Error-Unable to write to disk in drive C

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Joe T - 04 Dec 2005 23:36 GMT

I have read earlier posts with replies but doesn't seem to help me here. No
new programs have been installed to cause this I feel. Just started
happening!! System is as follows----Win98se, WD Caviar 120GB, 512 ram,
1.44gig speed.

I have been a receiving a blue screen- "Unable to write to disk in drive C".
I have done the following:

1. Ran Western Digital Lifeguard utility. Both quick and complete scan. No
errors found! I assume that means the drive is okay.

2. I have tried to run Windows disk defragmenter. Program stops at 57%. Says
I have errors. Error message ID No. Defrag004. Okay, so I run #3.

3. Run Windows Scan disk- says I have errors-Perform thorough scan. Okay. Go
to #4

4. I have ran a thorough Windows scan disk. Started it and left for work and
came back 10 hours later and scan said-No errors found! WHAT!!!!

5. I have run Norton SystemWorks 2005 maintenance speed disk to fix
problems. It does fix shortcuts, files etc but no help.

6. Norton Antivirus shows no virus's etc. Ad-aware6.0SE, Spy-bot, AVast AVG,
etc shows nothing.

7. Norton speed disk restarts 10 times and then says I have disk errors.

Ok, so now what? The blue screen with the message "Unable to write to disk
in drive C" does not happen all the time but when it does I have to hit any
key 5 or more times to get rid of it.

Any Ideas. Please help. Please note - NO formal computer training. I know
just enough to be dangerous to my computer!! Thanks in advance to anyone and
everyone.

Reply to this Message

Jeff Richards - 05 Dec 2005 08:30 GMT

You may have an intermittent disk fault. This would require a long disk
diagnostic run (say, overnight) to identify. You may have an intermittent
error elsewhere, such as RAM, that just happens to look like a disk write
error. A disk diagnostic could miss this, as it would use its own disk
access routines. A long run with memory diagnostics might reveal it.

Signature

Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)

>I have read earlier posts with replies but doesn't seem to help me here. No
> new programs have been installed to cause this I feel. Just started
[quoted text clipped - 38 lines]
> and
> everyone.

Reply to this Message

Jonny - 05 Dec 2005 12:00 GMT

http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp?swid=1

Consider reseating the ide ribbon cable on both ends first. If its not 80
wire, get one as replacement.

If the windows version of the software does not run or finds no errors, try
the dos version on floppy.

Signature

Jonny

> I have read earlier posts with replies but doesn't seem to help me here. No
> new programs have been installed to cause this I feel. Just started
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
> just enough to be dangerous to my computer!! Thanks in advance to anyone and
> everyone.

Reply to this Message

Joe T - 06 Dec 2005 01:28 GMT

I'm not sure what you mean by dos version on a floppy. I have my Windows
startup disk on a floppy. Is that it? I tried to run defrag at the dos prompt
(reboot to DOS mode) but it said I have to run it in windows.

tnx, joe

> http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp?swid=1
>
[quoted text clipped - 46 lines]
> and
> > everyone.

Reply to this Message

Jeff Richards - 06 Dec 2005 09:05 GMT

Do not attempt to run defrag while the drive is possibly faulty - you risk
corrupting your files. The software that Jonny refers to is the hard drive
diagnostic software.

Signature

Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)

> I'm not sure what you mean by dos version on a floppy. I have my Windows
> startup disk on a floppy. Is that it? I tried to run defrag at the dos
> prompt
> (reboot to DOS mode) but it said I have to run it in windows.

Reply to this Message

Jonny - 06 Dec 2005 11:03 GMT

Twas an afterthought. Should have followed the weblink instead. Would have
made more sense then, I guess.

Signature

Jonny

> I'm not sure what you mean by dos version on a floppy. I have my Windows
> startup disk on a floppy. Is that it? I tried to run defrag at the dos prompt
[quoted text clipped - 52 lines]
> > and
> > > everyone.

Reply to this Message

Zippy - 06 Dec 2005 17:06 GMT

Do you have GoBack installed by any chance?

Zippy

Reply to this Message