can't run 'scandisk' in WinXP Pro

[damngood]

When I try to check my drives for errors with Window's scandisk, I get this error:

The disk check could not be performed because the disk check utility needs exclusive access to some Windows files on disk. These files can be accessed only be restarting Windows. Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?

After I click yes and restart, Windows will do the disk check in 'DOS' mode. But I want to be able to do it from Windows. I used to have Norton Disk Doctor installed and I would get a similar error message. Any know anything about this?

 

[Nothinman]

chkdsk is the only thing in NT, scandisk is a Win9X thing. The button you're referring to is a GUI infront of chkdsk. chkdsk has to lock the drive to scan it, otherwise bad things will happen (it'll find many errors that aren't real because the disk cache won't be coherent with what's actually on disk, but it will be once the cache is flushed) and since the system drive is always in use you can't run chkdsk on it (in read-write mode) without rebooting.

 

[Buz2b]

If I could translate the excellent oratory that Nothinman just made; you can't do this in Windows! You might be able to do this with a Norton disk operation. I'm not sure about that. However, if you need/want to do this in Windows, then just let it happen and "take a break". Your, and your system, will be much happier.

 

[damngood]

That's weird. I would have sworn that at some point I had the ability to check my disks from Windows in XP. I guess I'm mistaken. So, this would be the case as well in W2k, right? What's the point of having the GUI front if you really cannot check for errors from Windows? So is there any way to check for disk errors in WinXP without having to reboot? I should reinstall Norton to double check. But does anyone else know a way? Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[jdavis71]

You can right click on your hard drive and go to properties and tools. Then you can click the "check now" button for a gui checkdisk.

 

[Nothinman]

I would have sworn that at some point I had the ability to check my disks from Windows in XP

You can, but not the ones that are locked by something else, like the system drive.

What's the point of having the GUI front if you really cannot check for errors from Windows?

Many Windows users like pretty buttons.

So is there any way to check for disk errors in WinXP without having to reboot? I should reinstall Norton to double check. But does anyone else know a way? Thanks for the replies guys.

Not on the system drive, Disk Doctor will also just reboot and run chkdsk.

 

[damngood]

What's the point of having the GUI front if you really cannot check for errors from Windows

Many Windows users like pretty buttons.

LOL! Thanks for the info Nothingman. I get it now.