The issue “Disk Read Error” occurs following the upgrade of a Dell OptiPlex 9020 (RAID 0) to Windows 11.
The issue “Disk Read Error” occurs following the upgrade of a Dell OptiPlex 9020 (RAID 0) to Windows 11.
Hello everyone,
I’m seeking help with a problem I faced after upgrading my Dell OptiPlex 9020 to Windows 11. Upon startup, the system shows an error message: “A disk read error occurred. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del to restart.” Here are the details:
- Model: Dell OptiPlex 9020
- Storage: RAID 0 with two Kingston SUV400S 120GB SSDs
- Intel Rapid Storage Technology (Option ROM): v12.7.0.1936
- RAID status: Normal (confirmed via Ctrl + I menu)
I tried several troubleshooting steps without success:
1. Verified BIOS settings – RAID mode was set to “On” and boot order correct.
2. Confirmed RAID array status as “Normal,” no degraded disks found.
3. Booted from Windows 11 installation media and attempted:
• Automatic Startup Repair
• Command prompt recovery commands (bootrec /fixmbr, /fixboot, /scanos, /rebuildbcd)
• chkdsk on the main RAID volume
4. Loaded Intel RST drivers (versions 14.8.16.1063 and 15.2) during repair – RAID recognized but boot still fails.
5. Checked both UEFI and Legacy BIOS modes – error remained unchanged.
6. Manually rebuilt EFI and BCD – no improvement.
The machine keeps displaying the same “disk read error” right after power-on.
Thank you in advance for your support. Please share any diagnostic logs or screenshots if needed.
Best regards, Amer
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
I no longer mention Kingston SSD's after discovering they select their drives for reviewers to create excitement, rather than sharing genuine options. The drives that aren't chosen go directly to shelves for regular users.
From my research:
https://i.dell.com/sites/doccontent.../o...-sheet.pdf
The Dell OptiPlex 9020 runs on the 4th Gen Intel platform. If you're considering alternatives, instead of a RAID 0 setup, investing in a single high-speed drive—like a Crucial MX500 or a Samsung 870 Evo—might be better. A single drive also simplifies troubleshooting.
Additionally, when upgrading the OS, are you asking about moving from Windows 10 to Windows 11?
Thank you for your reply.
I have upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11 internally.
Install a new empty drive on the PC and set up Windows there.
Start from the freshly installed Windows and check if you can reach your files.
However, success chances are low.
You might need to part with your data.
Backups should have been made
PRIOR TO
upgrading to Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.
RAID0 only makes things worse.