Disk read error / not able to boot windows

HI Anon. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, specializing in Installation, Performance, Troubleshooting and Activation, here to help you.

A CD drive would not have the letter C, and the letter B is no longer used.

Are you saying you found some way to change the Windows C drive to another letter? The only reason one would do that is to deliberately ruin Windows, which is only on C and cannot be on any other letter or it will never start again. If this is NOT what you did then please explain further so I can help you better.

How did you do this exactly? Have you tried anything yet to undo it?

You might be able to System Restore from the Repair Mode or bootable media. I will walk you through this:

Use whichever method works in this link to get into Repair Mode so you can do the necessary repairs or do a Reset: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&...

Easiest is to force shutdown by holding in the power button twice until it starts into Repair Mode. Once in the Repair Mode try the numbered steps below.

It may be necessary to create bootable media on another PC to access Advanced Startup Options to try repairs, a Reset or do the Clean install. The bootable media has it's own set of files so that repairs or Reset might work better, doesn't require a password, and you'll have it to if necessary do the vastly superior Clean Install.

To create Windows 10 Installation Media on another PC install Media Creation Tool and follow the directions here: http://windows.microsoft.com/pl-pl/windows-10/m.... Uncheck the box for Recommended Settings to choose the exact version and bit rate for the target PC only.

Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key given here: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&...

If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first.

Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, on second screen choose Repair Your Computer, then Advanced Troubleshoot Options, then try a System Restore,

If those fail then go back to Troubleshoot Options to do a Reset.

If that fails choose Install Now, then Custom Install, then at the drive selection screen delete all partitions down to Unallocated Space to get it cleanest, click Next to let it create needed partitions and start install - this makes it foolproof. Everything needed to get the best possible Clean Install is here: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&.... It is a better install than any amount of money can buy and a great learning experience that will make you the master of your PC because you will learn what works best and how to apply it with your own hands.

If you have files that aren't backed up you can use the same bootable media to try to rescue your files using these methods: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

________________________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

I don't think now that there's anything you did changing that drive letter to cause this. We do recommend never to use B because of any remaining apps that are hard programmed to detect B as the floppy drive, but that's nowhere near a fatal error.

Is there anything else you can think of that was done in that interim when you used the PC that could have caused this? Did you notice performance degrade or change at all?

You could change the drive letter to another using Command Prompt at boot to make sure it didn't cause the problem due to a fluke:

https://sites.google.com/site/robertjkarp/home/...

https://www.diskpart.com/diskpart/assign-drive-...

But I still think your best shot is to System Restore from Advanced Troubleshoot Options on the bootable media, or you could even try System Restore from Command Prompt: https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-start-system-re...

I edited out most of the repair steps from WinRE earlier when I thought this was due only the drive letter change. I'll give you the full set now so you can try everything:

Use whichever method works in this link to get into Repair Mode so you can do the necessary repairs or do a Reset: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&...

Easiest is to force shutdown by holding in the power button twice until it starts into Repair Mode. Once in the Repair Mode try the numbered steps below.

It may be necessary to create bootable media on another PC to access Advanced Startup Options to try repairs, a Reset or do the Clean install. The bootable media has it's own set of files so that repairs or Reset might work better, doesn't require a password, and you'll have it to if necessary do the vastly superior Clean Install.

To create Windows 10 Installation Media on another PC install Media Creation Tool and follow the directions here: http://windows.microsoft.com/pl-pl/windows-10/m.... Uncheck the box for Recommended Settings to choose the exact version and bit rate for the target PC only.

Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key given here: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&...

If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first.

Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, on second screen choose Repair Your Computer, then Advanced Troubleshoot Options, then:

1. Try a System Restore,
2. If that fails try Uninstall Updates as far back as necessary to see if this was caused by an Update,
3. Open the Command Prompt to:

a) run System File Checker: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&...

b) run a full Disk Check: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&...

c) trigger Safe Mode with Networking (for internet) or Safe Mode following https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&... to roll back Updates & Drivers in Windows Update History, update your drivers from the PC/Motherboard manufacturer's website and diagnose further:

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&...

d) Create a new Local Admin account to replace or repair your account following

https://www.isumsoft.com/windows-10/3-ways-to-c.... Sign into the new account, test it works OK, if so you can attempt to repair your old account by running a Repair Install from the new account: https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/fix-windows.... If not then copy your files over via C:\Users, when ready delete the old account, change the new account to your MS Account if desired.

4. If those fail then go back to Troubleshoot Options to do a Reset.
5. If that fails choose Install Now, then Custom Install, then at the drive selection screen delete all partitions down to Unallocated Space to get it cleanest, click Next to let it create needed partitions and start install - this makes it foolproof. Everything needed to get the best possible Clean Install is here: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&.... It is a better install than any amount of money can buy and a great learning experience that will make you the master of your PC because you will learn what works best and how to apply it with your own hands.
6. If you have files that aren't backed up you can use the same bootable media to try to rescue your files using these methods: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

________________________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Hi Greg!

So I‘ve been able to boot the Recovery Tool now. I just want to note that I didn‘t change the other drive to D as I wanted. I only changed the CD drive.

I was sending a screenshot to a friend that’s why I still have it. It is in German though, I hope it’s useful. So this is what it looked like right after I changed the letter:

And now that I am in the CMD window this is what it looks like now:

I am not a Pro in this but if you know any commands that I can use let me know. Also, I don’t remember my Volume 1 being a RAW drive, maybe that’s the problem. Can I somehow change that?

If you need to know any more, feel free to ask, thanks!

If you changed your CD drive to B (which is not generally used any longer because of various reasons but should not be fatal), and then changed a data SSD to D, that should not cause System Instability unless there were System Files on D like moved games of User folders, paging file, hiberfile, etc.

Your best bet is still to System Restore which is like a simple time machine to get back before this. But you may need to Reset using the cloud option so new installation files are downloaded because the onboard files may be corrupted. But there's a good chance you may only be able to Clean Install after rescuiing files with the same media if necessary.

There is always a way to get media to boot. Sometimes it's a matter of timing, so try powering on while holding down the BIOS interrupt key, then try powering on while tapping it. Confirm the media is good by booting it in another PC if necessary. If necessary enter BIOS to turn off Fast Boot and Secure boot, next reset the BIOS from within the BIOS or by resetting the CMOS:

https://www.mydigitallife.net/comprehensive-lis...

https://www.maketecheasier.com/how-to-reset-cmo...

Keep me posted on your progress as I will be here to help until the case is resolved.

Hey Greg,

thank you so much for your reply!

First of all, sorry for the confusion. My CD drive of course was not named C. I changed it from D to B in the disk manager, just so I can give the D letter to one of my SSD.

If this changes any of the steps you described feel free to make changes.

I am also currently trying to install the Recovery Tool on another USB drive. I managed to make the other one I used to boot somehow and there even appeared the Windows Logo for a short moment. After 10 minutes though the screen went completely blue and my PC crashed. I am not even able to boot the stick in safe mode.

However, I will try to boot the other stick and follow your steps afterwards.

I hope I‘ll be back with good news 😅

Thanks