Data error reading drive C

[DISKDRIVEERROR]

Hi everyone.

I have a DELL Latitude CPI windows 98 laptop and a few days it just wouldn't go past the windows 98 introduction. Everytime I press a button the error code: Data error reading drive C comes up all the time and it wont let me do anything else. Can someone please help me i have no idea what to do.

[Sylvander]

See www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=34054

Looks like your HDD is dead or dying. :(
Try using a boot or startup floppy to use DOS commands to read the contents of the HDD.
Or run fdisk to see if it can read the drive.

Definitely get the HDD manufacturers diagnostic on a floppy and test the drive, although it's generally advised not doing too much or even anything else with it before you backup or image or copy or recover the contents.

Perhaps someone else knows better how to do that.

See also http://www.sirecovery.com/datarecoveryarticle.html#Data%20error%20reading%20 drive%20C:

Do you have a backup of your HDD's contents?

[classicsoftware]

First, do as sylvander says and test the drive.

I would then go out and get a USB drive caddy and place the drive in the caddy to backup your data onto a desktop PC.

Get a new hard drive and then install Widows. After that you can copy the data back from your old hard drive.

[DISKDRIVEERROR]

I have no idea what you are talking about. I dont know how to start up or save anything. my laptop wont let me go anywhere to save things. all i see is the Windows 98 scren. Please explain things a little better i'm hopeless with Computers.

[classicsoftware]

First: You would be better off taking the computer to a reputable local shop and have it fixed.

If you would like to fix it yourself, please post back and I will give you detailed instructions on what to buy and the steps you will need to take care of it on your own.

[DISKDRIVEERROR]

I'd like to do it on my own if i can. Please tell me how

[Paul Komski]

If you have a CD or DVD burner it would be possible to make the backup of your drive onto CDs/DVDs using an imaging utility such as ImageForDOS, BootIt-NG or DriveImage. That would avoid purchasing an external drive caddy (not a bad idea at all) as suggested by ClassicS.

Does your laptop have a CDburner and indeed does it have a floppy drive?

If you have no data that you want to recover on the drive and just want to get Win98 running again that is another matter. Dell should have provided you with a CD to install Windows from. If you are not interested in any data on the drive we should be able to help you reinstall windows from that CD.

When you first turn on the computer do you get any options such as F2 to enter Setup or F12 to choose boot options?

Please reply to these questions unless you are happy to boot to your installation CD and attempt the reinstallation yourself or if saving the data on your drive is of great importance.

[DISKDRIVEERROR]

when i turn it on i have to wait a bit and then it says do you want to open your computer in safe mode etc. but when i press safe mode the comp still freezes. and no i do not have a windows 98 cd my laptop is 2nd hand. and it has a CD and Floppy

[Paul Komski]

If you don't have a Windows installation CD or a Dell restore CD then you are going to have to buy a copy to have any hope of reinstalling windows.

How important is any data on the computer. Can you afford to lose it or do you want to recover the data.

Is the CDdrive capable of burning CDs or does it just read them.

[ElectricBoy]

To get it to boot from a CD press the function button (a little blue Fn next to the left control button) with F1 (setup in blue under it), then you will be able to get into your bios and change the boot order to CD/Hard Drive.
Good luck

[mjc]

Ummm...have you bothered to look at the date of this thread?

I think, that after two and a half years, if it hasn't been fixed, it has been turned out to pasture...