Chkdsk problem

[Michel S.]

Hello,

While trying to make an image of an NTFS partition, the imaging
softwares (I tried with both "True Image" and "Ghost") reported that
errors on partition prevented the image to be completed.

For example, Acronis stated that it "Failed to read from the sector
234,439,534 of the hard disk 1", which seems high to me since there's
only 29,304,934 clusters on the disk.

Back into XP, I performed a chkdsk (without /F) from a cmd window, and
it reported it found "minor" errors.

I reentered the same command, this time with the /F switch, and a scan
was planned on next boot.

In this scan. chkdsk performed steps 1 to 3 and USN log without
reporting any error, but failed right after with a message "Unable to
write the second NTFS boot sector" (translation of the french message)
before going on with normal windows boot.

I then permormed "chkdsk c: /P /R" from the recovery console.

This time, chkdsk progress raised up to 75% then, felt to 50% before
raising again (slowly) to 75% - without any additional message. This
seems to happens a couple of times.

At some point, it stopped with the message "The volume seems to contain
one or many unrecoverable problems".

Under normal windows operation, nothing seems to indicate a problem
with the file system. All programs seem to run normally. Even a
complete virus scan (accessing the over 300,000 files on the disk)
doesn't show any sign of failing disk. I know it doesn't mean all my
files are in safe state, but at least they are not causing system
crashes or error messages.

While I already have a backup of all my data files, I'd like to see if
there's a way to repair that partition to a point where I'll be able to
image it.

BTW, the disk is a WD-1200JB, S.M.A.R.T doesn't report any error.

Any suggestions ?
Thanks

PS: I retried the console's chkdsk again this morning, and noted that
the 50% ... -> 75% -> 50% ...75% seems to occur more often than the
first time I made it. Does this means it is getting any nearer to
complete recovery ?

 

[Rich Barry]

Michel, I would go to WD's website and get a Hard Drive Diagnostic Utility.
SMART could say everything is Ok and your
drive still may have major problems.

 

[Michel S.]

Thanks..

I just performed the DLGDIAG 5.04f quick test and there's no error to
report..

Extended test is currently running..

Stay tuned ;-)

Dans son message précédent, Rich Barry a écrit :

 

[Michel S.]

Just downloaded Data Lifeguard Diagnostics 5.04f from WD site,
performed both quick and extended tests and they both ended with
"status code 0000: no errors found".

Anything else ?

Rich Barry avait prétendu :

 

[M.I.5?]

Just downloaded Data Lifeguard Diagnostics 5.04f from WD site, performed
both quick and extended tests and they both ended with "status code 0000:
no errors found".

Anything else ?

If I were you, I would buy a replacement disk without delay, temporarily
connect it to your system and copy the entire file structure just in case.
You may wish to make it bootable and replace the existing disk just to be
safe.

The alternative is risking loss of your data if the disk really does have a
problem. Disk drives are cheap enough that it isn't worth the risk.

 

[Mark F.]

If I were you, I would buy a replacement disk without delay, temporarily
connect it to your system and copy the entire file structure just in case.
You may wish to make it bootable and replace the existing disk just to be
safe.

The alternative is risking loss of your data if the disk really does have
a problem. Disk drives are cheap enough that it isn't worth the risk.

So are you saying to copy the old problems on to the new disk? The smarter
route is to partition, format, and load a fresh install of the OS and the
applications. Then copy (or import) the data and other files to the new
drive.

Replacing the drive is a waste of money unless the drive is very old and is
displaying repeated problems. The diagnostic from the disk manufacturer
suggests otherwise.

Mark

 

[Mark F.]

Hello,

While trying to make an image of an NTFS partition, the imaging softwares
(I tried with both "True Image" and "Ghost") reported that errors on
partition prevented the image to be completed.

For example, Acronis stated that it "Failed to read from the sector
234,439,534 of the hard disk 1", which seems high to me since there's only
29,304,934 clusters on the disk.

Back into XP, I performed a chkdsk (without /F) from a cmd window, and it
reported it found "minor" errors.

I reentered the same command, this time with the /F switch, and a scan was
planned on next boot.

In this scan. chkdsk performed steps 1 to 3 and USN log without reporting
any error, but failed right after with a message "Unable to write the
second NTFS boot sector" (translation of the french message) before going
on with normal windows boot.

I then permormed "chkdsk c: /P /R" from the recovery console.

This time, chkdsk progress raised up to 75% then, felt to 50% before
raising again (slowly) to 75% - without any additional message. This
seems to happens a couple of times.

At some point, it stopped with the message "The volume seems to contain
one or many unrecoverable problems".

Under normal windows operation, nothing seems to indicate a problem with
the file system. All programs seem to run normally. Even a complete
virus scan (accessing the over 300,000 files on the disk) doesn't show any
sign of failing disk. I know it doesn't mean all my files are in safe
state, but at least they are not causing system crashes or error messages.

While I already have a backup of all my data files, I'd like to see if
there's a way to repair that partition to a point where I'll be able to
image it.

BTW, the disk is a WD-1200JB, S.M.A.R.T doesn't report any error.

Any suggestions ?
Thanks

PS: I retried the console's chkdsk again this morning, and noted that the
50% ... -> 75% -> 50% ...75% seems to occur more often than the first
time I made it. Does this means it is getting any nearer to complete
recovery ?

Chkdisk does a very poor job of diagnosing and repairing a fixed disk. It
generally is used to fix minor problems with the file structure and has
difficulty restoring damaged sectors.

The best application I have found for this is Spinrite from Gibson Research
http://www.grc.com/. This program is written in Assembly Language and runs
when you boot in FreeDOS from the disk (not in Windows). It will check and
attempt to repair damaged sectors repeatedly until fixed.

Mark