XPS 27 - disk read error occurred

Hi Mike,

That error could pertain to either the HDD or the SSD. When you booted to the diagnostics, did the tests indicate that both drives are ok? If so, I would next try a utility such as SeaTools to test both drives. You should install it onto a flash drive and boot the system to the flash drive from the F12 menu.

If it's the SSD that's bad, then you'll need to change the BIOS setting to turn off caching. I believe in your system, the BIOS setting is RAID. Change that to AHCI and you should be able to boot to the HDD. But don't try this until you confirm the problem.

Thanks for the reply and suggestions.  Yes, both drives passed the diagnostic tests.  I also tried your suggestions of using SeatTools (for DOS) and the ran the short test on both drives and they both passed. 

Are there other things I should try?  Since it's an XPS One, I cant really open it up to check for loose connections, etc... 

Thanks,

Mike

Thanks for the reply and suggestions.  Yes, both drives passed the diagnostic tests.  I also tried your suggestions of using SeatTools (for DOS) and the ran the short test on both drives and they both passed. 

Are there other things I should try?  Since it's an XPS One, I cant really open it up to check for loose connections, etc... 

Thanks,

Mike

Would having a Windows 7 Install DVD help in this situation?  Assuming it would, what is the best way to go about getting one so I can try running repair?  My system didnt come with one.  I am guessing I can also create a bootable flash drive if there is a way to get the ISO file.

Are there other diagnostic tools you would recommend I also try?

As a summary, my system wont boot.  Keeps telling me a disk read error occurred and to press ctrl+alt+del to restart.  I ran both the bot diagnostic and seatools (short and long tests) and neither found anything wrong.  I can boot off a flash drive (which is how I ran seatools).

Thanks,

Mike

A disk read error is normally a hardware problem, but not necessarily with the hard drive. Have you tested other components?

There used to be an ISO of the various Windows 7 versions but they've been taken down. Your best bet is to purchase a Dell Win 7 reinstallation disc from Ebay.

I found another thread where it was suggested that the problem could be caused by not restarting your system after a windows update which could cause SSD cache to become corrupt.  It sounded like the solution was to temporarily disable the SSD cache.  Is this something I should explore?  If so, what are the steps to disable SSD? I am fine if I loose some data (ex documents recently updated).  Are there other risks to doing this?  

I have one other question.  I am trying to understand where in the boot process I get this error.  Is there a document or diagram which shows the sequence of things that happen at startup?  I get the error a few seconds after startup. Right after the Intel Rapid Storage Technology splash screen.  

Tech support told  me I should press F8 at boot but that doses seem to work.  I am guessing that I get the error before windows starts loading.  That is part of why I want to understand the sequence at start up.  

I will search ebay for the windows 7 cd.  

Thanks

Mike

Yes, that's what I was saying in an earlier post. Boot to system setup (F2), and look for the SATA controller mode. In order to use the mSATA SSD as a cache, this setting should be RAID or possibly Intel Rapid Start. Change that to AHCI. Now the system will ignore the SSD and should boot directly from the hard drive. If you get a blue screen error, let me know. 

Hi 

this solution is it useful with Dell XPS 14 Z ??

Thnx in advance