chkdsk unable to fix hard drive

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tim Eichner
  • Start date Start date
T

Tim Eichner

I'm using Windows XP Home Edition. chkdsk reveals that
there are errors on my hard disk, but when I run
chkdsk /F, it cannot begin because there is another
process interfering with its access to the disk. What
process might this be, and can I safely stop it using
task manager? I tried having Windows check the disk at
startup, but it claims there are no errors. I'm thinking
it's probably a system process.
 
1. Open XP's "Help and Support Center".
2. In the Search box type: DIRTY , and hit enter.
3. Click on the topic titled: "Fsutil: dirty".

Do you have ZoneAlarm installed and did you recently upgrade it to
version 5.0? It has been reported that ZoneAlarm 5.0 may be the root cause
of your problem. Uninstalling ZoneAlarm Version 5.0 solves the issue.

Cannot Open Volume for Direct Access" Error Message When Chkdsk Runs at Startup
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;823439&Product=winxp

Go to Start > Run and type: CMD , and hit enter. Then type in:
chkntfs /x c: , and hit enter. Reboot your computer.

[This disables CHKDSK from running on drive C:]

CHKNTFS.EXE: What You Can Use It For
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=160963

Chkdsk in Read-Only Mode Does Not Detect Corruption on NTFS Volume
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q283340

Also see:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_c.htm#cd

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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| I'm using Windows XP Home Edition. chkdsk reveals that
| there are errors on my hard disk, but when I run
| chkdsk /F, it cannot begin because there is another
| process interfering with its access to the disk. What
| process might this be, and can I safely stop it using
| task manager? I tried having Windows check the disk at
| startup, but it claims there are no errors. I'm thinking
| it's probably a system process.
 
chkdsk with /F needs to be able to access the disk. The other program
accessing the disk is your XP Home itself. Therefore, chkdsk would need to
run before XP gets a hold of the disk which it does when your computer
begins to boot.

When chkdsk asks you if you 'would like to shedule this volume to be checked
the next time the system restarts?', type 'y', then enter, and reboot. If
it still will not run as it boots up, then one reason could be Zone Alarm
ver5 if you have it. I have had to go back to version 4.5 untill Zonelabs
fixes it. Otherwise let us know how you get on.

Simon.
 
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