Need some PC help, please

[Wolff]

So I got off work this morning, came home, decided to play some GTA, flipped on the computer, and was met with a "Disk Read Error, Press CTRL-ALT-DEL to
restart" message. I've tried half a dozen things, including a mostly unproductive call to Seagate tech support, and the problem still exists. I
downloaded and ran Seagate's drive tools thingy, and it claims the disk is fine. It's an older computer, a P4 1.9, with 512 Ram and the current hard
drive is a Seagate barracuda 160gig PATA drive. Anyone have any solutions to this problem? I've tried the WinXP recovery tools, used fixmbr and makeboot,
did a chkdsk /r, and I'm wondering if the onboard IDE controller is dying. If so, anyone have any recommendations to replace it? I can't exactly
afford to replace the whole machine right now, because, well, I work in the fast food industry. I can barely afford to keep myself supplied with liquor most
days Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm confident that, with the combined computer expertise and experience present on these boards, a solution can
be found. Once again, thanks for your time.

-WolffFalling out of aeroplanes and hiding out in holes

Waiting for the sunset to come, people going home

Jump out from behind them and shoot them in the head

Now everybody dancing the dance of the dead

[Sweno]

do you know how old the disk is?
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy

[Wolff]

The disk is less than a year old.Falling out of aeroplanes and hiding out in holes

Waiting for the sunset to come, people going home

Jump out from behind them and shoot them in the head

Now everybody dancing the dance of the dead

[Ankhani]

You might check in your BIOS setup (Typically hold 'F1' while booting) to see the boot order. Usually the Order is: Floppy (For those that have it
still) or USB (New computers with USB Memory Sticks), CD, HDD. It may seem trite to suggest but if there is anything readable in those drives and they are
listed before your HDD the computer will try to Boot from them, and usually fail unless you have a specific Boot Disk in them. If the HDD can't boot the
computer, then you need to look into making/finding a drive that can.
---

The Master said: "It is all in vain! I have never yet seen a man who can perceive his own faults and bring the charge home against himself."

>Analects: Book V, Chaper XXVI

[Rod.H]

I'm of the opinion that it's a IDE controller or IDE cable issue. So you'll be looking at a PCI IDE Controller Card, which in a retail box comes
with IDE cables. Promise Technology have decent cards, with the bonus of being Windows approved, and they have a card which has both SATA & IDE ports. The
one drawback is that those cards are the price of a new game.

--Rod.H

[Wiregeek]

alternatively, try a different IDE Port on your motherboard.

I'm leaning towards Rod's thought here, as well.

Ankh has provided a good basic plan - I've done that to myself before (Why can't I boot into Linux? Why do I keep booting into the installer?! oh.. the
CD is still in.. DOH!)
"No can brain today. Want cheezeburger."
From NGE: Nobody Dies, by Gregg Landsman
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5579457/1/NGE_Nobody_Dies

[Wolff]

Bios was set to boot HDD, then ATAPI. Changing to other IDE port didn't do any good. Have a new Promise controller card coming from newegg. Hope it does
what's needed! Thanks for all the help, folks. I had a feeling when I posted the message that it was onboard IDE failing, but it's nice to have some
confirmation from folks more knowledgable than I.

-WFalling out of aeroplanes and hiding out in holes

Waiting for the sunset to come, people going home

Jump out from behind them and shoot them in the head

Now everybody dancing the dance of the dead

[Wolff]

I just want to thank everyone for their expertise. I purchased a Promise IDE controller from Newegg, got it overnighted, slapped it in, did a repair install of
XP, and everything seems to be working as it should. You guys are great, thank you!Falling out of aeroplanes and hiding out in holes

Waiting for the sunset to come, people going home

Jump out from behind them and shoot them in the head

Now everybody dancing the dance of the dead

[Rod.H]

Glad to've been of assistance. My main machine and one or two PC's I've recovered from the roadside have had onboard IDE controller issues too.

Almost makes one wonder where they're hiding the magic kill chip on the mobo.....