chkdsk /f is not completely fixing errors

[Guest]

I had some file errors recently (such as cross-linking), and although most of
the problems could be repaired by chkdsk /f, I still get errors every time I
run it. The messages include errors in the Master File Tables (MFT) BITMAP
attribute and/or
errors in the VOLUME Bitmap and/or "free space marked as allocated in the
volume bitmap" (the errors change each time I run it).

I also get messages like:

Cleaning up 5 unused index entries from index $SII of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 5 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 5 unused security descriptors

Have I got a corrupted disk that I need to reformat and start again with?

Note that most of my software is working OK - the only things not working are

- most programs under Control Panel, Administrative Tools (the message I get
is "Microsoft Management Console has encountered a problem and needs to
close". AppName: mmc.exe, Mod Name: oleacc.dll)
- Start, Find, Files & Folders comes up with a blank screen

I could reinstall Windows to solve the two above problems, but do I need to
go for a complete reformat?

I have Windows XP Professional Version 2002, SP2, fully updated in Microsoft
Update.

 

[Malke]

I had some file errors recently (such as cross-linking), and although
most of the problems could be repaired by chkdsk /f, I still get
errors every time I
run it. The messages include errors in the Master File Tables (MFT)
BITMAP attribute and/or
errors in the VOLUME Bitmap and/or "free space marked as allocated in
the volume bitmap" (the errors change each time I run it).

I also get messages like:

Cleaning up 5 unused index entries from index $SII of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 5 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 5 unused security descriptors

Have I got a corrupted disk that I need to reformat and start again
with?

Note that most of my software is working OK - the only things not
working are

- most programs under Control Panel, Administrative Tools (the message
I get is "Microsoft Management Console has encountered a problem and
needs to
close". AppName: mmc.exe, Mod Name: oleacc.dll)
- Start, Find, Files & Folders comes up with a blank screen

I could reinstall Windows to solve the two above problems, but do I
need to go for a complete reformat?

I have Windows XP Professional Version 2002, SP2, fully updated in
Microsoft Update.

When Chkdsk doesn't fix errors, it's time to do a diagnostic on the
drive. Go to the drive mftr.'s website and download their diagnostic
utility. You will make a bootable cd/floppy with this file. Boot with
the media you created and do a thorough test. If the drive fails any
physical tests, replace it.

If the drive is physically healthy, then yes you should back up your
stuff and clean-install Windows because the file system is obviously
too damaged to be fixed. Do the drive diagnostic first because there is
no point in trying a software solution (reinstalling Windows) for a
hardware problem.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows -
What you will need on-hand

Malke

 

[frodo]

the "cleaning up...." msgs are just housekeeping, not real errors. They
will come back too, don't worry about it. If you run the chkdsk that's in
the Recovery Console it will "fix" these a bit more, but they will come
back. They are essentially just blank entries in the table, "fixing" them
means compressing the table to eliminate the free holes - but they will
come back. If you have RC installed (or if you have a CD that's up to the
same service pack level as your install), try it. Run it twice to ensure
that on the last run it says "no errors detected". If so then you are
just fine. If it says there are still errors then you need to dig deeper.
Google on the exact error text.

 

[Guest]

When Chkdsk doesn't fix errors, it's time to do a diagnostic on the
drive. Go to the drive mftr.'s website and download their diagnostic
utility. You will make a bootable cd/floppy with this file. Boot with
the media you created and do a thorough test. If the drive fails any
physical tests, replace it.

I have done this - no errors were found in the diagnostic.

 

[Guest]

When Chkdsk doesn't fix errors, it's time to do a diagnostic on the
drive. Go to the drive mftr.'s website and download their diagnostic
utility. You will make a bootable cd/floppy with this file. Boot with
the media you created and do a thorough test. If the drive fails any
physical tests, replace it.

I have run the diagnostic - no errors were found

 

[Guest]

When Chkdsk doesn't fix errors, it's time to do a diagnostic on the
drive. Go to the drive mftr.'s website and download their diagnostic
utility. You will make a bootable cd/floppy with this file. Boot with
the media you created and do a thorough test. If the drive fails any
physical tests, replace it.

I have run the diagnostic - no errors were found

 

[Guest]

the "cleaning up...." msgs are just housekeeping, not real errors. They
will come back too, don't worry about it. If you run the chkdsk that's in
the Recovery Console it will "fix" these a bit more, but they will come
back. They are essentially just blank entries in the table, "fixing" them
means compressing the table to eliminate the free holes - but they will
come back. If you have RC installed (or if you have a CD that's up to the
same service pack level as your install), try it. Run it twice to ensure
that on the last run it says "no errors detected". If so then you are
just fine. If it says there are still errors then you need to dig deeper.
Google on the exact error text.

I ran chkdsk /p in RC

First time it said "chkdsk found one or more errors on the volume"
Second time it said "chkdsk has finished checking the volume"

I logged into windows and scheduled a chkdsk through "My Computer"
After completion Event Viewer said "Windows has checked the file system and
found no problems." First time it has given no error messages.

However, ran chkdsk in cmd after logging in and got the typical messages:

"free space marked as allocated in the MFT bitmap"
"correcting errors in the volume bitmap"

Can I just ignore the cmd messages and trust windows?