Sector not found reading drive C

[Johnny's Angel]

I had gotten some "Fatal Error Message" upon accessing the internet, which shut down my computer. :?

When I restarted the computer, I got a message which read that because Windows had not been shut down properly, there could be errors on the C Drive. :? Upon scanning the Drive for errors, the system stopped responding. (black screen) :roll:

Now, when I turn the computer on, I get a message which reads:

Sector not found reading drive C

with the options: Abort, Retry, Fail? :shock:

Abort shuts the computer off. Retry continues trying with the same message. Fail reads:

A device file that is specified in the SYSTEM.INI file is damaged. It may be needed to run Windows.

You may need to run the Windows Setup program again. If the file is included in another software package, you made need to reinstall the software that uses that file.

C:\WINDOWS\system\VMM32\ios.VXD
Press any key to continue_

:shock:

I have tried to correct this using the Safe Mode, but with no luck.

What could have caused this and what should be done to correct it? :?:

[Dave@Bytes]

It sounds as though you might have a physical defect on the surface of the drive where a portion of your Windows data was stored.

You might be able to get away with reinstalling Windows, in which case you will not lose any data. But it might be necessary to reformat and reinstall, in which case you will lose everything.

What OS are you running?

[Johnny's Angel]

I am running Windows 98.

Do you think that running the Start-up Disk would solve my problem? Or, should I do as you suggested and just reinstall Windows altogether? :?:

[Dave@Bytes]

The startup disk provides you with the tools necessary to format and partition your disks, as well as critical Windows files that make your drive bootable. They also provide drivers that allow you to access the CD ROM, etc.

I don't think there is anything on the startup disk that will allow you to recover from your problem.

If there is a bad sector on your hard drive where critical Windows data once resided, then a complete repartition, reformat and reinstall will map around that bad spot.

But this will destroy all data on the drive.

You should first try reinstalling Windows from a Windows disk--if you have a stand-alone Windows disk. This will retain your programs and data.

If this fails to work, then repartition, reofrmat and reinstall.

Have you tried running a thorough scan from the startup disk?
Couldn't hurt.

[Johnny's Angel]

I have the Windows 98 program on a CD. Nothing happened when I installed/ran it...I just keep getting the error messages. :roll:

[Dave@Bytes]

Put the startup disk in the floppy.

It'll ask you if you want to enable CD support....select yes.

Once you get to the A: prompt, start looking for the CD drive. It'll probably be E so type E: and hit ENTER. Once at the E:\ prompt type dir. You should see the setup.exe file here. If not, we're under the wrong drive letter.

If it's there, simply type setup.exe then hit ENTER.

The setup program on the cd should run.

[Johnny's Angel]

Oaky, this sounds simple enough. However, these instructions may be somewhat different for a laptop. I am unable to run both a CD and floppy at the same time. :? Do other steps apply for a laptop? :?:


{We'll get this...eventually! :wink: }

[Dave@Bytes]

You can try booting direectly to the CD. But you have to make changes to the BIOS.

Enter BIOS setup by pressing one of the following keys ESC, F1, F2, F10 or DELETE.

Once in there look for something similar to Boot Sequence and change it to CD first and hard drive SECOND.

SAVE and EXIT.

Now with CD in drive, reboot. See if that launches the setup.

You'll want to chage the boot sequence back later.

[Johnny's Angel]

Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu

1. Normal
2. Logged (\BOOTLOG.TXT)
3. Safe Mode
4. Safe mode with network support
5. Step-by-step configuration
6. Command prompt only
7. Safe mode command prompt only


Sector not found reading drive C
Abort, Retry, Fail?_


Anything I depress takes me back to Sector not found reading drive C. :?

[Dave@Bytes]

You need to find a way to boot from the CD. To do this, you'll need to somehow get into the BIOS setup.

Does it tell you how to get into the BIOS setup as soon as you turn on the laptop?