The File or Directory \$Mft is corrupt and unreadable. Please Run the Chkdsk utility.

[arsbanned]

Server 2003. So far everything is still working; I get this error message when connecting remotely with Remote Desktop.
What exactly does this mean?

Edit:
Upon checking the logs I found a couple of entries showing an Error 55...
"The file system structure on the disk is corrupt and unusable. Please run the chkdsk utility on the volume C:"

 

[stash]

Have you tried running chkdsk /r yet?

Regardless, you should make sure you have a current backup of all data on that system NOW. You could very well have a failing drive.

 

[arsbanned]

Regular backups have been made of this system to an external drive. I've also been told to try the /f switch with chkdsk. Someone also said to check chipset drives and BIOS IDE settings? I'm sort of discounting that since this system has been A-OK up until now (over a year).

 

[stash]

chkdsk /r is more comprehensive than /f and includes /f.

 

[arsbanned]

Fixing disk errors

Chkdsk corrects disk errors only if you specify the /f command-line option.

/r : Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.
/f : Fixes errors on the disk.

http://www.microsoft.com/resou...docs/en-us/chkdsk.mspx

 

[stash]

/R: Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information (implies /F).

From chkdsk /?

 

[Geforcer]

I've had the error before on a 2k3 machine at work. use chkdsk /r

 

[arsbanned]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/176646

RESOLUTION
WARNING: When Chkdsk detects problems with the file system and attempts to repair the damage, data loss can occur. Microsoft does not recommend running Chkdsk with the /f command-line switch unless you have a full backup of your hard disk.

Attempt to repair the damaged file, folder or file system index using Chkdsk. To do so, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type chkdsk /f <drive>:, where <drive> is the letter of the drive on which the damaged file, folder or file system index exists.
3. Click OK.
NOTE: If the hard disk is large, Chkdsk may take several minutes to several hours to complete.