it.

This tutorial should help to rebuild MBR.> MBR - Restore Windows 7 Master Boot Record
That may be the problem.
Just a guess from your description.

The boot order in bios is probably set to DVD/CD drive then the hard drive.

If it is hard drive first change it to CD then hard drive if necessary. Then it will find the DVD/CD and boot from it.

If you can get into bios and change the boot order you should be able to make the Flash/thumb drive first boot option.

Other than that I'll see if I can find more expert help to assist.
Mike

Anyone with better or different ideas please post.

Sorry to say but from those symptoms it seems clear that the hard drive has dropped off the system.

This could be because the hard drive has failed (mechanical/electrical failure), or the controller on the motherboard has failed (and the hard drive is OK), or the connection between hard drive and motherboard is loose (drive not plugged all the way in).

While in your BIOS check to see if the hard drive and DVD drive is recognized. You may need to have a disk in the DVD drive for it to show up. If the DVD shows and the hard drive doesn't that would be important information.

If the hard drive is listed in BIOS then I recommend burning a copy of the hard drive diagnostic utility from your hard drive manufacturer's website and running that. If you do not know the brand of hard drive then just use the Hitachi Drive Fitness Test. That seems to work on all drives.

If the drive is not listed in BIOS then you could open up the laptop and remove/re-seat the drive and test again.

Keep in mind that not all laptop BIOS list the drives at all. That's why you look for the (known working) DVD.

Finally, you can remove the hard drive from the laptop and connect it to a spare SATA connector and SATA power connector on a desktop PC. See if the drive can be recognized there. And if it can then take the time to recover your data.

Hope that helps

Placehold,
First there is never a need to "bump" and such action is considered to be inappropriate.

We are all volunteers with full time lives.

Now with that out of the way--

Are both of your systems 32 bit systems OR
both 64 bit systems?

If the answer is YES, THEN:
on the good system Make a SYSTEM REPAIR DISC.

A System Repair Disc is NOT a Recovery Disc.
A System Repair Disc is a repair disc which also installs, to ram, a mini-version of Win 7.

Here is how to make a SYSTEM REPAIR DISC--
CREATE A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC

START | type System Repair | Enter key | Create Disc button

================================================================

Boot from the SYSTEM REPAIR DISC.
Go to a command prompt--here's how:
GO TO A COMMAND PROMPT USING A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC

1) Insert System Repair Disc into optical reader.
2) Shutdown computer.
3) Boot up computer from the System Repair Disc
4) A SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog appears.
5) NEXT button
6) select Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows
7) NEXT | Choose Command Prompt

Run desired commands and type EXIT when finished.
Remove the System Repair Disc.
Shutdown computer.
Power on computer.

NOTE:
If your computer doesn’t boot from the optical drive, then
Immediately after pushing your Power ON button,
start tapping the F2 key to get to the BIOS to change the boot order

On some computers, Immediately after pushing the Power ON button,
start tapping the F12 key and choose CD/DVD to change the boot order
only for this time.

==================================================================

Now run CHkDSK over each of the "drives" on your hard drive.
The command is:
CHKDSK C: /R
here I've used C: as an example. The colon following the drive letter is required.

Let us know the result.

'I/O device errors' and the long chkdsk times certainly seems to point to a likely drive failure. Please run the drive diagnostics and get back to us.

Craig,
You have received three separate requests to run a hard disk diagnostic.

You have received those requests from very experienced and respected persons.

Do you plan to run the hard disk diagnostic?

If no, then you probably want to look into taking your computer to a repair shop where less experienced people will charge you good money for the advice that you get here for free.