Strange Read disk error - BCD problem?

Hi guys

just installing RTM of win7 to trial until my copy gets here. Hmm having a strange problem,

i have installed os first time, after about 3 days, i get the read disc error on startup. (no safemode / F8 option)
now this has happened 2 more times after i had reinstalled. all about 5 days apart (multiple restarts and shutdown)

i can't seem to find the source of the problem.


in the repair setup of the win7 disc, i have done a startup repair, and it couldn't find any problems, "os loaded successful" log produced.

now if i use cmd and bootrec.exe /osscan on my c:/
it says zero OSs installed/found
although windows does detect it within the repair utility and when loading sata drivers.
what gives?

what am i doing wrong?
and why would it do this every few days after i reinstall the OS. its weird.

Harddrive has been tested, no bad sectors, all scans of disc complete successful.

is it the BCDmanager? and how do i edit that at boot?

bootrec.exe /fixboot and the other options do not work!

also i does seem like my other drive letter have changed in boot CMD, however the os partition is still C:/

any ideas?

Athlon XP Barton 3200+
2GB RAM
6800GT 256MB
640GB HDD
250GB HDD

spec works great on win7, however after 3-4 days it causes the error.

The iso is the RTM of win7 with correct checksum, i have also tested the DVD against the iso on HDD, all fine.

Last night i have low level formatted drive and done a full tests, all successful.


i did try before the format, a bcdedit cmd on win7 repair disc
which looked fine

so i did a rebuildbcd CMD that found a OS installation

however after i did that i ran bootrec.exe /scanos which said i had zero OSs, very strange. i also noted that the C:/ had change to H:/ for some reason unknown (all other drives are disconnected apart from DVD.)

any ideas?
why would the drive letters swap around, they should be set.

however after i did that i ran bootrec.exe /scanos which said i had zero OSs, very strange. i also noted that the C:/ had change to H:/ for some reason unknown (all other drives are disconnected apart from DVD.)

That is because you have installed multi versions of OS's.
like maybe you had XP then vista and now Win7. and some time you apparently DUAL Booted. or you jammed one install. the main reason that your OS's changed letters is you have 2 or 3 partitions on the SAME HDD.
there for the {bootmgr} is located on the original HDD where you first installed the first OS. then some time you changed/added HDDs so now you have ???? 2 HDDs and and other partitions.
sample: 2 HDDs and 3 partitions ea. that gives you #1 HDD= c,d,e,
#2 HDD =f,g,h, nowyou originally installed XP on #1 HDD = c,d,e. then later you added #2 and then changed the drive letters so that #2 was c,d,e. the original c: has the original {bootmgr}.

Simply put over a period of time YOU SCREWED UP AND LOST TRACK OF WHERE THE {BOOTMGR}(Original Boot - HDD) was LOCATED.

orb -> type cmd (run as admin) type bcdedit {enter}
now scan till you see where {bootmgr} is located. That my friend is your original C: so unless you are dual booting.

I suggest
1. then make a FULL IMAGE of your current Win7.
2. Move the original C: HDD back to become BOOT DRIVE.
3. boot to the boot disk your image maker allows. and copy the image backup of Win 7 to the original C:
4. Now your bootmgr = C:
5. You boot OS is Win 7.
when you boot Win7 will be C: along with the bootmgr being correct.
Problem solved. I usually get $100.00 to fix this mess.

i did have xp on the drive C: (separate HDD), but i did a full format anyway. (not low level)

i only have C: on one HDD, f,g,m,s are on a second HDD for files

Win7 was running fine , until a few days later.

But it does not explain why bootrec.exe scanos doesn't find a OS installed on C:, although rebuildbcd does, ditto win7 startup repair.


im just reinstalled win7 after a full low level format and check of drive. i'll wait a few days to see if its happens, before i start installing apps/settings.


previously i pre-formated my drive to prevent the 100mb reserved partition, so now i have left it to what win7 wants.


i'll try the sfc /scannow command in boot if it happens again