URGENT! Disk I/O Error

[spkuc]

Can someone please help me. I cannot access my computer. If I try to boot from the hard drive or from any type of Boot Floppy I just get a black screen with the words
"Disk I/O error
Replace the disk, and then press any key.."
But nothing changes.

I know what I have done! I run Windows 98SE on the C Drive of a hard disk partitioned into 8 x 5Gb (approx). I tried to install Windows 2000 onto the J Drive for a dual boot system but the install stalled. I could not do an uninstall so foolishly (I now know) I deleted all the Windows 2000 files from the J Drive and any related files which I found on the C Drive including NTLDR.

I know I probably need to do a FDISK /MBR but how can I get to an A:\ prompt. I have tried a Windows 98 Boot Disk, a Windows 2000 Setup disk and a MS-DOS Boot Disk. All simply result in the "Disk I/O error....." message.

PLEASE HELP ME!

Thanks

 

[mscallisto]

you don't happen to have a floppy in the a: drive do you?

 

[Guest_imported]

When you see the message "Starting Windows 98" (if even that) press the F8 key and try to start in safe mode or try command prompt. Or matbe you accidently changed the BIOS setting...try pressing F1 to run bios setup at startup and restore the defaults..see if this works.

Do you get any promt at all?

If so go to
C:\Windows\options\cabs\setup.exeand try to reinstall Windows. It sounds like you may have a damaged boot sector.

Does the computer try to read from a floppy at startup? If so, insert the floppy and type "sys c:" (without quotes) This will copy Command.com, the dos prompt to your boot directory.

 

[spkuc]

It does not get as far ad installing anything. It lists all the PCI devices and the the error message appears. If I try booting from the hard drive I get the message "NTLDR is missing. Press any key to restart" I press any key and only get the same message. If I try to boot from a floppy I get the "Disk I/O error etc.

I need to get to the A: prompt I know but I just don't know how. It seems I have trashed my hard drive but can that be done just by deleting files even if they are system files?