:A disk read error occured'

Question

Hi, I have purchased a Dimension 4100 used, without a hard drive. After installing a hard drive from a previous computer, in working condition with Windows 2000 operating system, the screen is keep showing the error message described in the subject line.(after the 'blue screen') I have followed the instruction listed here:http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dzuul/syssetup.htm I have also disconnected all the other drives..same result. Somebody told me that if I am running W2000 on a Dimension that have a previous motherboard setup for Win 98 it might not recognize the hard drive. Is there a solution for this software upgrade? Thank you in advance for any suggestion. A

Majestic · Answer

With your model there is no separate settings for the motherboard depending on what operating system is installed.  It's just a matter of having the system boot to the hard drive and the system will then load whatever OS is on that hard drive.  Have you tried going into the BIOS Setup and disabling the floppy drive controller so that that floppy drive isn't detected?  It maybe possible that the floppy drive is bad and is preventing the system from booting up completely.  While in the BIOS I would also check to see that the hard drive is detected.

Arad29 · Answer

Hi, Thank you for your response. I have dissasembly every drive except the hard drive and I am receiving the same message. While being in BIOS I verified if the hard drive is seen and it shows the brand name and capacity. In order to test the floppy drive I have run a Win 98 start-up disk and it run OK. Then I typed 'C:' and then 'dir' and I have seen the files on the hard drive. I am taking the hard drive to install in another PC but what I am suppose to do if the hard drive check out to be OK? A

peterfelgate_ce40d3 · Answer

Unless you are using another PC of almost identical specification (and certainly the same motherboard chipset) loading Windows 2000 on a HDD on one PC and transferring it to another is nearly always doomed to failure. I would suggest installing Windows 2000 on the HDD once the latter is installed properly in the Del.....

Arad29 · Answer

The hard drive had Win2000 installed while was into a HP computer. I have plugged the hard drive back in the original computer and it worked fine. At this point Ihave 2 solutions: 1) To reinstall Windows on the hard drive once it's plugged into Dell. 2) To research if upgrading the motherboard will help. What do you think?

peterfelgate_ce40d3 · Answer

There are a number of ways you can force hardware re-detection - search the internet and you'll find them.  You could try that route.  Upgrading the motherboard is fraught with difficulties, not the least of which is that the Dell motherboards tend to be very proprietary and usually only other Dell motherboards fit...

Arad29 · Answer

My motherboard is A00. I saw some messages saying that people have download some BIOS upgrade to other versions.????   Anyway, I have followed DELL instructions in situation like this and it brought me to the same result. I have to run again another operating system.:( To bad I have to loose all the files and anti-virus software.   Thank you everyone for suggestions. A

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