Disk read error has occurred Press Ctrl Alt Delete

[TheJay]

Hello there. I turned my computer on today. When I checked it some time later, I had an error of messages saying lots of files (mostly .dll) could not be found (or something along those lines). Explorer.exe kept crashing, before a constant bombardment of similar messages came up. After a while, clicking ok to all of them, the computer froze.

When I tried restarting, I got the message
"A disk read error occurred Press Ctrl + Alt + Del to restart"

Any ideas what might have caused this and fix it? If it makes any difference, I am using SATA drives.

The computer no longer boots into Windows.

 

[logicearth]

Its probably safe to assume that the hard drive has gone po....uhh...failed. Or a nasty virus decided to delete everything.

 

[TheJay]

Is there a way to scan the drives to find out, without going into Windows?

What else could it be? How can I be sure?

 

[logicearth]

Could try a live Linux CD I suppose.

 

[TheJay]

And do what?

 

[logicearth]

Use what ever it provides to do disk checking.
I haven't had a need to do this myself so I don't have a step by step.

 

[gregrocker]

Boot into Recovery options to run Startup Repair using one of these methods: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

Startup Repair should automate System Restore and System File Checker, but if it fails after several attempts with reboots, boot back in to run System Restore from the Options list, and http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/139810-sfc-scannow-run-command-prompt-boot.html

Next try entering BIOS setup at boot to set HD to boot first. Test your HD using maker's diagnostics/repair extended CD scan: http://www.carrona.org/hddiag.html Follow this by running http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html from Recovery Command line.

You can copy out your files using this method: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

Last resort choices are to run Factory Recovery partition or disks, or use a WIn7 installation disk to http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

 

[AngelDove]

Hi im having the same problem tryin to solve it but cant ive installed windows 7 ultimate when i got this problem then i reinstall with windows 8 and doesnt have that problem can anybody help me with this problem i would be grateful...