Checkdisk problem

[Mike]

During installation of XP SP2 on my Dell laptop a message in a window said
that the MFT was corrupt or unreadable ( bad download or a real problem ?? )
and urged me to run chkdsk.
I uninstalled XP SP2 ( only way to have this window disappear ), installed
the Recovery Console and executed, upon bootstrap, the "chkdsk c: /p/r"
command. The first time it reported errors on the volume, I ran it again and
the errors were not identified any more. I subsequently started XP normally,
did some work. Upon the next boot, out of curiosity, I ran the above command
again and the errors were back, as if running Windows somehow generates
these errors. What's wrong, if anything ?? Can I safely try to reinstall SP2
now ?
Thanks in advance,

Mike

 

[Malke]

During installation of XP SP2 on my Dell laptop a message in a window
said that the MFT was corrupt or unreadable ( bad download or a real
problem ?? ) and urged me to run chkdsk.
I uninstalled XP SP2 ( only way to have this window disappear ),
installed the Recovery Console and executed, upon bootstrap, the
"chkdsk c: /p/r" command. The first time it reported errors on the
volume, I ran it again and the errors were not identified any more. I
subsequently started XP normally, did some work. Upon the next boot,
out of curiosity, I ran the above command again and the errors were
back, as if running Windows somehow generates these errors. What's
wrong, if anything ?? Can I safely try to reinstall SP2 now ?
Thanks in advance,

Mike

It sounds like your hard drive is going. Download a drive diagnostic
utility from the drive mftr.'s website. Usually you will make a
bootable floppy. If your laptop doesn't have a floppy drive, you can
get SeaTools from Seagate and make a bootable cd-r. SeaTools includes
generic drive testing with Seagate drive-specific tests.

Boot with the utility and run a thorough test. If you get any errors,
replace the drive. If the laptop is still under warranty, call Dell for
the replacement.

Malke

 

[Rock]

During installation of XP SP2 on my Dell laptop a message in a window said
that the MFT was corrupt or unreadable ( bad download or a real problem ?? )
and urged me to run chkdsk.
I uninstalled XP SP2 ( only way to have this window disappear ), installed
the Recovery Console and executed, upon bootstrap, the "chkdsk c: /p/r"
command. The first time it reported errors on the volume, I ran it again and
the errors were not identified any more. I subsequently started XP normally,
did some work. Upon the next boot, out of curiosity, I ran the above command
again and the errors were back, as if running Windows somehow generates
these errors. What's wrong, if anything ?? Can I safely try to reinstall SP2
now ?
Thanks in advance,

Mike

Download a drive diagnostic utility from the hard drive manufacturer's
web site. This will create a boot floppy disc from which the
diagnostics can be run. The drive may be going bad. Backup up all
important data now.