Windows 7 - Disk Read Error During Install

Asked By JCO

25-Jul-08 06:11 PM

We are running XP Pro (sp2) (Upgrading to Vista Ultimate)

My son, preparing for College, was able to purchase Vista Ultimate upgrade
for 20 bucks.  Can't beat that.  However, when trying to upgrade to Vista,
we get a disk read error.  This happens during the first reboot...after
vista has copied the files to the harddrive.  So at that point, the system
is screwed and can no longer boot.

Fortunately, we have some intelligence dealing with computers.  We have an
image of XP Pro saved on another partition.  We did a restore and tried a
second time (getting the same error).   I read somewhere that the cluster
size of NTFS has to be 4.  Thought that was our solution but when I booted
with Acronis Disk Director, it says that we are already at a cluster size 4.
So that is not our issue.

What else would cause this issue?  The drive has no errors on it.
I'm wondering if it has anything to do with Vista's NTFS vs the current XP's
version of NTFS?  No where does it say that its converting the files to the
new NTFS.

After giving up on this, we decided to do the second option which is a clean
install of Vista Ultimate (which apparently is on the same DVD).  We got the
same disk error.   The disk has several partitions.  I don't think that is
an issue.

I was one of the beta testers for Vista .. long before it came out.  I
warned my son that there's no reason to change his Operating System but he
still wants to do it.

Any suggestions?
Thanks

25-Jul-08 06:15 PM

Are you trying to install a 32 bit or 64 bit Ultimate upgrade?

25-Jul-08 07:09 PM

(snip multipost)

Asked and answered (by me in quite a bit of detail) in the other newsgroup
to which you posted. Please don't multipost; it makes more work for
everyone and will get you *less* help, not more. See this for why:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossposting
http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm - multiposting

If you have forgotten where you posted or can't find your post, use Google
Groups Advanced Search and search for your name.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

26-Jul-08 12:30 AM

32 Bit Vista Ultimate.  Sorry I did not mention that before.
Thanks

26-Jul-08 12:36 AM

I multi post because that other group was  a joke.  I even stated on that NG
that I'm moving to another NG since the response by zuoer was not take
serious.  So I will stay on this NG for now.

I read your "Detail" response.  Most don't apply but I will download the Mfg
software to test the harddrive.  Although I'm sure there is nothing wrong
with it.  I don't understand what your talking about when you said I've
tried 3-different operating systems.  That's not what I said.  I said we've
tried the upgrade twice and then tried a clean install.  On each of the same
failure, we was able to restore to Windows XP Pro from a stored Image.

All components are less than 3 months old.  We built the computer ourselves
with good quality components.  Been running Windows XP Pro flawlessly sense
then.  I do wonder if it has anything to do with SATA method of
communication with the HD instead of IDE but that's a stretch.  I have not
checked the BIOS for any clues either.

26-Jul-08 12:53 AM

The morons and idiots are here too.  They are in every Vista group,
but they tend to hang in vista.general more than the others.

26-Jul-08 03:18 AM

The only moron and idiot from vista.general in here is that noony!
He travels through all of them, unfortunately.

Reading your post, that vista DVD plays on my mind.
Where is the Product Key?
Did they give you one?
If they did, borrow a vista DVD, and see if the Product Key will work on that.
Full vista DVDs contain ALL Versions.

You do know that to do an upgrade, you do it from within a running windows
installation?
--
Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia

26-Jul-08 01:11 PM

The harddrive is a:
Seagate Barracuda® 7200.11 Hard Drive 500MB
I cannot find tools that will check the harddrive.

26-Jul-08 03:28 PM

If you are using a SATA drive with an onboard SATA controller and
connections is the drive you are trying to install Vista on connected to
SATA connector #1 on the MOBO? If not change it.

27-Jul-08 11:48 PM

Yes it's a SATA Drive and it is using the onboard controller, but I believe
it is controller # 0 (zero).
Why is this an issue?
Windows XP-Pro had no issues installing.

All test ran on this drive shows the drive to be in perfect working order.
Don't know what else to do.
Thanks

28-Jul-08 11:34 AM

Some MOBOS do not support the auto boot process during a Vista installation
if the destination drive is not on SATA port #1.
The SATA ports on my MOBO are numbered, are yours numbered?

28-Jul-08 05:25 PM

We have it connected to the very first controller.  The enumeration of SATA
controllers begins at one that is what it is set to (unlike IDE drives ...
enumeration is zero based).  So I don't see that being an issue.

I've been curious about the NTFS structure.   Since Vista has it's own NTFS,
I assume  the installation has to do a conversion.  There is no evidence
that this is happening (or not happening).  If its an update, it would have
to convert to the new NTFS first so that it does not destroy the existing
data and Registry items.  If your doing a clean install, you would expect it
to let you know that it is doing a format (to the new NTFS).  Like I said,
there is no evidence either way of this action.  We've tried the update
twice and a clean install once so far with the same error.  Once all the
files are copied from the DVD to the harddrive and the computer reboots for
the first time, it has a Disk Error Reading the Disk.

Thanks so far for you help.

28-Jul-08 06:41 PM

Since the installation appears to be not trying to read from the primary
drive you are installing it on I made the suggestion I did.
I never said anything about the first controller I only mentioned the first
SATA port if the SATA ports are numbered on your MOBO.
Is your BIOS set for the OS to boot from the primary drive you are trying to
install on if your optical drive is empty?
I was not aware that there is more that there is more then one version of
definition of the NTFS format do you have link that describes that there are
different NTFS formats.

30-Jul-08 12:36 AM

My boot order is currently set to look at the DVD first, then the HD.  Since
the upgrade does not require to boot from the CD, maybe I can change the
system to only look at the HD when it boots.

As far as the NTFS being different.... Google "Transaction NTFS"

30-Jul-08 09:43 AM

Sounds like it is set correctly since it is set to boot from the partition
where you are installing.
Do you have another OS installed on any other HDDs or HDD partitions on your
system?

31-Jul-08 01:47 PM

No.  The C-Drive currently has XP Pro ... that is it.  No other partition has
an OS loaded on it.
Remember...we have tried a full install also (as oppose to an upgrade).  That
has the same error.

31-Jul-08 02:10 PM

Disconnect the C-drive and try again with a full install.
If you try an upgrade you can only upgrade the XP installation that is on
your C-Drive

31-Jul-08 07:36 PM

That's not good.
The system is configured with XP-Pro on C, Applications on D and Data on E.
Also has Games, Media, Backup and Storage as other partitions.

If the upgrade disregards the applications that are installed on the
D-Partition then the upgrade is no good for us.  That means a clean install
is all we can do.

Of course it wont do that either.

31-Jul-08 08:12 PM

The reason the retail upgrade costs less then a retail full install is
because when you do an upgrade you are trading in your XP license as partial
payment for the upgrade. So the only way you can upgrade is to do the
upgrade on the C drive where your XP installation..
So if you can do a full backup of C before the Vista upgrade then  you can
recover if anything goes wrong during the upgrade.  If all goes well then
your vista system will have all of the data and programs that you had with
XP.
You can search for assistance if you want a dual boot installation and you
may find a way to do what you want, however, if you only have an upgrade
install retail package the dual boot workaround will not be legal under the
Upgrade version EULA.

01-Aug-08 07:16 PM

Well we got it to install.  The trick in installing is that the HD had to be
reformatted.  The installation does the format but won't do it unless the
drive is empty.  So we formatted the C-drive, then put the disk in and
rebooted.

So they call this an upgrade but you have to re-install all software.
Really sucks, but we are talking about Vista.  I'm glad this is my son's
computer and not mine.

I think I will wait until the next operating system comes out before getting
rid of XP.  Kind of like when Windows ME came out.  It's worth waiting for
the next OS.

01-Aug-08 07:39 PM

Not sure why you had to reformat I have done 2 XP to Vista upgrades without
reformatting and never  had a problem and did not have to re-install any
applications.  In any case you are up an running now so that is the good
news.

02-Aug-09 06:23 PM

I was following this thread because I have the same problem.
The solution mentioned by JCO however, did not work for me.
Here 's what happens:

Trying to install Vista Ultimate on following system: ASUS P5GC mobo,
500MB WD SATA HDD, 1 SATA DVD. Have reformatted the HDD because I did
not need to keep existing data.

The HDD (=Master 3) and DVD (=Master 4) are recognised by the BIOS as
well as by the VISTA install.

During the installation process, I can select the empty space on the
HDD to install Vista. So far so good. After the first reboot, I get the
Disk read error.

Tried already several things, including recovery. When I go then to
look on to the C: drive, I can see and read all the files already
installed. I conclude it must have something to do with the boot record?

Have completely reformatted the harddisk, same result.
Have tried windows XP installation, same result.
Have tried fixboot and fixmbr, but this did not help either.

I abslutely do not want to launch a debate linux vs vista (so please no
reactions in that direction), but before I ran a linux SME server
version on the same system and had no problem with the hardware.
Have deleted all partitions, so nothing has been left on the HDD.

Have changed the SATA cables, tried to install once again but got the
same Disk read error.

I am guessing it has something to do with fact that I am only using
SATA drive? I noticed it gets allocated to Master 3, assuming that
Master 1 and 2 are reserved for ATA (Mobo still has parallel ATA on
board). Not sure about this though.

I am not sure what I can still do, but I would surely appreciate some
help.


--
PDb
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

02-Aug-09 07:09 PM

Do you really mean 500MB?

03-Aug-09 06:21 AM

Hi,

Try disconnecting the ATA drive prior to install. Do not format or create
any installation volumes, let setup do that.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

03-Aug-09 12:46 PM

To Johnny: 500GB harddisk instead of 500MB.

To Rick: I have no ATA drive present, only SATA HDD and SATA DVD
I did not format nor did a create an installation volume. I let set up
take care of it, but it did not help.


--
PDb
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

03-Aug-09 08:02 PM

I do not know if this will help, because it applies to XP.  I found it on
another forum.

Some motherboards require the SATA channel to be set to emulate IDE
before an XP install will work. It can be returned to SATA or raid later


http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic112767.html

04-Aug-09 04:15 PM

Finally got it to work!
Checked the BIOS settings, and indeed there was some IDE config stuff
in there. Did not understand much of the settings, but there was only
one with which the HDD was recognised so left it at that.
Finally did something what I should have done from the beginning:
upgrade to the latest BIOS ! It worked fine after that.
I noticed one little change after booting with new Bios. LBA setting of
HDD was reported Active during POST, while with the old Bios I remember
it was reported off, even though in the Bios the setting was the same,
namely "Auto".
I forced the LBA setting to "Disabled" in the new Bios version to
check, and indeed it gave me the Disk Read Error message, which makes me
confident that that was the problem with the old version of the Bios.

Thanks to all for your support.


--
PDb
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com