My Windows laptop is not opening, giving error as "A disk read error"

[nargis]

My Windows laptop is not opening, giving error as "A disk read error occurred Press ctrl+alt+del to restart"

[WAWood]

@nargis 

This issue is often due to a failing drive. So, let's check that first, because if it is failing, it would need to be replaced and there is no point then in doing anything else until we confirm that.

If your PC is new enough to support UEFI, you can use these steps to test the hard drive: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00439024

If not, to check the drive you have to follow these steps:
1) Press Esc key repeatedly, several times a second, while rebooting the laptop. Do NOT hold the key down, just press it over and over.
2) Eventually, you will see an HP Startup Menu
3) Press the Function key for testing the hard drive (usually F2) and let it run.
If the drive checks out OK, then report that and I can provide you options for reinstalling Windows on your PC.

[nargis]

I followed the three steps which you have mentioned and I am getting the drive status as OK. Please let me know what next step I need to follow.

Thank you

[WAWood]

@nargis 

If the drive checks out OK, then that means that your Windows file system has become corrupted somehow and there is no easy way to fix that.  You would have to do a complete factory reset using external media.  But ... you will lose everything on the PC in the process, and I presume, like everyone else, you have not made offline backups of your critical files.

So, to save those files, you have to follow the instructions below and use another PC to make USB boot media you can use to start your PC and get into it to back off the files you need to save.  You will not be able to back off the settings or applications, only the personal files.

If your PC can not boot into Windows, a way around that is to follow the instructions below to create boot media from Macrium Reflect (MR) that can be used to boot your PC even if the hard drive is not working:
1) Download and install Macrium Reflect (MR) from this link on a working PC: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
2) Use the option to create a boot USB stick or CD

That will create MR bootable media. Then, you can boot your PC into WinPE using that media.

Have patience, as that can take a while to start and bring up the screen.

Once the screen is there, read this thread about using PE Explorer -- a simple file explorer: https://forum.macrium.com/PrintTopic15803.aspx

If your disk still works, you might be then able to retrieve some files and folders from it.

Good Luck