Checkdisk error "cannot open volume for direct access"

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G

Guest

I've searched for posts about this but none of them relate to me. I have XP
Pro, and when I schedule Checkdisk I get the error above. My antivirus is
McAfee enterprise, no firewall software (on work lan), and Ad-aware spyware.

Any ideas?
 
If you get an error something to the effect "cannot open volume for direct
access" There is some system/boot start device that is reading/writing to
the drive before chkdsk can get a lock on the drive. Some anti-virus
applications do this.

After backup you can run chkdsk from the RC.

chkdsk /r
from the recovery console command line. (/r implies /f and /p)

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows XP
CD-Rom. At the "Welcome to Setup" screen. Press F10 or R to repair a Windows
XP installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The Recovery
Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do not have
the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts
in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot
access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,
and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. Once the password has been validated,
you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access to the hard
disk. You can only access the following folders on your computer: drive
root, %systemroot% or %windir%


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| I've searched for posts about this but none of them relate to me. I have
XP
| Pro, and when I schedule Checkdisk I get the error above. My antivirus is
| McAfee enterprise, no firewall software (on work lan), and Ad-aware
spyware.
|
| Any ideas?
 
If you are getting one of these messages:

Cannot lock volume for direct access
or
Cannot open volume for direct access

Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 9.0 can cause the problem.

Chkdsk.exe or ScanDisk fails to run on Windows XP or Windows 2003 after
installing Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 9.0
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...6e22005026f1/52d79c84c363973488256ea600542b5a

A program called Hitman Pro can cause the problem.

A really old version of ZoneAlarm (a version from 2004) can cause the
problem.

BitDefender Internet Security 9 can cause the problem.

[[Ok BitDefender live support told me yesterday that they are working on it
and sending people analyse tools but she didn't send me one.....]]
from...
(e-mail address removed) 21 May 2006

Spyware Doctor can also cause the problem.

The /x switch doesn't work if Spyware Doctor is installed. Spyware Doctor
needs to be uninstalled or you can do this...

Quoted from *PCTools*, *Spyware* *Doctor*...
1. Exit from Spyware Doctor (to exit from Spyware
Doctor please right click on the Spyware Doctor icon in
the notification area (next to the clock on the Windows
taskbar) and select Exit from the menu that appears)

2. Delete the file
ikhlayer.sys from %windir%\system32\drivers\
or
from c:\windows\system32\drivers\

3. Restart Spyware Doctor

Chkdsk, defrag and error-checking should now work.
-----

You can also try this.

To run chkdsk from a command prompt.

Start | Run | Type: cmd | Click OK |
In the command prompt, type:

chkdsk C: /x

Hit your Enter key.

The following error message appears:
Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you
like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system
restarts? (Y/N)

Type Y, hit Enter and close the command prompt.

Reboot.

The /x switch: Use with NTFS only. Forces the volume to dismount first, if
necessary. All open handles to the drive are invalidated. /x also includes
the functionality of /f. The /F switch fixes errors on the disk.

Unable to run CHKDSK
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555484

[[Message 1
Cannot lock volume for direct access
Message 2
Cannot open volume for direct access ]]
You receive an error message when you run the Autochk.exe utility on a
partition after you restart the computer or when you schedule the Chkdsk.exe
utility to run on a partition on a Windows 2000-based computer or a Windows
NT-based computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/160654

This can sometimes work.

Schedule chkdsk and reboot in Safe Mode.

The way to do that in this instance is to use the msconfig method.

Start | Run | Type: msconfig | Click OK |
BOOT.INI tab | Under Boot Options select: /SAFEBOOT

The /SAFEBOOT switch causes Windows to start in Safe Mode.

After making those boot.ini changes using msconfig, you need to click Apply
and Close.

Then click on: Restart.

See if chkdsk runs correctly.

Then before you shutdown or reboot again, open msconfig...

UNSelect: /SAFEBOOT under the boot.ini tab | Click Apply |
Under the General tab Select: Normal Startup - load all device drivers and
services | Click Apply and Close

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
Hi Wes,

The posted listed what was installed. Is a great write-up though. :o)

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm


Wesley Vogel said:
If you are getting one of these messages:

Cannot lock volume for direct access
or
Cannot open volume for direct access

Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 9.0 can cause the problem.

Chkdsk.exe or ScanDisk fails to run on Windows XP or Windows 2003 after
installing Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 9.0
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...6e22005026f1/52d79c84c363973488256ea600542b5a

A program called Hitman Pro can cause the problem.

A really old version of ZoneAlarm (a version from 2004) can cause the
problem.

BitDefender Internet Security 9 can cause the problem.

[[Ok BitDefender live support told me yesterday that they are working on
it
and sending people analyse tools but she didn't send me one.....]]
from...
(e-mail address removed) 21 May 2006

Spyware Doctor can also cause the problem.

The /x switch doesn't work if Spyware Doctor is installed. Spyware Doctor
needs to be uninstalled or you can do this...

Quoted from *PCTools*, *Spyware* *Doctor*...
1. Exit from Spyware Doctor (to exit from Spyware
Doctor please right click on the Spyware Doctor icon in
the notification area (next to the clock on the Windows
taskbar) and select Exit from the menu that appears)

2. Delete the file
ikhlayer.sys from %windir%\system32\drivers\
or
from c:\windows\system32\drivers\

3. Restart Spyware Doctor

Chkdsk, defrag and error-checking should now work.
-----

You can also try this.

To run chkdsk from a command prompt.

Start | Run | Type: cmd | Click OK |
In the command prompt, type:

chkdsk C: /x

Hit your Enter key.

The following error message appears:
Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would
you
like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system
restarts? (Y/N)

Type Y, hit Enter and close the command prompt.

Reboot.

The /x switch: Use with NTFS only. Forces the volume to dismount first,
if
necessary. All open handles to the drive are invalidated. /x also
includes
the functionality of /f. The /F switch fixes errors on the disk.

Unable to run CHKDSK
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555484

[[Message 1
Cannot lock volume for direct access
Message 2
Cannot open volume for direct access ]]
You receive an error message when you run the Autochk.exe utility on a
partition after you restart the computer or when you schedule the
Chkdsk.exe
utility to run on a partition on a Windows 2000-based computer or a
Windows
NT-based computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/160654

This can sometimes work.

Schedule chkdsk and reboot in Safe Mode.

The way to do that in this instance is to use the msconfig method.

Start | Run | Type: msconfig | Click OK |
BOOT.INI tab | Under Boot Options select: /SAFEBOOT

The /SAFEBOOT switch causes Windows to start in Safe Mode.

After making those boot.ini changes using msconfig, you need to click
Apply
and Close.

Then click on: Restart.

See if chkdsk runs correctly.

Then before you shutdown or reboot again, open msconfig...

UNSelect: /SAFEBOOT under the boot.ini tab | Click Apply |
Under the General tab Select: Normal Startup - load all device drivers and
services | Click Apply and Close

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
mx6bfast said:
I've searched for posts about this but none of them relate to me. I have
XP Pro, and when I schedule Checkdisk I get the error above. My antivirus
is McAfee enterprise, no firewall software (on work lan), and Ad-aware
spyware.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hi Kelly,

This has actually worked for some folks.

Schedule chkdsk and reboot in Safe Mode.

Whatever was preventing chkdsk access was not able to run in Safe Mode.

This article
http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/14614/14614.html
sure looks similar to Soumitra Sengupta's article...

Unable to run CHKDSK
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555484

And this one...

You receive an error message when you run the Autochk.exe utility on a
partition after you restart the computer or when you schedule the Chkdsk.exe
utility to run on a partition on a Windows 2000-based computer or a Windows
NT-based computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/160654

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Kelly said:
Hi Wes,

The posted listed what was installed. Is a great write-up though. :o)

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm


Wesley Vogel said:
If you are getting one of these messages:

Cannot lock volume for direct access
or
Cannot open volume for direct access

Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 9.0 can cause the problem.

Chkdsk.exe or ScanDisk fails to run on Windows XP or Windows 2003 after
installing Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 9.0
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...6e22005026f1/52d79c84c363973488256ea600542b5a

A program called Hitman Pro can cause the problem.

A really old version of ZoneAlarm (a version from 2004) can cause the
problem.

BitDefender Internet Security 9 can cause the problem.

[[Ok BitDefender live support told me yesterday that they are working on
it
and sending people analyse tools but she didn't send me one.....]]
from...
(e-mail address removed) 21 May 2006

Spyware Doctor can also cause the problem.

The /x switch doesn't work if Spyware Doctor is installed. Spyware
Doctor needs to be uninstalled or you can do this...

Quoted from *PCTools*, *Spyware* *Doctor*...
1. Exit from Spyware Doctor (to exit from Spyware
Doctor please right click on the Spyware Doctor icon in
the notification area (next to the clock on the Windows
taskbar) and select Exit from the menu that appears)

2. Delete the file
ikhlayer.sys from %windir%\system32\drivers\
or
from c:\windows\system32\drivers\

3. Restart Spyware Doctor

Chkdsk, defrag and error-checking should now work.
-----

You can also try this.

To run chkdsk from a command prompt.

Start | Run | Type: cmd | Click OK |
In the command prompt, type:

chkdsk C: /x

Hit your Enter key.

The following error message appears:
Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would
you
like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system
restarts? (Y/N)

Type Y, hit Enter and close the command prompt.

Reboot.

The /x switch: Use with NTFS only. Forces the volume to dismount first,
if
necessary. All open handles to the drive are invalidated. /x also
includes
the functionality of /f. The /F switch fixes errors on the disk.

Unable to run CHKDSK
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555484

[[Message 1
Cannot lock volume for direct access
Message 2
Cannot open volume for direct access ]]
You receive an error message when you run the Autochk.exe utility on a
partition after you restart the computer or when you schedule the
Chkdsk.exe
utility to run on a partition on a Windows 2000-based computer or a
Windows
NT-based computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/160654

This can sometimes work.

Schedule chkdsk and reboot in Safe Mode.

The way to do that in this instance is to use the msconfig method.

Start | Run | Type: msconfig | Click OK |
BOOT.INI tab | Under Boot Options select: /SAFEBOOT

The /SAFEBOOT switch causes Windows to start in Safe Mode.

After making those boot.ini changes using msconfig, you need to click
Apply
and Close.

Then click on: Restart.

See if chkdsk runs correctly.

Then before you shutdown or reboot again, open msconfig...

UNSelect: /SAFEBOOT under the boot.ini tab | Click Apply |
Under the General tab Select: Normal Startup - load all device drivers
and services | Click Apply and Close

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
mx6bfast said:
I've searched for posts about this but none of them relate to me. I have
XP Pro, and when I schedule Checkdisk I get the error above. My
antivirus is McAfee enterprise, no firewall software (on work lan), and
Ad-aware spyware.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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