Defrag doesn't work because chkdsk doesn't work

[Guest]

I can not run disk defragmenter because I get the error "Disk Defragmenter
has detected that Chkdsk is scheduled to run on the volume: (C. Please run
Chkdsk /f." Naturally, running chkdsk /f from the command prompt doesn't
work, same error. Check disk is scheduled to run at start up (and I can't
figure out how to get this to go away either) but it always gets an
"unspecified error". I'm running XP Pro with service pack 2. Thanks for any
help!

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I can not run disk defragmenter because I get the error "Disk
Defragmenter has detected that Chkdsk is scheduled to run on the
volume: (C. Please run Chkdsk /f." Naturally, running chkdsk /f
from the command prompt doesn't work, same error. Check disk is
scheduled to run at start up (and I can't figure out how to get
this to go away either) but it always gets an "unspecified error".
I'm running XP Pro with service pack 2. Thanks for any help!

Download and utilize your hard drive manufacturer's diagnostics utilities to
make sure nothing is wrong with the drive itself.

FAT32, NTFS?
Are you saying that on reboot, you get 'unspecified error' when you allow
CHKDSK to run?

 

[Bob Harris]

For the moment, stop worrying about defrag not working and begin worrying about CHKDSK not working, which is often a symptom of something far more serious.

Try runnning CHKDSK C: /R form the XP recovery console, which can be initiated form the XP CDROM (if you have one) or from the floppy disk set called "setup disks".

Here are some links about the recovery console:

http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/wxprcons.htm

http://www.xxcopy.com/xxcopy33.htm (near bottom)

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_rec.htm

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

If the recovery console asks for a password, it is the password used to install XP, not the password of any random person with administrator privileges. It is usually blank, meaning just hit return. You can bypass the request for a password in the recovery console by the following registry change, made from within windows:

Instead, just run REGEDIT and change two things that appear on the same page:



Start à Run à Regedit


Navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Setup\RecoveryConsole


Set the DWORD SecurityLevel value to 1



Exit REGEDIT, insert the XP CDROM or 1st floppy disk, then reboot into the recovery console.

Caution: If you are using an XP CDROM, avoid a "repair" installation. Read links above for detailed steps.

If CHKDSK in the recovery console can not fix the file system, then it is possible that you have a bad/failing hard drive. Test it with tools available free form the drive maker. These usually are downloaded an burned to a CD, although older versions might result in bootable floppies. If the download is an ISO file, be sure to use CD writing software that supports burn-form-image, such as Nero or Easy CD Creator. The XP default software will not do this.

If the hardware tests OK, but CHKDSK still fails, then it might be time to re-install XP, and thenb all programs. That is do a long-format, and start over.

Obviously, given that you have some disk or file system problem, it would be a very good idea to backup all personal files off of the PC as fast as possible. Use CD, DVD, or even external USB or firewire. While in theory a flash drive would work, they are less reliable than the other options. I also rate floppies and ZIP cartridges as somewhat less reliable, and floppies are too small to really be of use any more.