Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem. Could not read from selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware.

The hard drive looks to be dead.

hello
well I can tell you it either it is Software (windows xp) or hardware your hard drive. you will need the windows xp disk.

IF YOUR DVD TRAY IS NOT OPENING THIER IS A PIN SIZE HOLE NEAR IT AND USE A PAPER CLIP TO STICK IT IN AND POP THE TRAY OUT.
hope the tray opens and then you can move on to a repair install.

here is how to do a repair install 10 steps
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/instxprepair1.htm

hope that helps

Have you checked BIOS settings to make sure the right harddisk is selected as Boot Drive ?

You could try installing it on another machine to make sure it's still readable.

Did you change any settings or get any error messages the last time you used it ?

1. you will need to know 1st that the hard drive you are installing is compatible with the desktop.
2. Is the hard drive compatible with the new Operating system (VISTA).
3. Check to see if you have the hard drive properly inserted that is properly cabled and connected.This will render error in installation.
4. Make sure you are installing the Operating system correctly.
5. Some boot sectors become corrupt during a change in Operating system if the hard drive is not properly formatted.
6. Try formatting the hard drive again and re-installing.

Try starting your laptop in safe mode. If it does then run CHKDSK/F to find and attempt to repair the errors on the drive.
Hope that helps

Hard to give all the steps in this venue..go to about.com and type in "computer won't boot", I know the computer guy there, his name is Tim Fisher on that site and he has step by step instructions on what to do...

next time you get it running, right click on my computer>explore, click on 'C' drive, right click>properties>tools tab, then click error checking, if the option to choose repair found faults, choose it, then the system will run a drive check.

It may take a few hours as it sounds as though you have a bad sector on your drive, back up all docs immediately after the system as run a check and hopefully is up and running again

If you have not checked these(I am sure you have probably gone through this or don't need to but just in case)

First thing is first you have installed a new hard disk, is this the only hard disk installed. If Yes, does the bios recognize it? If Yes, is it bootable. Meaning is there a working copy of windows installed? If not reinstall from windows installation disk. If Yes, you may still have to reinstall windows you can use the windows installation disk as well.


This sounds like an issue that I had taking a hard drive from one computer and placing it in a brand new one. This message sounds like windows is damaged. I had to reinstall windows and leave the file system intact. There is an option to do this. If you feel comfortable you can always use a boot disk and check the boot .ini to make sure that it has the correct path for windows written in that may be the issue there. This file is hidden in the root directory of the drive.