Can't read contents of d: drive

External Since: Feb 08, 2004 Posts: 2

My W98 computer has two hard drives: one partitioned as c:, e:, and f:;
the other as d: and g:. I can't read the contents of d: anymore, but can
read from and write to any of the files in the g: partition. So the
physical drive is okay (spin speed OK and not making odd noises).

When booting, W98 immediately starts Thorough Scandisk on drive d:. It
detects several errors while scanning the system area (and tells me to
run the Standard Scandisk at the end), and then stops in the data area
at cluster 49 of 1,255,967.

By hitting the right combination of keys (don't ask), I can bypass
ScanDisk and get to my Desktop.

If I open Explorer, first odd thing is that the label for d: is missing.
If I click on d: to expand it, I get as message "D:\ is not accessible.
The system cannot read from the specified device."

If I go to Device Manager and click on Disk Drives, the two hard drives
are shown as Generic IDE Disk Type00. As I recall, they are usually type
40 (or is it 80?). Looking at the properties of each drive, the proper
partition letters are shown and there is no indication of a problem.

If I run Standard Scandisk (with the automatic fix errors box checked)
on d:, I'll get the message "ScanDisk detected an error while reading
one of the system area sectors on this drive. The disk is seriously
damaged and may need to be replaced..." It then suggests performing a
Thorough test. If I continue the Standard test, I'll get the same
message 3 or so times again. When I finally get to the end of the
Standard test, the message is "ScanDisk did not find any errors on this
device." (Can you believe that!?)

Other times, I'll get a message of a "data error while reading cluster 2."

The problem drive is made by Maxtor. Its diagnostic program also reports
a problem in the d: partition. Message: Read verify commaned failed,
uncorrectable ECC."

I've also tried starting in MS-DOS and switching to the d: drive. I can
get the d> prompt, but if I do a dir command, I get a "read fault error
reading drive d" message, with Abort, Fail or Retry options.

Any ideas how to fix the d: partition without reformatting?

Please also respond by email, deleting the XXX in my address.

TIA,

Ray

External Since: Nov 10, 2003 Posts: 1690

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"Ray K." <raykosXXX RemoveThis @optonline.net> wrote in message news:U0lVb.25695$WY4.7041412@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net
> My W98 computer has two hard drives: one partitioned as c:, e:, and f:;
> the other as d: and g:. I can't read the contents of d: anymore, but can
> read from and write to any of the files in the g: partition. So the
> physical drive is okay (spin speed OK and not making odd noises).
>
> When booting, W98 immediately starts Thorough Scandisk on drive d:. It
> detects several errors while scanning the system area (and tells me to
> run the Standard Scandisk at the end), and then stops in the data area
> at cluster 49 of 1,255,967.
>
> By hitting the right combination of keys (don't ask), I can bypass
> ScanDisk and get to my Desktop.
>
> If I open Explorer, first odd thing is that the label for d: is missing.
> If I click on d: to expand it, I get as message "D:\ is not accessible.
> The system cannot read from the specified device."
>
> If I go to Device Manager and click on Disk Drives, the two hard drives
> are shown as Generic IDE Disk Type00. As I recall, they are usually type
> 40 (or is it 80?). Looking at the properties of each drive, the proper
> partition letters are shown and there is no indication of a problem.
>
> If I run Standard Scandisk (with the automatic fix errors box checked)
> on d:, I'll get the message "ScanDisk detected an error while reading
> one of the system area sectors on this drive. The disk is seriously
> damaged and may need to be replaced..." It then suggests performing a
> Thorough test. If I continue the Standard test, I'll get the same
> message 3 or so times again. When I finally get to the end of the
> Standard test, the message is "ScanDisk did not find any errors on this
> device." (Can you believe that!?)
>
> Other times, I'll get a message of a "data error while reading cluster 2."
>
> The problem drive is made by Maxtor. Its diagnostic program also reports
> a problem in the d: partition. Message: Read verify commaned failed,
> uncorrectable ECC."
>
> I've also tried starting in MS-DOS and switching to the d: drive. I can
> get the d> prompt, but if I do a dir command, I get a "read fault error
> reading drive d" message, with Abort, Fail or Retry options.
>
> Any ideas how to fix the d: partition without reformatting?
>
> Please also respond by email, deleting the XXX in my address.
>
> TIA,
>
> Ray