"Disk Read Error. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to reboot"

[Kablooie]

My problem is similar to RPMcMurphy's in that immediately post reading ROMs in the boot sequence, I get the above error. Differences are that I am running Windoze2000 Pro on a Dell desktop Dimension 4150 well out of warranty. Unfortunately I don't have access to a second system to try mounting this drive as a slave. The Dell HD diagnostics prog tells me that block 585 has an unrecoverable error. To top matters, this durn case makes extracting the HD something of a chinese puzzle even if I could find another functioning box. Does anyone know of a prog which could help me extract some valuable data from this drive before I format it? Perhaps something that would let me boot Windoze2000 Pro from a CD or somesuch?

I am desperate and any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[eyec]

you can get boot disks from

http://www.bootdisks.com

if you have the Dell applications disc try using it to run a Repair Install

 

[Kablooie]

Thanks for the input eyec.. I have visited bootdisk.com and I am just a little leary as to the safety of the tools. (have you had any experience with them?)

As to the installation repair, I am afraid it does not see an installation of W2KPro to repair and my 'emergency boot floppy' suddenly is un-readable!? ARRRRGGHH!!

Once again, ANY help is greatly appreciated!! Thanks again!

 

[eyec]

i have used the 98SE boot disk i got there & they worked - no bad stuff on them

 

[firewolfrl]

Do you have your W2K install CD?
This site gives good directions to run chkdsk and better than I could explain

http://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=5097

XP and W2K are the same as for the directions

While you are in the Recovery Console you should run "FIXMBR" and maybe "FIXBOOT"

that may get you going or you are FUBARed
if it doesn't work you should find someone with a computer to pull the data off the drive
or install a new drive and slave the old drive after windows has been installed (this is a great option as your drive is failing)

IF the Recover Console does not see the drive at all you are looking at a new drive and this drive may be dead and unrecoverable

 

[firewolfrl]

I prefer

http://www.bootdisk.com/

and for the W2K

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

it is safe and I refer to this site when I need to.
and it is better than the one listed above

 

[Kablooie]

First of all, thanks are due to 'eyec' and 'firewolfrl'. I really appreciate your taking the time to try and help. Unfortunately, however, I am still hip-deep in the pudding.

I tried several of the bootdisk type options. I tried running 'fixboot' and 'fixmbr' from the console. Finally, in exasperation, I borrowed my bosses home PC, very similar to mine, and mounted my drive as 'slave' behind his drive. Upon attempting to access my drive through CLI or Windoze; I would get an error stating, "In page operation failed" and then unceremoniously dump me back into the root of the 'master' drive.

Am I well and truly hosed?

Thanks in advance for any help!

L8r,
(ck)