chkdsk - what the heck

[Linea Recta]

I wanted to check an external USB harddisk.
Via Windows Explorer - Properties - Extra, I get the message that it can't
be done because exclusive access is needed.
OK, I try another way:
In Windows: 'Start' - 'Run" I enter:

chkdsk I: /f /r

OK, this seems to work... It looks like it is going to take a looong time,
but at least I can monitor what's happening in a DOS box.
When I came back after about 10 minutes the screemsaver was active, so I
woke it up with a mouse move.
Now the DOS box has disappeared altogether, not on the task bar or anything.
I can see the drive is still running, but from now on I have no idea what's
going on (if anything) and how long I have to wait!

Why is it so hard to accomplish a simple operation??
What am I doing wrong?
I just want to see what's happening and when it's ready :-(



--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

 

[Russ SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]]

Put CMD in the run box first
then when the dos prompt is open
run the chkdsk
then you can watch the process
Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support - www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion - www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services - www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com

 

[Paul Calcagno]

Russ, I was browsing these posts and decided to try what you said. But I get
an error message saying I don't have enough priviledges. I'm logged on as an
Administrator. Not sure how to make this checkdisk work. Any help would
be appreciated. Paul C.

Put CMD in the run box first
then when the dos prompt is open
run the chkdsk
then you can watch the process
Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support - www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion - www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services - www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com

I wanted to check an external USB harddisk.
Via Windows Explorer - Properties - Extra, I get the message that it
can't be done because exclusive access is needed.
OK, I try another way:
In Windows: 'Start' - 'Run" I enter:

chkdsk I: /f /r

OK, this seems to work... It looks like it is going to take a looong
time, but at least I can monitor what's happening in a DOS box.
When I came back after about 10 minutes the screemsaver was active, so I
woke it up with a mouse move.
Now the DOS box has disappeared altogether, not on the task bar or
anything.
I can see the drive is still running, but from now on I have no idea
what's going on (if anything) and how long I have to wait!

Why is it so hard to accomplish a simple operation??
What am I doing wrong?
I just want to see what's happening and when it's ready :-(



--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

 

[Russ SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]]

Sounds like you have VISTA
Find the CMD in Programs (Command Dos Prompt)
right click on it and select "Run As Administrator"
Then you should have permissions
Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support - www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion - www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services - www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com

Russ, I was browsing these posts and decided to try what you said. But I
get an error message saying I don't have enough priviledges. I'm logged on
as an Administrator. Not sure how to make this checkdisk work. Any help
would be appreciated. Paul C.

Put CMD in the run box first
then when the dos prompt is open
run the chkdsk
then you can watch the process
Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support - www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion - www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services - www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com

I wanted to check an external USB harddisk.
Via Windows Explorer - Properties - Extra, I get the message that it
can't be done because exclusive access is needed.
OK, I try another way:
In Windows: 'Start' - 'Run" I enter:

chkdsk I: /f /r

OK, this seems to work... It looks like it is going to take a looong
time, but at least I can monitor what's happening in a DOS box.
When I came back after about 10 minutes the screemsaver was active, so I
woke it up with a mouse move.
Now the DOS box has disappeared altogether, not on the task bar or
anything.
I can see the drive is still running, but from now on I have no idea
what's going on (if anything) and how long I have to wait!

Why is it so hard to accomplish a simple operation??
What am I doing wrong?
I just want to see what's happening and when it's ready :-(



--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

 

[Linea Recta]

Put CMD in the run box first
then when the dos prompt is open
run the chkdsk
then you can watch the process
Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support - www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion - www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services - www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com

OK, I gave it a try...
It started OK, then after a while I hear the sound of the drive dismounting
and checking doesn't go further than step 4, at 2 percent...
It seems it can't be done, checking the whole drive thoroughly.

It seems I do have a problem with thuis drive dismounting by itself
randomly...
Any idea how to fix?



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Windows XP [versie 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Micrisoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Mark Vos>chkdsk I: /f /r
Het type bestandssysteem is NTFS.
Volumenaam is HDDRIVE2GO.

CHKDSK is bezig met controleren van bestanden (stap 1 van 5)...
De bestandscontrole is voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van indexen (stap 2 van 5)...
De indexcontrole voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van security descriptors (stap 3 van
5)...
De controle van security descriptors is voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van de bestandsgegevens (stap 4 van
5)...
2 procent voltooid.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

 

[Jose]

Put CMD in the run box first
then when the dos prompt is open
run the chkdsk
then you can watch the process
Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support -www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion -www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services -www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com

OK, I gave it a try...
It started OK, then after a while I hear the sound of the drive dismounting
and checking doesn't go further than step 4, at 2 percent...
It seems it can't be done, checking the whole drive thoroughly.

It seems I do have a problem with thuis drive dismounting by itself
randomly...
Any idea how to fix?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
Microsoft Windows XP [versie 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Micrisoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Mark Vos>chkdsk I: /f /r
Het type bestandssysteem is NTFS.
Volumenaam is HDDRIVE2GO.

CHKDSK is bezig met controleren van bestanden (stap 1 van 5)...
De bestandscontrole is voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van indexen (stap 2 van 5)...
De indexcontrole voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van security descriptors (stap 3 van
5)...
De controle van security descriptors is voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van de bestandsgegevens (stap 4 van
5)...
2 procent voltooid.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------

--
regards,

|\  /|
| \/ |@rk
 \../
  \/os

Well, it might take a looong time depending on how laaarge your
external HDD is, which is unspecified.

And, if you run it the way you are - from Start, Run, you will not
have a log file when you are done, which may or may not matter to you.

And if you run it that way and go away and come back later, it may
finish or encounter an error and you will not see any results and the
DOS box will be gone with no trace that it ever ran (because that is
the way you ran it). That is what it should do with those options.
Is that your intent or do you want to log the results or be able to
follow it and read the results later?

You do need exclusive access for your boot drive and it will want to
run on the next reboot if you respond in the affirmative - that is how
it is supposed to work.

Sounds like everything is working fine!

What do you mean - the drive sounds like it dismounting by itself?

 

[Linea Recta]

"Jose" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht

Put CMD in the run box first
then when the dos prompt is open
run the chkdsk
then you can watch the process
Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support -www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion -www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services -www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com

OK, I gave it a try...
It started OK, then after a while I hear the sound of the drive
dismounting
and checking doesn't go further than step 4, at 2 percent...
It seems it can't be done, checking the whole drive thoroughly.

It seems I do have a problem with thuis drive dismounting by itself
randomly...
Any idea how to fix?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Microsoft Windows XP [versie 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Micrisoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Mark Vos>chkdsk I: /f /r
Het type bestandssysteem is NTFS.
Volumenaam is HDDRIVE2GO.

CHKDSK is bezig met controleren van bestanden (stap 1 van 5)...
De bestandscontrole is voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van indexen (stap 2 van 5)...
De indexcontrole voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van security descriptors (stap 3 van
5)...
De controle van security descriptors is voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van de bestandsgegevens (stap 4 van
5)...
2 procent voltooid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------

--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

Well, it might take a looong time depending on how laaarge your
external HDD is, which is unspecified.

And, if you run it the way you are - from Start, Run, you will not
have a log file when you are done, which may or may not matter to you.

And if you run it that way and go away and come back later, it may
finish or encounter an error and you will not see any results and the
DOS box will be gone with no trace that it ever ran (because that is
the way you ran it). That is what it should do with those options.
Is that your intent or do you want to log the results or be able to
follow it and read the results later?

You do need exclusive access for your boot drive and it will want to
run on the next reboot if you respond in the affirmative - that is how
it is supposed to work.

Sounds like everything is working fine!

What do you mean - the drive sounds like it dismounting by itself?


---END QUOTE---


Of course DO like to have a log with results, but as I wrote I couldn't do
drive checking from Windows Explorer, because "exclusive access was needed"
which it didn't have (although I log in as administrator).

Then there is the option to plan disk checks at next reboot. I've tried that
and this command seems ignored the first time, so I tried again. Now... it
started checking the (2 internal) drives, which takes a very long time, and
it starts all over for a second(!) time which of course takes even more
time! And once started I suppose the process can't be interrupted. Working
his way is a nightmare!

Yes, the external drive sometimes dismounts by itself. How can I put it
differently? I have to take out the power adapter to make it start again and
then it is accessible again... for a while...

--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

 

[John John - MVP]

"Jose" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht

Put CMD in the run box first
then when the dos prompt is open
run the chkdsk
then you can watch the process
Russ
--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support -www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion -www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services -www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com

OK, I gave it a try...
It started OK, then after a while I hear the sound of the drive
dismounting
and checking doesn't go further than step 4, at 2 percent...
It seems it can't be done, checking the whole drive thoroughly.

It seems I do have a problem with thuis drive dismounting by itself
randomly...
Any idea how to fix?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Microsoft Windows XP [versie 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Micrisoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Mark Vos>chkdsk I: /f /r
Het type bestandssysteem is NTFS.
Volumenaam is HDDRIVE2GO.

CHKDSK is bezig met controleren van bestanden (stap 1 van 5)...
De bestandscontrole is voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van indexen (stap 2 van 5)...
De indexcontrole voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van security descriptors (stap 3 van
5)...
De controle van security descriptors is voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van de bestandsgegevens (stap 4 van
5)...
2 procent voltooid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------

--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

Well, it might take a looong time depending on how laaarge your
external HDD is, which is unspecified.

And, if you run it the way you are - from Start, Run, you will not
have a log file when you are done, which may or may not matter to you.

And if you run it that way and go away and come back later, it may
finish or encounter an error and you will not see any results and the
DOS box will be gone with no trace that it ever ran (because that is
the way you ran it). That is what it should do with those options.
Is that your intent or do you want to log the results or be able to
follow it and read the results later?

You do need exclusive access for your boot drive and it will want to
run on the next reboot if you respond in the affirmative - that is how
it is supposed to work.

Sounds like everything is working fine!

What do you mean - the drive sounds like it dismounting by itself?


---END QUOTE---


Of course DO like to have a log with results, but as I wrote I couldn't do
drive checking from Windows Explorer, because "exclusive access was needed"
which it didn't have (although I log in as administrator).

Then there is the option to plan disk checks at next reboot. I've tried that
and this command seems ignored the first time, so I tried again. Now... it
started checking the (2 internal) drives, which takes a very long time, and
it starts all over for a second(!) time which of course takes even more
time! And once started I suppose the process can't be interrupted. Working
his way is a nightmare!

Yes, the external drive sometimes dismounts by itself. How can I put it
differently? I have to take out the power adapter to make it start again and
then it is accessible again... for a while...

If the drive is the boot volume (it holds the WINDOWS folder), or if it
is hosting the pagefile, you will not be able to run chkdsk on it from
within Windows, it will have to be checked at boot time. Any other
drive can be checked from within Windows, chkdsk will ask you if you
want to dismount the volume, answer yes and chkdsk will dismount the
drive and check it. Run Chkdsk from the Command Prompt:

chkdsk x: /f

where "x" is the letter of the drive that you want to check. For help
with the command do: chkdsk /?

John

 

[Linea Recta]

"Jose" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht

"Russ SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]" <[email protected]> schreef in
bericht
Put CMD in the run box first
then when the dos prompt is open
run the chkdsk
then you can watch the process
Russ
--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support -www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion -www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services -www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com
OK, I gave it a try...
It started OK, then after a while I hear the sound of the drive
dismounting
and checking doesn't go further than step 4, at 2 percent...
It seems it can't be done, checking the whole drive thoroughly.

It seems I do have a problem with thuis drive dismounting by itself
randomly...
Any idea how to fix?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Microsoft Windows XP [versie 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Micrisoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Mark Vos>chkdsk I: /f /r
Het type bestandssysteem is NTFS.
Volumenaam is HDDRIVE2GO.

CHKDSK is bezig met controleren van bestanden (stap 1 van 5)...
De bestandscontrole is voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van indexen (stap 2 van 5)...
De indexcontrole voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van security descriptors (stap 3 van
5)...
De controle van security descriptors is voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van de bestandsgegevens (stap 4 van
5)...
2 procent voltooid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------

--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

Well, it might take a looong time depending on how laaarge your
external HDD is, which is unspecified.

And, if you run it the way you are - from Start, Run, you will not
have a log file when you are done, which may or may not matter to you.

And if you run it that way and go away and come back later, it may
finish or encounter an error and you will not see any results and the
DOS box will be gone with no trace that it ever ran (because that is
the way you ran it). That is what it should do with those options.
Is that your intent or do you want to log the results or be able to
follow it and read the results later?

You do need exclusive access for your boot drive and it will want to
run on the next reboot if you respond in the affirmative - that is how
it is supposed to work.

Sounds like everything is working fine!

What do you mean - the drive sounds like it dismounting by itself?


---END QUOTE---


Of course DO like to have a log with results, but as I wrote I couldn't
do drive checking from Windows Explorer, because "exclusive access was
needed" which it didn't have (although I log in as administrator).

Then there is the option to plan disk checks at next reboot. I've tried
that and this command seems ignored the first time, so I tried again.
Now... it started checking the (2 internal) drives, which takes a very
long time, and it starts all over for a second(!) time which of course
takes even more time! And once started I suppose the process can't be
interrupted. Working his way is a nightmare!

Yes, the external drive sometimes dismounts by itself. How can I put it
differently? I have to take out the power adapter to make it start again
and then it is accessible again... for a while...

If the drive is the boot volume (it holds the WINDOWS folder), or if it is
hosting the pagefile,

Neither is the case with the mentioned external USB drive.

you will not be able to run chkdsk on it from within Windows, it will have
to be checked at boot time. Any other drive can be checked from within
Windows, chkdsk will ask you if you want to dismount the volume, answer
yes and chkdsk will dismount the drive and check it. Run Chkdsk from the
Command Prompt:

chkdsk x: /f

OK that works and fast also. But (as I wrote) I used the additional
parameter /r. Don't I need it?

BTW, what happens if I don't check the checkdisk checkboxes when running in
Windows? I understood it then doesn't fix anything. It just finishes... Can
I see the results of the check?



--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

 

[John John - MVP]

"Jose" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht
"Russ SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]" <[email protected]> schreef in
bericht
Put CMD in the run box first
then when the dos prompt is open
run the chkdsk
then you can watch the process
Russ
--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support -www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion -www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services -www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com
OK, I gave it a try...
It started OK, then after a while I hear the sound of the drive
dismounting
and checking doesn't go further than step 4, at 2 percent...
It seems it can't be done, checking the whole drive thoroughly.

It seems I do have a problem with thuis drive dismounting by itself
randomly...
Any idea how to fix?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Microsoft Windows XP [versie 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Micrisoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Mark Vos>chkdsk I: /f /r
Het type bestandssysteem is NTFS.
Volumenaam is HDDRIVE2GO.

CHKDSK is bezig met controleren van bestanden (stap 1 van 5)...
De bestandscontrole is voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van indexen (stap 2 van 5)...
De indexcontrole voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van security descriptors (stap 3 van
5)...
De controle van security descriptors is voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van de bestandsgegevens (stap 4 van
5)...
2 procent voltooid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------

--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os
Well, it might take a looong time depending on how laaarge your
external HDD is, which is unspecified.

And, if you run it the way you are - from Start, Run, you will not
have a log file when you are done, which may or may not matter to you.

And if you run it that way and go away and come back later, it may
finish or encounter an error and you will not see any results and the
DOS box will be gone with no trace that it ever ran (because that is
the way you ran it). That is what it should do with those options.
Is that your intent or do you want to log the results or be able to
follow it and read the results later?

You do need exclusive access for your boot drive and it will want to
run on the next reboot if you respond in the affirmative - that is how
it is supposed to work.

Sounds like everything is working fine!

What do you mean - the drive sounds like it dismounting by itself?


---END QUOTE---


Of course DO like to have a log with results, but as I wrote I couldn't
do drive checking from Windows Explorer, because "exclusive access was
needed" which it didn't have (although I log in as administrator).

Then there is the option to plan disk checks at next reboot. I've tried
that and this command seems ignored the first time, so I tried again.
Now... it started checking the (2 internal) drives, which takes a very
long time, and it starts all over for a second(!) time which of course
takes even more time! And once started I suppose the process can't be
interrupted. Working his way is a nightmare!

Yes, the external drive sometimes dismounts by itself. How can I put it
differently? I have to take out the power adapter to make it start again
and then it is accessible again... for a while...

If the drive is the boot volume (it holds the WINDOWS folder), or if it is
hosting the pagefile,

Neither is the case with the mentioned external USB drive.

you will not be able to run chkdsk on it from within Windows, it will have
to be checked at boot time. Any other drive can be checked from within
Windows, chkdsk will ask you if you want to dismount the volume, answer
yes and chkdsk will dismount the drive and check it. Run Chkdsk from the
Command Prompt:

chkdsk x: /f

OK that works and fast also. But (as I wrote) I used the additional
parameter /r. Don't I need it?

You use /f or /r but not both together (/r implies /f so no need to
specify the /f switch when you use the /r switch). The use of the /r
switch is only indicated if you suspect that serious disk problems
exits, most of the time there is no need to use the /r switch. When
using the /r switch chkdsk might take a very long time to complete, it
could take hours, or even days to complete the sector check on a very
large volume. You should *NEVER* abort a chkdsk in progress!

BTW, what happens if I don't check the checkdisk checkboxes when running in
Windows? I understood it then doesn't fix anything. It just finishes... Can
I see the results of the check?

As you say, it does nothing other than give you a cursory message saying
that it's done or that it couldn't check the disk and it doesn't leave a
log file anywhere. The best way to run chkdsk is from the command prompt.

John

 

[Lem]

"Jose" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht
"Russ SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]" <[email protected]> schreef in
bericht
Put CMD in the run box first
then when the dos prompt is open
run the chkdsk
then you can watch the process
Russ
--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support -www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion -www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services -www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com
OK, I gave it a try...
It started OK, then after a while I hear the sound of the drive
dismounting
and checking doesn't go further than step 4, at 2 percent...
It seems it can't be done, checking the whole drive thoroughly.

It seems I do have a problem with thuis drive dismounting by itself
randomly...
Any idea how to fix?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Microsoft Windows XP [versie 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Micrisoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Mark Vos>chkdsk I: /f /r
Het type bestandssysteem is NTFS.
Volumenaam is HDDRIVE2GO.

CHKDSK is bezig met controleren van bestanden (stap 1 van 5)...
De bestandscontrole is voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van indexen (stap 2 van 5)...
De indexcontrole voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van security descriptors (stap 3 van
5)...
De controle van security descriptors is voltooid.
CHKDSK is bezig met het controleren van de bestandsgegevens (stap 4 van
5)...
2 procent voltooid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------

--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os
Well, it might take a looong time depending on how laaarge your
external HDD is, which is unspecified.

And, if you run it the way you are - from Start, Run, you will not
have a log file when you are done, which may or may not matter to you.

And if you run it that way and go away and come back later, it may
finish or encounter an error and you will not see any results and the
DOS box will be gone with no trace that it ever ran (because that is
the way you ran it). That is what it should do with those options.
Is that your intent or do you want to log the results or be able to
follow it and read the results later?

You do need exclusive access for your boot drive and it will want to
run on the next reboot if you respond in the affirmative - that is how
it is supposed to work.

Sounds like everything is working fine!

What do you mean - the drive sounds like it dismounting by itself?


---END QUOTE---


Of course DO like to have a log with results, but as I wrote I couldn't
do drive checking from Windows Explorer, because "exclusive access was
needed" which it didn't have (although I log in as administrator).

Then there is the option to plan disk checks at next reboot. I've tried
that and this command seems ignored the first time, so I tried again.
Now... it started checking the (2 internal) drives, which takes a very
long time, and it starts all over for a second(!) time which of course
takes even more time! And once started I suppose the process can't be
interrupted. Working his way is a nightmare!

Yes, the external drive sometimes dismounts by itself. How can I put it
differently? I have to take out the power adapter to make it start again
and then it is accessible again... for a while...

If the drive is the boot volume (it holds the WINDOWS folder), or if it is
hosting the pagefile,

Neither is the case with the mentioned external USB drive.

you will not be able to run chkdsk on it from within Windows, it will have
to be checked at boot time. Any other drive can be checked from within
Windows, chkdsk will ask you if you want to dismount the volume, answer
yes and chkdsk will dismount the drive and check it. Run Chkdsk from the
Command Prompt:

chkdsk x: /f

OK that works and fast also. But (as I wrote) I used the additional
parameter /r. Don't I need it?

For a list of the switches used by chkdsk, open a command prompt window
and type
chkdsk /?

<quote>
/F Fixes errors on the disk.
/R Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information
(implies /F).
</quote>

Also see
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/chkdsk.mspx?mfr=true

I wouldn't bother with /R.