"A Disk Read Error Occured"

[The Scarecrow]

I am getting the dreaded "A DISK READ ERROR OCCURRED PRESS Ctrl+Alt+Del TO RESTART" message when I boot up my machine. The last thing I did was install IE7 reboot and install Media Player 11. I got an GL something.dll error on the media player install, but everything seemed fine. I rebooted the machine and I got this error.

Things I have tried so far. I tried repairing with the XP disk still get the message. I tried FIXMBR, CHKDSK /r and still get ths message. I can boot off a Bart PE disk and I can see all my files and even copy files. I even ran spybot off the drive. I have also ran virus scan, stinger, and spybot wich found nothing. I am running out of options. I really dont want to format the drive but will if I have too. Anyone know of any other options? Thanks I appreciate it.

[shihchiun]

You'll probably be needing a new drive. It'd be a good idea to back up anything important while you still can. How old is this one?

[The Scarecrow]

  shihchiun said:

You'll probably be needing a new drive. It'd be a good idea to back up anything important while you still can. How old is this one?

Its less the a year or two old. Its a MAXTOR 160Gig drive.

[SIE]

You might want to check the power connector on the drive aswell as the SATA cable, if it is SATA of course, i've had that problem a couple of times due to dodgy molex connectors.

[jwjw1]

  SIE said:

You might want to check the power connector on the drive aswell as the SATA cable, if it is SATA of course, i've had that problem a couple of times due to dodgy molex connectors.

also bad sector in the first few blocks of the HDD will cause this...installing your software could have 'damaged' it. run the Maxtor 'PowerMax 4.23'

[The Scarecrow]

Sorry should have included that. Its a IDE drive with no other drives on the ribbon.

[The Scarecrow]

  jwjw1 said:

also bad sector in the first few blocks of the HDD will cause this...installing your software could have 'damaged' it. run the Maxtor 'PowerMax 4.23'

The drive passed all the test. The drive is still under warrenty, I guess that is a plus.

[JustGeorge]

I would back everything up, let the Maxtor software do a Low Level format, re-install Windows and see what happens after that. keep an eye on the event logs and if you still have problems, request an RMA from Maxtor. I've had their drives fail on me in the past when their software says all is good.

[null_]

  denzilla said:

I would back everything up, let the Maxtor software do a Low Level format, re-install Windows and see what happens after that. keep an eye on the event logs and if you still have problems, request an RMA from Maxtor. I've had their drives fail on me in the past when their software says all is good.

So I'm not the only one...