C:\$MFT error

[Maritime Mark]

I have a laptop with Windows XP home and Service Pack 2 installed and am
trying to install Service Pack 3. About halfway htrough the installation, a
bubble pops up in the system tray stating
"Windows Corrupt File
File or directory C:|$MFT is corrupt or unreadable. Please
run chkdsk utility."

What does this error mean. I read on other tech support sites that I should
run chkdsk, scandsk, fix boot. I have run these programs and none show any
errors. But the error comes back.

 

[Peter Foldes]

Seems like your MFT file is corrupt. See description of the MFT file below

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/174619

Now see the following for $mft

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...isions_inline&resnum=0&ct=broad-revision&cd=5

Also

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061105150319AAE9865

 

[Leonard Grey]

MFT stands for the Master File Table. It's like the table of contents
for your hard disk. You can't see it from Windows because it's not a
file or a folder, although it is stored on your hard disk.

It doesn't usually happen, but the MFT can become corrupted. This is not
such a big deal and can usually be fixed by running Disk Error Checking
(aka CHKDSK).

Do this: In My Computer, right-click on the C: drive and select
Properties. On the Tools tab click on Error checking - Check Now. Place
a check mark in 'Automatically fix file system errors' then click the
Start button. Now restart your computer.

When your computer restarts Windows will fix the error(s) in the MFT.
When you get back to the desktop read this article:

"Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717/en-us

and install Service Pack 3 when you are ready.

There is no 'scandisk' in Windows XP. I don't know what "fix boot" means
but you seem to be able to boot your computer just fine.