Disk read error? Hdd failure?

[wertwert]

I've been experiencing very slow bootup times after installing sp2 over a fresh install of xp about two weeks back. The white bar at the bottom of the screen takes a very long time to finish loading and in addition to that the windows splash screen takes forever to finish.

About two days back, after waking up my t40 from hibernation, it displayed the message disk read error, and asked me to press ctrl alt del. I then proceeded to do that and received the same message repeatedly.

I then powered down the unit and turned it on again. Upon doing this I received the same message. I've since been able to access windows and get all my files out. However occasionally the message displays itself. I'm currently doing a fresh install on win xp on it.

I would like to ask whether the above message is indicative of an impending hard drive failure, and if it is, how do I go about rectifying this issue with ibm?

[BillMorrow]

......

I would like to ask whether the above message is indicative of an impending hard drive failure, and if it is, how do I go about rectifying this issue with ibm?

first, get DFT (Drive Fitness Test) from here:

http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/download.htm

then read about the new 100gig 2.5 inch HDD from Hitachi, here:

http://www.hitachigst.com/portal/site/h ... ID=content

IRT Warranty..
call the IBM help center and if your thinkpad is still under warranty, then they will send you a replacement HDD..

[s0larian]

Could also be a SP2 Issue. After I installed SP2 I tried to run bootvis because of the slow boot performance. But I got always a "read memory" error. Fresh install with a SP2 integrated slipstream CD solved the problem, bootvis now runs as always.

[kchung]

In addition to the IBM Disk Fitness Test, open the Computer Management application [Right mouse My Computer and select "Manage"] and check the System events log under the "Event Viewer".

If you see "Disk" or "ATAPI" errors, that is a dead give away of a problem.

In these cases, I would immediately do a backup. Then run DFT which may or may not find a problem (if you get an error code 0x70, 71, etc, it's new drive time!). If DFT doesn't find a problem, you can try to call IBM and plead your case with the Disk/ATAPI errors alone but it's a roll of the dice if the tech will order the new drive for you. If DFT does find a problem, do NOT let do a sector repair for you - you want to get the error code first!

If DFT does not fail, I'd run a chkdsk on the drive - don't do this before running DFT because this can mask out the DFT error which you'll want to have to get your drive replaced (if it's still under warranty).

-Kevin

[wertwert]

I've run the disk fitness test after the fresh install on win xp and there doesn't seem to be any problem with the drive.

I guess it's probably due a bad sp2 installation as boot time is much faster now.

Thanks for all the help guys=)

[mattfromomaha]

I'd try also running checkdisk. Open a DOS window and type chkdsk c:.

I've had similar problems on some desktops before and that solved the problem.