Hard Drive Partition Issue and Startup Error

Langers500

Honorable
Jan 17, 2014
21
0
10,510
I recently built my computer with specs below, and had to send it off to be looked at due a RAM issue. However once I got it back and I fiddled with the partitions with the install of windows I realized I had an issue.

Specs:
Intel Quad Core i5 3570k
16gb Ram
Nvidia Asus GTX 770
1tb Seagate Harddrive
1tb Seagate Harddrive
500gb Western Digital Harddrive.

When I boot up my computer I get this issue:
"A disk read error occurred. Press Ctrl Alt Delete to Restart."
Sometimes this will not appear and boot fine on other times I will have to go through it a few times.

However in my partitions my Disk 0 C: drive is not the System Drive despite everything being installed on it and Disk 1 has the 'System' assigned to it. Picture below to help explain it more. I understand 100mb is needed on the drive with Windows installed on however it is on my Disk 1 instead and I cannot seem to combine to unallocated space with the current partition OR change the drive from being 'System'.

adedecb2f32a1aecb03848a931ed2a5c.png


Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
Solution
While installing an OS, it's a thumb rule that you should disconnect all other HDDs which are not going to hold the OS before.

That 101 mb space wasn't likely made by OS installed because it never remains unallocated.

If the system isn't booting sometimes then I think there is some problem with your DISK 0 and it's not being detected in time by BIOS.

Do this, this time> Move all your stuff from DISK 1 to DISK 0.
Delete partition E
Disconnect DISK 0
install OS on Disk 1 (which is not disk 0)
reconnect old disk 0, which is not disk 1

Later move your stuff back on the new disk 0 temporarily, do a clean format of disk 1 and move the stuff back on disk 1.

Langers500

Honorable
Jan 17, 2014
21
0
10,510
Okay I managed to combine the 101mb in my Disk 1, which does NOT have windows on. I used a program someone recommended on another thread. However I am still unable to change the System drive part!
 

lockhrt999

Distinguished
Apr 15, 2010
255
0
18,790
While installing an OS, it's a thumb rule that you should disconnect all other HDDs which are not going to hold the OS before.

That 101 mb space wasn't likely made by OS installed because it never remains unallocated.

If the system isn't booting sometimes then I think there is some problem with your DISK 0 and it's not being detected in time by BIOS.

Do this, this time> Move all your stuff from DISK 1 to DISK 0.
Delete partition E
Disconnect DISK 0
install OS on Disk 1 (which is not disk 0)
reconnect old disk 0, which is not disk 1

Later move your stuff back on the new disk 0 temporarily, do a clean format of disk 1 and move the stuff back on disk 1.
 
Solution

lockhrt999

Distinguished
Apr 15, 2010
255
0
18,790
If you can't delete it now fine. Delete it while installing OS. Always choose Advanced(or fresh install) mode while installing OS.

Also before disconnecting the disk 0 make sure you assign disk 1 as first boot device priority in BIOS. It's a bit difficult to do so because both of your drives are identical, I think. So when you're assigning first boot device just swap it with the other identical name.

Also before moving ahead, if there is something wrong with Disk 0, download and install trial version of software called HD tune pro > http://www.hdtune.com/download.html
Post here the snap of health tab of that software.
 

lockhrt999

Distinguished
Apr 15, 2010
255
0
18,790
It seems to be fine to my eyes.
It seems to be fairly new or not used much. It has high number of unsafe shutdown count as compared to power cycle count, which is suggesting you're doing cold restart more than often. Don't do that.
 

Langers500

Honorable
Jan 17, 2014
21
0
10,510
Right I'm just about to try your solution, any idea how I can find which drive is Disk 0 to disconnect? also what happens if I can't delete the partition when it comes to it?
 

Langers500

Honorable
Jan 17, 2014
21
0
10,510
Okay I figure out what drive it was to disconnect but when I put the windows disc in to install windows it comes up with the windows install ems then stays on a black screen..
 

lockhrt999

Distinguished
Apr 15, 2010
255
0
18,790
1. I didn't see that you have more than two HDDs. So disconnect all of them except the DISK 1 (which is holding partition 'Recordings') before installing fresh OS.

2. You asked how to find DISK 0 (which is holding OS right now). First disconnect all the drives you know for sure they aren't holding OS. That will leave you with identical drives. See once you disconnect DISK 0, your system won't be able to boot as it's holding OS, right?. Again, once you proceed with OS installation, you'll face a dialogue box showing your current HDD partitioning(In the same dialogue box you would delete/format your HDD), if it displays a partition called 'Recordings' then you'd know you disconnected correct discs. If it doesn't display recordings drive then you know you have connected a wrong disc.

3. You asked, what if the deleting doesn't work. Here, the fail safe is still safe, you still haven't formatted current OS (on disk 0). So if anything goes wrong just revert back to current setup and then we will think if we can do more.

4. Before going for step 1, Make sure in BIOS the first boot device is the HDD which is holding 'recordings' partition (ie Disk 1). It's no harm you chose wrong. In this case after installation you're likely to boot into your old/current OS. If that happens, you'd know you have chose first boot device wrong, simply reboot into BIOS and change it. Also if you have options 2nf boot, 3rd boot devices, it's a good idea to disable them.

5. When I say disconnecting a drive, I simply ask you to disconnect power cables going to the HDDs, keep sata connected. that way it won't mess up the sequence in the BIOS.

6. For EMS related problem look here> http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/by-pass-option-to-load-windows-setup-ems-enabled/13d63c66-1e71-4e40-a668-5756cfebed1f
 

Langers500

Honorable
Jan 17, 2014
21
0
10,510
Right well before I got your reply I found the hard drive needed and unfortunately did remove the SATA cables so that happened.. I have installed windows, now is assume I reconnect them and copy all my files across?
 

lockhrt999

Distinguished
Apr 15, 2010
255
0
18,790
Make sure you you understand what I have said above. Understanding is important. If you don't understand/know small thing like how to assign first boot device etc. simply Google it because if you ask me it'll take some time to reply back.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE BACKUP OF YOUR STUFF. Also once you reach the step where you kill/format current DISK 0. Make sure you have aren't formatting anything that has your stuff that you still haven't backed. Always double check. I mean it.
 

lockhrt999

Distinguished
Apr 15, 2010
255
0
18,790


I'd say hot plug those disconnected HDDs.
I mean boot into OS like you'd do on normal day. start connecting sata cables. To let windows detect them, open device manager and right click and scan for hardware change.

Your drives should appear normally in My computer
 

Langers500

Honorable
Jan 17, 2014
21
0
10,510
Umm I'm confused now I'm still getting the disk read error on the new Disk 0 drive even after the others are disconnected. It's also still taking a long time to boot up whereas prior to doing all this it was almost instant..
 

lockhrt999

Distinguished
Apr 15, 2010
255
0
18,790


It looks perfect.
Now only issue is, your system is starting slow.

Run that HD tune pro soft again. choose correct HDD at the top. Go to benchmark tab and hit Start.
For your hdd maximum speed should be above 100MBs at least. If it's crazy low, make sure that HDD doesn't have any jumper on. Sometimes HDD come with a jumper which make them to run in SATA I one mode for the sake of backward compatibility and it does make HDD very slow.