How can I fix my laptop?

Question

Just one random day when I go to start up my laptop it goes to a black screen saying " a disk read error occurred. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart" and it does this over an over again. Someone told me to do a primary hard disk self test but the test won't run. Please help! It is an HP Pavilion dv4-1117nr entertainment notebook PC if that matters thank you.

Answer 1

It means your hard drive's boot information can't be read.  This may be a corrupted MBR, a disconnected or faulty cable, faulty hard drive controller, or a dead hard drive.  To see if one of these is the case, boot the computer with the Windows 7 DVD (I'm assuming that's your version of Windows) and start up the System Recovery Console, and see if you can access the hard drive with one of the tools there. Check out this Bleeping Computers tutorial on using the Recovery Environment:  http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/windows-7-recovery-environment-command-prompt/



If you don't have a Windows 7 installation DVD, you can download it from http://www.downloadcrew.com/?act=search&cat=67   Make sure you get the one that matches your current system.  Alternatively, you can download a Windows Repair disc image from http://lair360.co.uk/blog/1053/windows-7-repair-disk-iso-file/ or http://techfleece.com/2011/05/06/windows-7-repair-disks-and-windows-vista-recovery-disks/   Use ImgBurn from http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download to burn the image to CD or DVD.



If your hard drive is malfunctioning and you don't have an up to date backup, then you'll need to get your documents copied onto an external hard drive as soon as possible before it breaks down completely, so you can send it back to where you bought it for repair/replacement under warranty if appropriate, or buy a new one to replace it yourself.  To do this, since Windows won't boot, you'll need an alternate operating system.  I'd recommend you download a small Linux distro (such as Puppy -- http://puppylinux.org/main/Download%20Latest%20Release.htm#lucidpuppy ) and make a bootable CD or better, make a flash drive with Pendrive Linux.  Get this from http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/ and follow the instructions on that page -- it's very easy.  Once you've booted to this flash drive, insert another flash drive or USB hard drive into another USB port, and you can copy your files to it.



If you're unable to repair Windows, you'll have to attempt to restore factory settings, and recover your files from your backups.  If the hard drive has indeed died, you'll have to get a new one and restore your backup image, or restore factory settings from the restore discs that either came with your computer, or that you made when you first got the computer.



Good luck!

 

Answer 2

Computer black screen of death is usually related to hardware or driver. It is typically caused by software errors in device drivers: in Windows systems by poorly written device drive , It also be caused by physical hardware faults, such as faulty RAM memory or power supplies, overheating of components, or hardware which is run beyond its specification limits . On the other hand, registry damage,corrupted program and viruses are the major causes of computer black screen,too. According to the issue you've got, the following tips may be available to you.

1.An efficiency troubleshooting step on hardware is to start your computer with the minimum hardware necessary to run the operating system. If your computer starts successfully it proves that one of the removed hardware devices was the cause of the STOP message. Otherwise move to the next solution.



2.Boot your computer in Safe Mode by pressing F8 at startup. Then go to My Computer and right-click on Disk C to select Properties from the dropdown menu. From the Tools tab, perform an error check and disk cleaning.



3.If the about two solutions doesn't work, the last one I can suggest to you is to create a bootable disk. It is the most quick and effective way for you to solve the problem. You just need to download a software can be used to burn your CD/usb into a bootable one and then boot your computer from it. Run the software to fix the issue after that. There are few free software for you to use, so if you want to take this solution money is indispensable. Windows Boot Genius owns a better cost/performance among such kinds of software I've used. It may be a good choice for you if you have money to pay.



By the way,reinstall your operating system can also help you out if nothing important stores in it.

Answer 3

Hello Cody,



This is not a simple problem to solve and if the machine is still under warrenty, I would submit it for repair.



However, please take a look at the following webpage in case any of the solutions offered may be of use to you:



http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/250364-14-solution-disk-read-error-occurred



I hope this helps.



Regards,



Robert.

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Answer 4

Sara, you cannot boot into safe mode with a disk read error, lol.



The error is basically saying you have something wrong with your hard drive. It could be a corrupted Windows or it has just come loose inside your computer.



First things first, is to open up your your laptop. I wouldn't worry considering they are nothing like desktops. It's one of the screwed in compartments at the bottom of the laptop base. Hard drive should be slotted in, just slot it out and clean anything that has crap on it and the same for the compartment. Then try again.



There is an option of running system repair using a disc or USB. Even though Windows are always pre-flashed to laptops and desktops, it's your sole responsibility to create a backup to disc or USB once installed.

Answer 5

what happens when you restart your computer and press F8 several times?



Select "last known good configuration"



If that doesn't fix it - restart and press F8 again...



Select repair or restore.

Answer 6

no longer understanding what's certainly incorrect with the toshiba pc which you have makes it lots greater complicated - edit your question & describe what's incorrect, alongside with the equipment specs! Then we would be waiting to help!