T42 'disk read error'. Require support

[john_oleary]

Hello all
I have above 'disk read error' message at boot and cannot get passed. Please set out any tests or steps I should take to get up and running again. The laptop did not get a fall or bang so I do not think there is a whole lot wrong. I do not have the disk backed-up either. I am not a computer wiz, but have good basic knowledge just the same.
Thanks for help and support
John, Dublin

[jdhurst]

You can get PC Doctor from the Lenovo site (possibly tomorrow as the result of some apparent downtime) and I think you can run it from a CD. Try that and see what it tells you. If you cannot access the hard drive from the CD, then try to get or make a bootable Bart's PE or Knoppix CD and start the computer that way. Let us know what happens and we can assist further. ..... JDH

[Harryc]

You could run the PC-Doctor hard drive diagnostics or if you know the manufacturer of the hard drive (most likely Hitachi if it's original) you could run the manufacturers diagnostic test.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 56222.html
http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/download.htm#DFT

Edit: Deleted duplicate thread and merged with this topic.

[john_oleary]

Harryc and jdburst/all.
Ta very much for your leads to assist me on my road to diagnosing the 'disk read error'. I eventually got the PC-Doctor Boot CD loaded at the weekend and the diagnostic initially pointed to all ECC errors (error correcting code). Then I opted for the PC-Doctor 'Park Disc' option which cured the ECC errors, but threw up 'IDE Controller' test fail instead

Is IDE Controller a common fail on Thinkpads? Assume now I need a new controller? If so, where are they sourced on the Net (ebay for example, please help with defining what is needed) and are they easily fitted? The HDD is type TOSHIBA MK4026GAX, S/N: 65JZ4326T rather than Hitachi)
Thank You
John, Dublin

[richk]

It is most likely the controller on the disk itself. You need to try another drive.