Disk Read Error

Discussion in 'Windows Virtual Machine' started by Frank Lee, Jun 7, 2008.

  1. Frank Lee

    Frank Lee Bit poster

    Messages:
    7
    My parallels just stopped working. When I try to start it, the first Windows screen comes up showing the program to be suspended or stopped and then the black screen comes up saying "a disk read error has occurred. Press ctrl+alt+del to restart." When I do this, nothing happens except the same message comes up. I need help, please!
     
  2. Hugh Watkins

    Hugh Watkins Forum Maven

    Messages:
    943
    please post details and numbers

    also memory

    it is really essential to clone once a week as a back up

    before you run your VM try cloning to an external had disk and running the VM from there

    Hugh W
     
  3. Frank Lee

    Frank Lee Bit poster

    Messages:
    7
    It says - 640 KB Base Memory, 524288 KB Extended Memory
    Boot from hard drive
    A disk read error has occurred
    Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart

    I tried downloading and installing the Build 5584 but nothing has changed. I'm getting desperate!
     
  4. John@Parallels

    John@Parallels Forum Maven

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    6,333
  5. Frank Lee

    Frank Lee Bit poster

    Messages:
    7
    I have copied the Parallels folder and also cloned it. When I start the VM, it shows "Suspended". When I click on Actions, Start, I get the same error message as before.

    How do I access Windows to run the recovery console? When I put the CD (XP Professional full version) into the CD drive, nothing happens.
     
  6. John@Parallels

    John@Parallels Forum Maven

    Messages:
    6,333
    Change setting in Parallels Desktop -Preferences -General- Perform this action when Virtual machine is running - On application quit shutdown
    Double click Windows XP icon on desktop and hold Command key, check that Options - Booting are set to Cdrom, etc

    on CD-DVD-rom, make sure that use CD-DVD is selected, insert Windows disk -start Parallels Desktop
     
  7. Frank Lee

    Frank Lee Bit poster

    Messages:
    7
    Thanks so much for your time and help!
    I did what you suggested and ran chkdsk. I got back a message saying "The volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems."
    Do I continue to do fixboot /mbr? Or is there something else I should do?
     
  8. Frank Lee

    Frank Lee Bit poster

    Messages:
    7
    I did fixboot C/mbr and it said it did that successfully. I changed the boot option back to hard disk, etc. I still have the problem trying to start Windows. I still get the original message - A disk error has occurred. What can I do now?
     
  9. John@Parallels

    John@Parallels Forum Maven

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    6,333
  10. Frank Lee

    Frank Lee Bit poster

    Messages:
    7
    It looks like I have lost all data on the disk. Nothing seems to be working. I have created a second vm and am starting from scratch. Any ideas on how I can get some of my lost data back?
     
  11. John@Parallels

    John@Parallels Forum Maven

    Messages:
    6,333
    I suggest you to create new Virtual Machine and attach existing disk there.

    Parallels Desktop for Mac user guide on pages 58-62
    to add existing disk, please stop Virtual Machine and add new disk
    Parallels Desktop for Mac user guide on pages 191-193
    Start Virtual Machine you will see that disk as D:
    You can transfer your data
     
  12. Frank Lee

    Frank Lee Bit poster

    Messages:
    7
    Thanks. I gave up on this and installed another vm and had to reinstall all my programs and use a backup disk to get me up to date. It was a lot of work but I'm happy with the results.
     

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