check disk problems

[BriGy86]

this computer i have right now keeps trying to do a disk check on start up, but it always comes across an error and can't finish, this in turn wont let me do a defrag, is there a way i can disable the error check on start up?

 

[imported_Phil]

Hop into the Recovery Console (boot with your XP CD, and press R when prompted).

Then, run the following command:

chkdsk /p

You will need to run this multiple times until Windows reports that it didn't find any problems with the disk. Type exit and you should be good to go.

 

[BriGy86]

ok thank you, i noticed that wheni tried to do a defrag it gave me an error saying to run chkdsk /f

what does the /f and /p mean?

 

[imported_Phil]

/f means that when chkdsk is run within Windows, it will attempt to fix the problems.

/p basically does the same thing, but in the Recovery Console. Lord knows why Microsoft decided to change this.

 

[BriGy86]

oh ok, thank you for your help, also- i have a windows XP pro CD here and the computer im working on is XP Home, i could still use that CD to fix it right? or do i need to have THE CD the computer came with?

im also trying to start in safe mode to get rid of some stuff that just wont die. It gets to the menu and i load safe mode, all the things its loading show up on the screen then i stops, sits there for a bit and restarts, so i can't get into safe mode

 

[FlyingPenguin]

Umm... you may want to test that drive. If scandisk can't finish a scan that should be a red flag. Download the drive manufacturer's diagnostic utility and run a full scan of the drive.

 

[BriGy86]

ok,

now for some reason the scan disk doesn't start everytime on start up (it did before and i wouldn't even schedule it, so for right now thats good)

im running a defrag now while i can

the kid that it belongs too has to go back to school today so im just gonna do what i can for now and let him know that his hard drive may be bad and to back up all his important stuff when ever possible and make sure he keeps track of his disks

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: BriGy86
ok,

now for some reason the scan disk doesn't start everytime on start up (it did before and i wouldn't even schedule it, so for right now thats good)

im running a defrag now while i can

the kid that it belongs too has to go back to school today so im just gonna do what i can for now and let him know that his hard drive may be bad and to back up all his important stuff when ever possible and make sure he keeps track of his disks

:thumbsup:

Good plan, although sometimes Windows will simply scan the disk every single time on bootup because it's not clearing the volume's "dirty" bit correctly. I've had the same problem before - there was nothing wrong with the drive, but XP insisted on running a chkdsk every time the machine started.

Hopping into the Recovery Console and running multiple chkdsk /p 's cleared the problem.

 

[imported_Phil]

By the way, if you want to install the Recovery Console as a startup option (so you don't need the CD any more), then do Start -> Run -> <CD-ROM drive letter>:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons.

For example:

d:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons

This will install a new option into the bootloader that reads Recovery Console. Very useful, especially if you're bored waiting for the CD to load

By default it installs with a 30second delay, but you can alter this by going into the "System" Control Panel, Startup & Recovery Settings -> Time to display list of operating systems -> set it to something like 5 seconds.

Enjoy

 

[BriGy86]

thanks for all your help, and i think i had your exact same problem, it kept saying at the top during the check disk, "volume is dirty"

but the kid got the computer back and he says it works great now

 

[imported_Phil]

Glad to hear it :thumbsup::beer:

 

[Smilin]

You are bypassing a chkdsk on a dirty volume so you can run a defrag ?!?!?!

I'm having trouble thinking of a worse thing you could do to your data. Defrag is shuffling clusters all over your drive, a dirty volume means the MFT map that defrag is working from is wrong.

You need to let that thing finish before defragging.

Also the reason for the difference between the /F and /P switches.

/F means to access the drive exclusively. When you are in recovery console it's always exclusive. When you run chkdsk in RC, the /F is implied. However, in recovery console the chkdsk will simply check to see if the volume is dirty. If not, it's done. If it is dirty it runs a normal chkdsk. If you want to force it to run even when the volume is not dirty you use the /P switch.

Confusing if you don't know the underlying reasoning I suppose.