Solved Windows 7, winload 0x00000e9 I/O error

[countryb]

file: windows/system32/winload.exe
code: 0x00000e9
info: an unexpected I/O error has occured.


This comes up after a fresh install of Windows 7 Ultimate. I have done plenty of research but I cannot find anything about this error. Can someone please help?

 

[zvjfopwe]

At what point do you get the error message? For example, does Windows boot successfully but show that in Event Viewer?

 

[countryb]

Right after the POST but before Windows will load. I had just reinstall Windows 7 Ultimate and this pops up. It says press "Enter" to continue and I do, and it takes me to what operating system I want to load and I press "Windows 7" and it just goes back to the error screen, and when I press F8 for advanced options it reloads back to the Error screen.

 

[TVeblen]

Entering your My System Specs in your SevenForums user profile would be very helpful here.

Do you have more than one hard drive installed? If so it is best to disconnect all extra drives and any external devices before installing W7.

But if this behavior started immediately after installing W7 then I would think that it would be faster and easier just to run the installation again.

If you can describe your partition setup on the main OS hard drive that would help too. Are you using the System Reserved partition - are there multiple partitions - etc.

Were you attempting a "Clean Install" or an "Upgrade Install"? If upgrade, what was the old OS?

 

[countryb]

I am currently out of town, so I can't do the system specs, but I will be home at about 5 pm Central Time, I do know that the video card is Nvidia and currently has 128 MB and the system memory has 1536MB, There is 1 hard drive and 2 partitions, 1 is the operating system and the 2nd one is the System Reserve 100 MB that windows automatically sets up before installing the operating system and I did a Clean Install.

Does this help things out a little?

 

[TVeblen]

Yes it rules out some of the issues caused by multiple hard drives.

It could be something as simple as a bad install. It happens.
But you could benefit from wiping the hard drive (or a simple reformat of both partitions) before starting the clean install. That will eliminate the possibility that some part of the old system is being left over.

See here: SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
Do the above procedure using your Windows 7 installation DVD. Just choose the "Repair My Computer" option when the DVD boots and the start Diskpart from the "Command Prompt" option there.

And Here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/172617-secure-erase-wipe-definition-methods.html

 

[Bill2]

Couple of other things you can try.

1) Run the hdd diagnostic tool for your brand hdd to check for errors.

2) Check the hashes of the win7 iso if this is a home made disk.

 

[countryb]

Ok. I will try these when I get back to town and I will keep you inform on the updates. Out of curiosity though, what exactly does the 0x00000e9 error mean? can someone give me more information?

 

[TVeblen]

That error code usually means the hard drive is not getting detected by the operating system or is due to a failing hard drive.

So you could run a hard drive diagnostic program as Bill2 suggested - one downloaded from the hard drive manufacturer that boots from a CD - to test the drive if you want.

Or if you can, run a CHKDSK /R test from a command prompt, to check the drive with Windows.

Or you could just clean and format the drive fresh using Diskpart. If the drive were actually failing you would find out soon enough during this process.

And, as Bill2 pointed out, you can get that error if your install DVD is no good.

 

[countryb]

Ok, I made it home, and I do know that though this is a custom built computer, The motherboard is a Emachine.

*The system specs i retrieved from the BIOS since the computer is custom built and does not have documentation of any of the parts.
System Specs:
Intel Celeron CPU 450 @ 2.20GHz
Processor Speed: 2.20GHz
System memory: 1536 MB

Primary IDE Master
Device: Hard Disk
Vendor: ST3100011A
Size: 100 GB
LBA: Supported
Block Mode: 16 Sectors
PIO Mode: 4
Async DMA: MultiWord DMA-2
Ultra DMA: Ultra DMA-2
S.M.A.R.T: Supported

AHCI Port4
Device: ATAPI CDROM
Vendor: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH41N


During Boot up after the "e" comes up it pops to this:

Video-338PCI VGA BIOS
Version 5.44.A2.14.2E
Copyright (C) 1996-2005 NVIDIA Corp.
128 MB


After that screen it goes to the following:

Windows has encountered a problem communicating with a device conneccted to your computer.

This error can be caused by unplugging a removable storage device such as an external USB drive while the device is in use, or by faulty hardware such as a hard drive or CD-ROM drive that is failing. Make sure any removable storage is properly connected and then restart your computer.

If you continue to receive this error message, contact th hardware manufacturer.
File: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Status: 0xc00000e9
Info: An unexpected I/O error has occured.

I press "Enter" to continue and I choose "Windows 7" and takes me back to the error screen.

Also the same thing when I press the F8 key for advanced options.



I so hope this information helps alot. I will try the following things above and will let you know the status.

 

[TVeblen]

You should check this if you are comfortable working inside the computer. Just use good static precautions:

Check the connections to the hard drive and make sure they are connected properly. Also check the other end of both cables to be sure they are connected securely to the motherboard. Then test the start again.

If that does not work then disconnect the connections to the CD/DVD drive and test the startup.

And just to be sure: you do not have anything plugged into the computer's ports while you are doing this, right. No USB devices - printers, webcams, thumb drives - nothing. And are your keyboard and mouse wired or wireless?

And your Emachines PC should have a model number right on the front, like T3560 or something. What model number is yours?

 

[countryb]

Well only the Motherboard is an Emachine, because of the logo that pops up, the case is a Cool Master and I don't know any other specs atm, I just did the SSD/HDD: Optimize for Windows Reinstallation. The PS2 Keyboard and USB Mouse is plugged in, Both keyboard and mouse is wired. If this installation does not work, then I am planning to pop the case open and take a look inside. I might can pull the model number that the motherboard came from in the BIOS.

 

[countryb]

Ok I just did the SSD/HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation, and I stilll get the error. so I am going to try to do the Secure Erase / Wipe with the SSD/HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation.

 

[countryb]

I unplugged the DVD drive and I still get the error. To answer a previous question,

Product Name: ET1831
System Serial: PTNB60*****************
System BIOS Version: PO1-A1
BIOS Release Date: 09/14/2009

I am not exactly sure which of those you consider the Model Number if any. But that is all I could pull up.

Also If I do understand all of this correctly, that error could indicate a bad/failing hard drive correct?

 

[chris7021]

file: windows/system32/winload.exe
code: 0x00000e9
info: an unexpected I/O error has occured.


This comes up after a fresh install of Windows 7 Ultimate. I have done plenty of research but I cannot find anything about this error. Can someone please help?

hmm thats a pain in the a_ _ job. well here are some quick solutions:

1) if you have the OS dvd, do the "repair my pc" by booting from the dvd. If it doesnt work after the first try, doit like 3 times in a row.

2) Remove the hd and leave it out for like 30 mins and then put it back. Most of the time it works on me after i do a fresh reinstallation on a laptop (windows 7).

3) if both tips dont work on you, then it might be a hd issue (do the hd test on the bios).

4) last try is just do the reinstallation again, if it happens again and the hd is good it must be a motherboard issue. is it a DELL? cuz if its a new DELL. some of the new DELL inspirons have some issues with the USB ports.

 

[countryb]

file: windows/system32/winload.exe
code: 0x00000e9
info: an unexpected I/O error has occured.


This comes up after a fresh install of Windows 7 Ultimate. I have done plenty of research but I cannot find anything about this error. Can someone please help?

hmm thats a pain in the a_ _ job. well here are some quick solutions:

1) if you have the OS dvd, do the "repair my pc" by booting from the dvd. If it doesnt work after the first try, doit like 3 times in a row.

2) Remove the hd and leave it out for like 30 mins and then put it back. Most of the time it works on me after i do a fresh reinstallation on a laptop (windows 7).

3) if both tips dont work on you, then it might be a hd issue (do the hd test on the bios).

4) last try is just do the reinstallation again, if it happens again and the hd is good it must be a motherboard issue. is it a DELL? cuz if its a new DELL. some of the new DELL inspirons have some issues with the USB ports.

1. Well first off it detects the hard drive and I can actually install the OS onto it.
2. Will that work on a Desktop as well?
3. I searched the entire BIOS for the HD test and no luck on finding it.
4. It is a combination of manufacturers, it has a Cool Master tower case with a Emachine motherboard and Seagate hard drive, that is IDE, while the DVD is SATA.

Does this help you out?

 

[TVeblen]

OK, first - If the CD/DVD drive works - it will boot the installation DVD - and the hard drive works - it is recognized by the installation program and Windows installs to it - then we can stop talking about the drives. That does not seem to be the problem.

You asked what that error code means. But do not jump to the conclusion that it must be the hard drive. That winload.exe message is probably the cause and the I/O error is just a symptom of that.

If you want to test the hard drive then go here: | Seagate and download the "SeaTools for DOS" ISO and burn it to a CD. Then boot the computer with the SeaTools CD in the drive and it will run the test.

But if you install W7 successfully and then you get this error then it points towards a bad installation DVD.

The idea to load the install disk and boot, choose "Repair My Computer" from the options, and then run "Startup Repair" 3 or 4 times is not a bad one. I would try that if the secure wipe does not yield a working installation.

 

[countryb]

Ok. I did the Secure Erase / Wipe and the SSD/HDD Optimize and I even did Checkdisk...and still have the error, I currently do not have a blank disc to burn another copy. can I turn a MicroSD card with the USB adapter into a bootable device and try that way?

 

[TVeblen]

Yes, you can create a USB installation drive. See here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

I can't see why an SD card would not work with an USB adapter, but you'd be the first I know that tried it!

Let us know what you do.

 

[TVeblen]

One other thought:
Did you burn the original installation DVD from a downloaded ISO file?
Or did you copy it from another installation DVD?