XP NTFS Index File System polluted?

[Huh]

I am running XP Pro and NTFS partitions with dual boot. I have resorted
to having a dual boot partition because my main primary XP Partition is
horribly slow in starting and accessing apps and even using CCLEANER.

I have run Chkdsk and Scannow and the problem with the file system is
still there. When running Scanndisk, the Verifying index is also very
very slow (Stage 2). Stuck at 0 % for about 15+ minutes if not longer.
Level 1 out of 3 scan is fast enough (verifying files).

The above is in contrast to my other partitition that I use which is
very fast however, I have noticed it is beginning to get bogged down the
more apps I install. I have run some disk utilities and the actual
drive speeds are nominal so I have concluded the problem is I must have
junk or other files messed up from about 24 months + worth of running
registry cleaners. I also ran disk defragmenter and I have adjusted
the MFT file size automatically with a 3rd party disk defragmenter which
I uninstalled several months ago.

Is there any way of further checking and repairing the file system
without having to do a complete reformat?

Thx

 

[mscotgrove]

I am running XP Pro and NTFS partitions with dual boot.  I have resorted
to having a dual boot partition because my main primary XP Partition is
horribly slow in starting and accessing apps and even using CCLEANER.

I have run Chkdsk and Scannow and the problem with the file system is
still there.  When running Scanndisk, the Verifying index is also very
very slow (Stage 2).  Stuck at 0 % for about 15+ minutes if not longer.
Level 1 out of 3 scan is fast enough (verifying files).

The above is in contrast to my other partitition that I use which is
very fast however, I have noticed it is beginning to get bogged down the
more apps I install.  I have run some disk utilities and the actual
drive speeds are nominal so I have concluded the problem is I must have
junk or other files messed up from about 24 months + worth of running
registry cleaners.   I also ran disk defragmenter and I have adjusted
the MFT file size automatically with a 3rd party disk defragmenter which
I uninstalled several months ago.

Is there any way of further checking and repairing the file system
without having to do a complete reformat?

Thx

You could have failing sectors in important areas on the problem
partition that are causing many retries.


Michael
www.cnwrecovery.com

 

[Huh]

(e-mail address removed) wrote:
::
: You could have failing sectors in important areas on the problem
: partition that are causing many retries.

How would I know for sure? HDTUNE is not showing any anomolies. Partition
magic the same. I did notice a difference in speed when diskeeper changed
the MFT volume a while back.

 

[Huh]

Chris Hill wrote:
:
: Find the manufacturer of the drive, download their utility and test
: the drive. It could be hardware.

It's a Maxtor, a few years old. I have already downloaded it and ran the
utility. No deficiencies found. It's almost like the drive isn't
running in DMA 5 mode but all diagnostics show it is.

 

[Hoppalong Dweeb]

Probably not. Some registry cleaners are worse than others and all of them
do some harm. It would probably be a good idea to back up what you need and
do a clean install. Then find one cleaner and stick with just that one
instead of trying different ones. Look for one that does the least damage.

 

[Arno Wagner]

(e-mail address removed) wrote:
::
: You could have failing sectors in important areas on the problem
: partition that are causing many retries.

How would I know for sure? HDTUNE is not showing any anomolies. Partition
magic the same. I did notice a difference in speed when diskeeper changed
the MFT volume a while back.

That is not the way to check yoru disk. Use a SMART tool and
run a long selftest. Then look at the SMART attributes.
If there are "pending secors", then you have unreadables.

Arno

 

[Huh]

Arno Wagner wrote:
:: That is not the way to check yoru disk. Use a SMART tool and
:: run a long selftest. Then look at the SMART attributes.
:: If there are "pending secors", then you have unreadables.

Hmm. The Seagate tool with long self test only shows pass or failed.

Can you recommend one that allows you to read the attributes?

 

[Huh]

Hoppalong Dweeb wrote:
:: Probably not. Some registry cleaners are worse than others and all
:: of them do some harm. It would probably be a good idea to back up
:: what you need and do a clean install. Then find one cleaner and
:: stick with just that one instead of trying different ones. Look for
:: one that does the least damage.

I'm thinking the same thing.....I think the least destructive registry
cleaner is CCleaner while RegCure is probably the most destructive.

 

[Arno Wagner]

Arno Wagner wrote:
:: That is not the way to check yoru disk. Use a SMART tool and
:: run a long selftest. Then look at the SMART attributes.
:: If there are "pending secors", then you have unreadables.

Hmm. The Seagate tool with long self test only shows pass or failed.

Can you recommend one that allows you to read the attributes?

I use the smartmontools (-> Google). Some people like Everest.

Arno