Windows 95: Disk I/O error 1

[Hndrk]

Hi,

a couple of days ago my windows 95 system froze while opening a program. Upon restarting the system there was an error after the POST saying "disk boot failure, insert system disk".
Further restarts has the screen now displaying a "disk I/O error" message...

I used scandisk.exe on the drive and found that there was a bad cluster and perhaps some of the critical windows files have been corrupted in the process.

I want to repair the current installation of windows 95 on the hard drive, I have the windows 95 install floppys.
However, I want to keep all of the programs, data AND drivers on the hard drive (i.e. I don't want to change or replace anything else other than to repair the windows 95 system files).
This is because I do not have any installs for the programs nor drivers anymore...

Would anyone know how to solve this problem? I would appreciate any help offered


-Thanks

 

[kjv1611]

I just now found it, but you could start by looking over at this site:

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/

They seem to have lots of info about just the sort of thing you're attempting to do.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[cdogg]

Going to that site kjv1611 posted, it seems the only information posted about a repair install is found here:

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/articles/waystoreinstall/reinstallwindows.htm

That's very straight-forward, but realize that reinstalling the OS may cause issues with updates that you already had installed. And even though you don't lose most of your preferences, some are likely to be lost.

Chances are the hard drive is on its way out. With every use, the problem might get worse depending on the type of mechanical failure it's experiencing (such as the head making contact with the platters). So doing the reinstall can be risky and could use the last remaining breath that the drive has if it's about to die. If it were me, I'd salvage what you can now by making it a slave in another PC.

If you do decide to chance reinstalling Windows and it works, I would strongly recommend you image the drive to a new hard drive and replace it.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
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[Hndrk]

Hi,

I wouldn't mind a fresh install but I just can't do that (I might as well scrap it) as I need the programs and I don't have the install files for them...

I inserted a win95A bootdisk and used the "A:\>sys C:"" command, this enabled the hdd to boot into windows. However, when performing scandisk, there is still a fair bit of errors coming from the windows directories.
E.g. C:\Windows\Command, C:\Windows\System, C:\Windows\Sysbckup, etc.

The programs I have on the hdd seem to still work, but I'm worried about all of those windows errors, etc.

I am currently using ghost on a floppy to copy the entire hdd (errors and all)...


-Thanks

 

[cdogg]

Well I'm glad the "sys c:" method worked out for you, but quite frankly I'm surprised it was able to resolve a "disk I/O" error.

In any case, the important thing is that you're making a backup of an OS that is working again. You should always assume that hard drive failure can occur at any moment without warning. Fortunately you had one here. Needless to say, backups are especially important in situations like this when you no longer have the ability to rebuild from scratch or copies of a legacy application installer that you heavily rely on.

Good luck!


~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
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