BSOD and several error messages….

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Hello,

I’ve been experiencing many BSOD, “Third master hard drive error” and “A disk read error occurred. Press C-A-D to restart” error messages. Here is what I have done so far to fix this:

1) Vacuumed the inside of the box
2) Replaced CMOS battery
3) Ensured connection from hdd to the mb was secure
4) Ran Memtest86+, zero errors
5) Booted up Hiren’s and ran the IBM/Hitachi hdd surface test, zero errors
6) Boot up normally off the hdd and it stopped at that Windows screen, the blue sky and rolling green grass image, pointer works but no icons, no system tray, no left click, no right click, no c-a-d
7) I re-booted. Same thing.

Thank you for any assistance.

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Thank you your input, Weedhopper, but as I indicated in point 6, I cannot c-a-d. Also, there is no Start button, just the sky and grass image and nothing else. Thanks though.

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I did not think to try to log in to Safe Mode. Thank you. I have had these computer issues for so long, I don’t know what date to restore to.

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Thanks, Pop.

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Hello,

I’ve been experiencing many BSOD, “Third master hard drive error” and “A disk read error occurred. Press C-A-D to restart” error messages.

You have an error on one of the 3+ drives fitted, it’s failing. Back up all valuable data now.

Post a screenshot of Disk Management, showing all the properties (Active, System, etc.) for all drives, please.

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@BlueNumber
As satrow said, you need to back up your data.
You may need to enlist the help of a friend with a working computer. I’d install Macrium Reflect (or some other free imaging program), connect your problematic drive to your friend’s computer, and image your failing drive.
Of course, if you don’t have valuable data on the drive (nor an existing image) then you can simply buy a replacement and install your OS from scratch.

Good luck.

Image or Clone often! Backup, backup, backup, backup......
- - - - -
Home Built: Windows 10 Home 64-bit, AMD Athlon II X3 435 CPU, 16GB RAM, ASUSTeK M4A89GTD-PRO/USB3 (AM3) motherboard, 512GB SanDisk SSD, 3 TB WD HDD, 1024MB ATI AMD RADEON HD 6450 video, ASUS VE278 (1920x1080) display, ATAPI iHAS224 Optical Drive, integrated Realtek HD Audio

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I have access to another computer. I do have a few questions:

1) If I copy the image will I not also be copying the problem(s) that causes me to need a new hdd?
2) After installing Macrium Reflect (or, whatever), I would save the image to a flash drive, right?
3) In order to use the saved image must the new hdd be the exact same type as the old one?
4) In making the image, do I simply remove the problem hdd from the box and attach it to a usb port on the good computer?
5) If the answer to #4, above, is yes, once the hdd is attached to the good computer, if I felt like it, I can select certain files I need from the problem hdd and just copy and paste to a flash drive, right?

Thank you.

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I tried to get to Safe Mode. The files loaded and then it took me back to that sky and grass image. Again, pointer worked but no icons, no system tray, no Start button, no left click, no right click, no c-a-d. I tried it again. Same thing. I then tried to get to Last Known Good Configuration. Same thing.

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Yes, I have the recovery disk that came with the computer which I slipstreamed with SP3. Would I need a complete restore or just the DOS commands at the prompt such as scannow, etc.? Should I do something with Hiren’s instead? Thanks.

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Well, I’ll try to answer those questions one-at-a-time.
1) Attempting to read the failing hard drive may work well enough to copy important data you want to keep (pictures, documents, videos, etc.). But nothing is guaranteed under the present circumstances.
You might find that restoring an image to a new hard drive will allow you to boot it with few problems being apparent. But you might also find that after restoring the image to a new hard drive you need to reinstall Windows.
2) When you run an imaging program you will point it to the location where you want to save the image (on an external device — flash drive or hard drive, for instance). The external device’s capacity must be large enough to hold the image.
3) No, you can easily restore to a different brand (as long as it has a large enough capacity; equal to or larger than your existing hard drive is simplest).
4) You can if you have a SATA-to-USB adapter. But if the second computer has a spare SATA connector inside it, you can simply attach it to the second computer (while it is OFF and you have the case open).
[If your hard drive is a PATA type then of course you need the same kind of connector in your second computer, or you might use a PATA-to-USB adapter perhaps.]
5) Yes.

Hope that helps. Keep asking questions until you’re confident that you are prepared.

Image or Clone often! Backup, backup, backup, backup......
- - - - -
Home Built: Windows 10 Home 64-bit, AMD Athlon II X3 435 CPU, 16GB RAM, ASUSTeK M4A89GTD-PRO/USB3 (AM3) motherboard, 512GB SanDisk SSD, 3 TB WD HDD, 1024MB ATI AMD RADEON HD 6450 video, ASUS VE278 (1920x1080) display, ATAPI iHAS224 Optical Drive, integrated Realtek HD Audio

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Here is an example of a single device which is both a SATA-to-USB and a PATA-to-USB adapter:
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Converter-Activity-Support-USB-DSC5/dp/B000HJ99DI/ref=sr_1_1
It works for both laptop and desktop computers.

Image or Clone often! Backup, backup, backup, backup......
- - - - -
Home Built: Windows 10 Home 64-bit, AMD Athlon II X3 435 CPU, 16GB RAM, ASUSTeK M4A89GTD-PRO/USB3 (AM3) motherboard, 512GB SanDisk SSD, 3 TB WD HDD, 1024MB ATI AMD RADEON HD 6450 video, ASUS VE278 (1920x1080) display, ATAPI iHAS224 Optical Drive, integrated Realtek HD Audio

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BSOD, “Third master hard drive error” and “A disk read error occurred. Press C-A-D to restart” = no missing files, very unlikely to be a ‘soft’ error, almost certainly hardware, a bad or dying drive.

Weedhopper, I’m guessing you had file corruption, soft errors, that’s not the same as this, which cannot be solved by a reinstall.

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Thank you all the wonderful, helpful responses. Just wondering, if my hdd passed the IBM/Hitachi HDD Fitness test, why is the conclusion here that a new hdd is needed? Should I try a new hdd (red) cable first? Also, are there any more tests I could run off of Hiren’s, FalconFour, etc. that can prove definitively that the hdd is dying? Thanks.

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The error was specific that there was a hard drive error on the third master, how many drives do you have?

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