A disk read error has occurred. Press ctrl+atl+del to restart.

Haval77 wrote:

When you say windows do you mean like windows XP? Lol

Yes.

ctrl-alt-del is a Windows thing. It doesn't exist in OS X. For you to get that messages sounds like Windows has installed a boot partition on your drive and the boot OS is corrupt.

Yes, the request to press ctrl-alt-delete can only come from the Windows Operating System.

Csound1 wrote:

you could buy a Snow Leopard (10.6) disc. Either way will work (buying 10.6 is simpler, and cheaper)

But as we do not know which version it is we are (once more) guessing.

Snow Leopard disk will be of no help:

It can't play CDs anyways cause there's no slot.

Ah, yes, the USB installer will be needed, unless it shipped with Lion (and as Recovery doesn't work)

Haval77

Take it to an Apple Store.

And never delete files without knowing what they are again.

Haval77 wrote:

Idk I didn't check all I remember is it was like 10.5 I think. And did I really damage it that bad? Is that a way can I restore it? Without a USB with the install?

Can you remember what you deleted?

Can you get into Single-user mode?

Hold down cmd-s on restart. It should present a command line window (black screen with white text) with a prompt.

If you can, type this at the prompt and Return.

fsck -yf

After that completes, type this and Return

reboot

All 2010 MacBook Air came preinstalled with OS X 10.6.4. The last 2009 unit came preinstalled with OS X 10.5.7. And, the mid-2011 units came pre-installed with Lion (10.7). The units most likely came with a tiny USB stick with Apple logo for recovery circumstances just like this one. Lose it, and groan.

If you do not have that Apple USB stick, you might consider calling Apple to see if they still provide one for sale. They are not in the physical or online Apple Stores. Failing that, things get interesting.

Apple sells OS X 10.6.3 DVD via their online store for $20 US. The concern I have is if your (let's guess again -- 2010) machine originally shipped with newer hardware requirements and a newer version of OS X pre-installed. Thus, it is possible that OS X 10.6.3 may not install with full hardware support, or not at all. If it does, the very next task is to upgrade to OS X 10.6.8 via Apple software update (or the combo installer). You will need a compatible USB DVD player for this install.

Perhaps this will be equally educational as it is time consuming. The only supported way to install Windows on a Mac is via the correct release of Boot Camp for the operating system, or by way of a virtualization solution.

Haval77 wrote:

I deleted files called system and something else. And @barney what do I click? My bad.

Yes, you completely destroyed your installation. You need to contact Apple and see if you can get the original install USB stick.

You don't click anything. And, that suggestion won't work based on what you said you did.

If you did get into Single User mode, try this:

First, run this to check the file system:

fsck -y

If it returns any errors, run it again until you don't.

Then, run this to mount the file system

mount -uw /

Now, you'll have to replace <username> with your login user name where you were when you deleted the files.

mv /Users/<username>/.Trash/System/ /System

You have to type that exactly correct. Note that there is a space between /.Trash/System/ and /System

That should move the System folder back where it belongs.

While still in single user mode, Run this and post the results. Do not leave single user mode.

ls /Users/<username>/.Trash/

That should show what else you deleted.

The first two letters are L as it List and s as in liSt; both lowercase.

Stop now and take it in to an Apple Store, you have the potential to make this worse!

Take your Mac, and any backups you have, down to your local Apple Store. Ring for an appointment.

Good Luck

Pete

Hello everyone, so i had the same problem,i installed windows 8 and immediaely after i went ahead and installed a game.shut down my computer only to wake up to this shock, disk-read-error press ctrl alt del to restart.read all the views here and they only made me more nervous.THE TRUTH IS IF YOU WERE TRYING TO INSTALL WINDOWS OR ANY OTHER OPERATING SYSTEM AND YOU DIDNT ALLOCATE ENOUGH SPACE FOR YOUR MAIN HARDDRIVE then YOUR disk IS bound to crash ,to solve:

1.press ctr alt del all at önce,IF YOUR computer restarts to a black grerestart,dont panick.push the power button to manually boot.

2.IF 1 didnt work ,push power button ,release then immediately hold option.

3.IF YOU cant see YOUR disks after 2. Again restart and push command plus R here YOU will get a screen to reinstall OS.i was using OS X EL CAPITAN

It worked FOR me ,should work FOR YOU,IF not, INSTALL OS x via a USB STICK.

CHEERS!