Windows 7: Disk read error/ Installer and recovery hanging

My laptop has been experiencing the disk read error on startup. I called Sony (I have a Sony VAIO Laptop VPCF130FD) and they put me through all these steps including trying to boot up the recovery partition of the drive. Through the steps taken, they think that the OS is corrupt as the computer had been freezing before.

The only step that has taken effect is the reset default values of the BIOS. When the recovery partition is selected it hangs between the "Starting Windows" screen and the first recovery screen.

Sony wanted me to pay $60 for discs to be sent to my house, but I am building a gaming desktop PC so I thought I would just buy the OEM System Builder Win 7 Home Prem x64 and use that disc to install as I have the product key my laptop uses.



So I bought the disc today and booted my laptop off of it but like the recovery partition, it sits between the Start Windows screen and the first install screen.

I was wondering if anyone knows if there is anything I can do to fix this, all help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

FYI: The mouse pointer does appear on the screen during the hang between the screens. I can move the pointer around so I know that it is not frozen.

Does the HD register in BIOS setup? If so set SATA controller to AHCI to try install.

Boot the DVD, press Shift + F10 at first screen to open a Command Box, run Diskpart Clean Command.

Then follow these steps to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

If install continues to fail, post back at what stage inClean Install Windows 7 and any verbatim error messages

Remember not to use the retail OEM Product Key you bought as it will become locked to that mobo. You own the license which came with the laptopn for it's life, using the Product Key on COA sticker on bottom.

Yes the BIOS does register the HDDs capacity within it, the BIOS has very little settings so I will see if it has that. Lastly, when would I click SHIFT + F10? And would that key combination be useless if the computer sits between the starting windows screen and the install windows screen?

Is there a newer BIOS update?

It's a concern that a retail disk won't load. I'd run the hardware tests in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot .

To eliminate the DVD drive extract the ISO using ImgBurn to write to flash stick using Universal USB Installer with Windows 7 in dropdown menu. Boot under USB, Removable or HD's using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key with HD set to boot first in BIOS setup.

If necessary you can wipe the HD using Partition Wizard bootable CD or DBAN which will boot itself. This should force the installer to also boot itself to proceed with reinstall.

I think there may have been an update, but I forgot to install it. I am not at home right now but when I do, I will try some stuff. One question though, what is the difference between the .iso file and the OEM disc?

To boot a disk it must be imaged with an ISO file. The same file can also be written to a bootable flash stick using a special tool.

There may be problems with your DVD drive. Try another bootable disk or any type like PW CD or DBAN, then try the flash stick method. If it fails, try unplugging or disabling in BIOS the DVD drive to see if it is interfering.

So when I put the ISO file on the computer, I will then be able to use the OEM disc? I don't think there was an option on my BIOS to turn certain parts off

No, the ISO file is what was used to create your OEM disk that you have now.

I said you need it if you want to make a bootable flash stick to try if the disk keeps failing, nothing more.

Ok that makes sense... I am pretty good with operations while the computer is running but not during these situations. I am on my way home right now so I will try it out when I get back.

Ok... Do I need to use a separate burning software for partition wizard or can I use what Windows XP uses for burning things onto discs?