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HD error when loading WinXP

Started by CTar Apr 12, 2006 at 7:49 AM 16 replies 1.3k views

Original Post

Apr 12, 2006 at 7:49 AM

I just got a computer which I'm supposed to install software like Windows XP on for someone. The problem is, that I get an error. I start by inserting the Windows XP CD, everything works fine and the computer identifies the HD. I create an 80GB partition (the size of the HD) and choose the NTFS file system, everything goes fine until it reboots, now where it normally starts the Windows XP installation program it just says: "Disk read error Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete to reboot" (translated, so might not be exactly what the message says in English) I tried installing it with what is called "NTFS(fast)" I also tried stuff like using small partitions (tried 8GB and 40GB), but this error comes up everytime. I'm wondering if it's a broken HD or it could be something else. The HD is a Maxtor 80GB 7200 RPM. So does anyone have an idea what the problem could be, and how to fix it?

Evil Steve

Apr 12, 2006 at 7:53 AM

Sounds like a knackered hard disk to me. Do you have another spare one you can try?

CTar

Apr 12, 2006 at 8:00 AM

Well, I actually have a HD of the same type, just 40GB instead of 80GB. I'll try it now.

Riviera Kid

Apr 12, 2006 at 8:19 AM

i had a similar problem i think. Can't remember the error code / title.

I thought maybe it was windows being crap, i was right.

I installed linux (formatting) then i installed windows (formatting) and everything was fine.

It seams something had happened to my hard drive which windows didnt like. It seams the process of formatting and installing linux removed this problem.

I think you may have the same problem. It cant hurt to try.

paulecoyote

Apr 12, 2006 at 8:24 AM

get up the rescue console by booting from your xp installation disc, and run a chkdsk against your boot partition.

type: chkdsk /?
to get options up for the command.

You probably want to do normal format, rather then the fast format. Esp on a new harddisk.

CTar

Apr 12, 2006 at 8:25 AM

Quote:
Original post by Riviera Kid
i had a similar problem i think. Can't remember the error code / title.

I thought maybe it was windows being crap, i was right.

I installed linux (formatting) then i installed windows (formatting) and everything was fine.

It seams something had happened to my hard drive which windows didnt like. It seams the process of formatting and installing linux removed this problem.

I think you may have the same problem. It cant hurt to try.

I hope I still have my Fedora CDs then. Anyway I remember having another problem with a HD which had all kinds of random data on it (think I deleted the registry, and then the power went off in the middle of a format) the Windows XP installer actually crashed but the Linux installer was able to format the HD.

CTar

Apr 12, 2006 at 1:01 PM

Ok, my extra HD was broken (didn't think I would use it again, so didn't handle it carefully), in case I need an extra I do have an additional one, but it's a SATA disc so I'm not sure the computer supports it or the same errors will occur. Chkdsk just gave me an overview of my disc (name, number, sector size (4096) and number of sectors), but it didn't indicate any errors. Of course I can't find my Linux disc, so I'll have to download Linux again before trying that.

Run_The_Shadows

Apr 12, 2006 at 5:19 PM

Quote:
Original post by paulecoyote
You probably want to do normal format, rather then the fast format. Esp on a new harddisk.

I'll second this plan of action. If this is a brand new drive, 'fast' formatting probably isn't the best plan.

CTar

Apr 13, 2006 at 6:51 AM

I have now tried installing the latest version of Ubuntu Linux, it works fine until the point where I'm to remove my installation media and re-boot. When the computer reboots it says:
"GRUB loading stage1.5

GRUB loading, please wait
Error 18"

Does anyone know a good program to perform a "full" format of the HD?

Don Quioxte

Apr 13, 2006 at 7:46 AM

Quote:
Original post by CTar
...
Does anyone know a good program to perform a "full" format of the HD?

I'm not sure, but Ultimate Boot CD or Knoppix may be helpful. My brother had weird problems like that, and I think that he used Knoppix, which requires no install, for a reformat. Ultimate Boot CD has hard drive diagnostics, which might help recover your drive.

Run_The_Shadows

Apr 13, 2006 at 10:07 AM

Quote:
Original post by CTar
I have now tried installing the latest version of Ubuntu Linux, it works fine until the point where I'm to remove my installation media and re-boot. When the computer reboots it says:
"GRUB loading stage1.5

GRUB loading, please wait
Error 18"

Does anyone know a good program to perform a "full" format of the HD?

Um. Boot from the Windows XP disc and install Windows on the HD? Instead of choosing 'fast' this time choose a full format?

CTar

Apr 13, 2006 at 3:19 PM

Quote:
Original post by Run_The_Shadows
Um. Boot from the Windows XP disc and install Windows on the HD? Instead of choosing 'fast' this time choose a full format?

I have done that, my OP might not have been very clear on that, but after failing with the normal NTFS I tried the NTFS (fast) format. I have now tried downloading Ultimate Boot CD and first making the full format (I think they called if "Clear with zeros (Full)" ), I also tried getting Ultimate Boot CD to setup the NTFS partition, but it didn't work. Well tommorow I will get another Windows XP CD to check if the problem had something to do with my CD (it's 5 years old, and have been used at least 30 times).

paulecoyote

Apr 13, 2006 at 3:44 PM

Quote:
Original post by CTar
I have now tried installing the latest version of Ubuntu Linux, it works fine until the point where I'm to remove my installation media and re-boot. When the computer reboots it says:
"GRUB loading stage1.5

GRUB loading, please wait
Error 18"

Does anyone know a good program to perform a "full" format of the HD?

Ubuntu is a piece of crap on some machines... what it's done there is mess up your master boot record. When Grub was installed it was under one device name that existed when it was installed, but at this particular point of the boot process it isn't there or called something else. Means booting up from a live cd and fiddling with the grub file until you get lucky.

Let me guess, your motherboard has some kind of raid on board right? As well as both S-ATA and normal IDE?

Anyway, even if I am way off the mark, if you boot up your xp install disk, go to the rescue console and type fixmbr you'll be on the way to having Windows back again.

CTar

Apr 13, 2006 at 5:39 PM

Quote:
Original post by paulecoyote
Let me guess, your motherboard has some kind of raid on board right? As well as both S-ATA and normal IDE?

Actually yes, it's this motherboard.

Quote:
Anyway, even if I am way off the mark, if you boot up your xp install disk, go to the rescue console and type fixmbr you'll be on the way to having Windows back again.

Unfortunatly that didn't help I get the same error message after having called fixmbr.

paulecoyote

Apr 14, 2006 at 4:17 AM

Quote:
Original post by CTar
Quote:
Original post by paulecoyote
Let me guess, your motherboard has some kind of raid on board right? As well as both S-ATA and normal IDE?

Actually yes, it's this motherboard.

Quote:
Anyway, even if I am way off the mark, if you boot up your xp install disk, go to the rescue console and type fixmbr you'll be on the way to having Windows back again.

Unfortunatly that didn't help I get the same error message after having called fixmbr.

AH, we are getting somewhere. All that means is that the fixmbr rewrote the boot record for the wrong device. It also indicates that both Linux and the rescue process are a bit confused about what the boot device actually is.

Lookie here: msdn link to fixmbr

You will probably want to see what devices it thinks you have, so use the map command.

CTar

Apr 14, 2006 at 4:49 AM

Quote:
Original post by paulecoyote
AH, we are getting somewhere. All that means is that the fixmbr rewrote the boot record for the wrong device. It also indicates that both Linux and the rescue process are a bit confused about what the boot device actually is.

Lookie here: msdn link to fixmbr

You will probably want to see what devices it thinks you have, so use the map command.

When I run the map command (with no parameters) I get:
\Device\Harddisk0\Partition1
And the name for my floppy drive and cd drive. Judging from what you said that information might be wrong, right? I tried running:
fixmbr \Device\Harddisk0\Partition1
But this gave me an "Invalid partition table" error. After that I tried running:
fixmbr \Device\Harddisk0
But I still get the same error.

dave

Apr 14, 2006 at 4:54 AM

Well the only thing i can now suggest is that you download a program called Del Part. It basically erases ALL partition information from the drive. Then run the XP setup. If the XP disc isn't bootable (which it should be ;) ) then use a win 98 disc and install over a Windows 98 installation.

Dave

CTar

Apr 14, 2006 at 8:33 AM

I'm going to take the computer back to the store and try to get it replaced.

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