Serious problem: A disk read error occurred

[James Colbert]

I'm currently sitting at a stationary computer with Windows XP. My laptop has Windows 7 64-bit, and I can see that Ubuntu has two versions: 32-bit and 64-bit. Which one do I download?

Hi Jay,

Since the warranty issue has been mentioned multiple times in this thread, I assume there must be some reason you don't want to take that route. Greg's advice is good, and I recommend you follow his advice and run the HD diagnostics before anything else.

That said, 32 bit will suffice regardless of whether you are running 32 or 64 bit windows. Again, since this issue has been occurring for well over a month, if you haven't run the HD diagnostics software, it's time to do so.

James

 

[Jay10]

Hi Jay,

Since the warranty issue has been mentioned multiple times in this thread, I assume there must be some reason you don't want to take that route. Greg's advice is good, and I recommend you follow his advice and run the HD diagnostics before anything else.

That said, 32 bit will suffice regardless of whether you are running 32 or 64 bit windows. Again, since this issue has been occurring for well over a month, if you haven't run the HD diagnostics software, it's time to do so.

James

Well, the only reason why I haven't used the warranty yet, is because I want my files back.
If I give them my laptop they will probably fix it, but I will lose all my files.

I already did call them once: http://www.sevenforums.com/1221856-post32.html

I will try to run the HD diagnostics, if only I can open the cd drive.

 

[James Colbert]

Is it this little black hole you're referring to?

I will try to run the HD diagnostics, if only I can open the cd drive.

The button doesn't work? The machine would have to be powered on (it doesn't have to be 'in windows'. You can even push the button while the machine is posting and the tray should open.).

If, for whatever reason the button doesn't work (the machine doesn't need power for this method):

The image of the CD drive face is a bit blurry, but the hole is just a hole (not a headphone jack), about the right size to insert an 'unfolded' (standard sized) paper clip end into. Unfold the paper clip, insert it into the hole and firmly push inward. The drive tray should open and you should be able to gently pull it out the rest of the way.

James

 

[Jay10]

The button doesn't work? The machine would have to be powered on (it doesn't have to be 'in windows'. You can even push the button while the machine is posting and the tray should open.).

If, for whatever reason the button doesn't work (the machine doesn't need power for this method):

The image of the CD drive face is a bit blurry, but the hole is just a hole (not a headphone jack), about the right size to insert an 'unfolded' (standard sized) paper clip end into. Unfold the paper clip, insert it into the hole and firmly push inward. The drive tray should open and you should be able to gently pull it out the rest of the way.

James

There wasn't a button, but I opened with a papir clip like you advised.
I downloaded Ubuntu and burned to a cd using Infra Recorder, which they advise on the site Download | Ubuntu.

I then put the cd in my laptop, turned it on, and pressed F2 to get in to the setup, where I changed the boot priority, so the USB CDROM was on the top of the list.

Like this:

1. USB CDROM :
2. IDE0 : Toshiba MK6465GSX
3. IDE1 : HL-DT-STDVDRAM GT31N
4. USB FDD :
5. Network Boot: Atheros Boot Agent :
6. USB HDD :

I saved the settings and went out of the menu. Absolutely nothing happened. The same text appeared: "A disk read error occured".

What did I do wrong?

 

[James Colbert]

When you saved and exited the bios, was the Ubuntu CD in the USB CDROM?
Why are you using an external USB CD drive? Have you tried using the internal DVD drive (STDVDRAM GT31N)?

If no results with above, If you have another system available, you should try booting the Ubuntu CD in that one to ensure that you have a good DL/burn.

James

 

[Jay10]

When you saved and exited the bios, was the Ubuntu CD in the USB CDROM?
Why are you using an external USB CD drive? Have you tried using the internal DVD drive (STDVDRAM GT31N)?

If no results with above, If you have another system available, you should try booting the Ubuntu CD in that one to ensure that you have a good DL/burn.

James

Ah, that must be the problem. I didn't put the internal DVD drive as number 1 in the boot priority list.
I will try it now.

 

[Jay10]

Okay, that helped a bit. The Ubuntu screen appeared and I was given two choices. Install or try. I chose "try" as you said earlier... and it worked!

I'm in the documents folder, and my files are there!

So do I just connect my external hard drive now and then transfer the files to that? I'm guessing it's safe to do now?

 

[James Colbert]

Okay, that helped a bit. The Ubuntu screen appeared and I was given two choices. Install or try. I chose "try" as you said earlier... and it worked!

I'm in the documents folder, and my files are there!

So do I just connect my external hard drive now and then transfer the files to that? I'm guessing it's safe to do now?

Yes, connect your external drive now. You may have to "mount' it, and as you may have seen, the drives are not 'named' the same as in windows. Offload your files to the external drive as quickly as you can.

Afterwards, you can run the HD diagnostics and check (and maybe save) the HD.

James

 

[Jay10]

Yes, connect your external drive now. You may have to "mount' it, and as you may have seen, the drives are not 'named' the same as in windows. Offload your files to the external drive as quickly as you can.

Afterwards, you can run the HD diagnostics and check (and maybe save) the HD.

James

Good. It's in the middle of the night over here, and I've been transfering files for the past hour and it's really taking a long time because of the amount of files. But I'm happy that I finally gained access to them.

Do you think I should run Acer's own E-recovery? Last time I ran it, I got the option of deleting/resetting every thing, but I didn't do it because of my files. Now that I have a back-up, I shouldn't have anything to lose.

 

[sreedhav]

Dear James,
Sorry to interrupt the flow!

Dear Jay10,
Your prob. is an object lesson as to the value of having an EXTN.HDD (500GB to 1TB) for backups. Your's being a Acer lappy, you can buy a portable (if you are a busy person ,on the move) disk, 2.5 inch width OR a bulkier one (not recommended) 3.5 inch, but costs less!

Since you have a lot of files, your backup disk is ideally IMO---> 1TB. I can assure you, the price you pay for a portable HDD will be returned in multiples with Gold!

I too have a Toshiba satellite lappy and only two weeks back ,bought a 1TB Western Digital External HDD,WD Elements!

Regards and best wishes,
Sreedhav

 

[Jay10]

Unfortunately another problem has occurred. I spent last night transferring about 350 GB of files to an external hard drive, so there is still a little more than 100 GB of files left. For some reason they are not there today.
There are no folders under my username. I went through "Acer", "Users" and then my username like I did yesterday, but nothing is there.

What could have gone wrong?

 

[James Colbert]

Questions that occur:

1) Are you seeing free space where the data was, or is it reporting 100 GB left and you just can't see the data?

2) Did you see the data last night, or you just know that you had around 450 GB?

3) Did you turn the laptop off when you stopped copying last night?

4) Are the files hidden?

James

 

[James Colbert]

Dear James,
Sorry to interrupt the flow!

No interuption at all, sreedhav. Great suggestion re;ext HD. Nice to see you again!

James

 

[gregrocker]

Try another method to rescue the remaining files:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html
or
Rescue Kit Free Edition | PARAGON Software Group - free partition software, hard disk partitioning

I gave you the former method two weeks ago along with the download link for Repair CD to use.

Have you talked with Acer about replacing your HD which is under warranty?

Do you have recovery disks to install on new HD, or would you like to clean reinstall using WIn7 Installation DVD? If the former, have them send you Recovery Disks if you haven't made them. If latter, here are tips for getting a purrfect reinstall: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

 

[Jay10]

Questions that occur:

1) Are you seeing free space where the data was, or is it reporting 100 GB left and you just can't see the data?

2) Did you see the data last night, or you just know that you had around 450 GB?

3) Did you turn the laptop off when you stopped copying last night?

4) Are the files hidden?

James

Initially my Acer laptop had 640 GB - about 560 GB of actual space. I saw all the data on Friday night, but I decided to go to bed because it was 5 in the morning over here and I had already spent around 5 hours copying files to my external hard drive.

So what I did, was to disconnect the external hard drive in the safe way, where you right click on the icon and say remove/eject. I noticed immediately that all my files on the laptop disappeared.
I then turned off the computer, went to bed, and turned on it yesterday and ran Ubuntu again. Nothing was there. Even the folders were gone. No "Documents", no "Pictures", nothing.
No, I don't think the files were hidden. They were just in their respective usual folders.

Now when I click on the folder with my username on it, it just says "0 items, 309 GB space left".

 

[gregrocker]

This would have been solved two weeks ago with fully interactive communication.

There is a course to follow which has allowed us to help hundreds here recover their data, repair or replace HD, then clean reinstall/factory recover.

But the failure to reply promptly has left you back at Step One after being sidetracked into Ubuntu which is an old-school solution.

 

[James Colbert]

Now when I click on the folder with my username on it, it just says "0 items, 309 GB space left".

So, given that your free space indicates that the remaining files are there, but can no longer be accessed via Ubutu, you may be able to access the remaining 25% via one of the earlier posted links or any of the other various programs linked to, such as here:

Rescue Kit Free Edition | PARAGON Software Group - free partition software, hard disk partitioning

The bright side is that you've saved 75% of your data, and may well rescue the rest . Way to hang in there!

James

 

[Jay10]

Try another method to rescue the remaining files:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html
or
Rescue Kit Free Edition | PARAGON Software Group - free partition software, hard disk partitioning

I gave you the former method two weeks ago along with the download link for Repair CD to use.

Have you talked with Acer about replacing your HD which is under warranty?

Do you have recovery disks to install on new HD, or would you like to clean reinstall using WIn7 Installation DVD? If the former, have them send you Recovery Disks if you haven't made them. If latter, here are tips for getting a purrfect reinstall: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

No, I haven't talked to them about replacing my HD. I don't have any recovery disks, but I will try Acer's own E-recovery once I've restored all my files.
Thanks.

This would have been solved two weeks ago with fully interactive communication.

There is a course to follow which has allowed us to help hundreds here recover their data, repair or replace HD, then clean reinstall/factory recover.

But the failure to reply promptly has left you back at Step One after being sidetracked into Ubuntu which is an old-school solution.

What do you suggest I do now? I'm thinking of running the Hitachi Drive Fitness Test and then afterwards trying the Rescue Kit.

 

[gregrocker]

I would proceed with file retrieval using the two methods posted first, as running the Drive Fitness test always risks data loss on a failing or ailing HD when it moves data off to repair.

I have not had data loss in the dozen or so times HD repair extended scan repaired failing drives, however I have had a few suffer total failure during these repairs.

Your HD diagnostics/repair regimen should also include http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html run from System Recovery Options' Command Line: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

 

[Jay10]

So, given that your free space indicates that the remaining files are there, but can no longer be accessed via Ubutu, you may be able to access the remaining 25% via one of the earlier posted links or any of the other various programs linked to, such as here:

Rescue Kit Free Edition | PARAGON Software Group - free partition software, hard disk partitioning

The bright side is that you've saved 75% of your data, and may well rescue the rest . Way to hang in there!

James

That's good to hear! I really hope that they're still there.
How exactly do I use the Rescue Kit? Like Ubuntu?