Consistency Check stops running

[Ricky]

When I start the computer I get the blue screen saying my
C drive needs to be checked. It then proceeds to review
the file structure and completes that task. Next it
starts to verify free space. That is where the trouble
comes. Sometimes the computer freezes at 0%. Other times
it freezes at 8% or 14%. The process is usually slow, but
I have left it for several hours and the % does not
progress. At all times, if I stop the computer and skip
the disk checking, the computer boots fine and shows no
problems with any programs.

I downloaded and installed UPHClean but it didn't fix
this. Help!
..

 

[R. McCarty]

If you only have the built-in Disk Defragmenter, run an
Analyze on the disk. Right Click My Computer, Manage.
Click Disk Defragmenter in the left pane. In the Right pane
select your System partition (C and then click the Analyze
button.

After a few seconds, a Graphical display will show the
layout of files/folders on the drive. If there are numerous
small white sections and the data blocks appear all the way
to the end of the bar, then the drive is heavily fragmented.
The "White" sections represent free space. While this may
be disk errors (Cross-linked,etc) it has all the earmarks of
highly dispersed free space. You should run a Defrag no
matter what the bar graph shows.

For a more complete defrag and to help lessen future
occurrences of fragmented space, check on Raxco's Perfect
Disk 2000 (Version 6.). They offer a free trial download.
http://www.raxco.com/products/downloadit/
If you do decide to try it, take a few minutes to read the
Readme & Help on how to effectively run the product.

 

[Ricky]

I defraged twice over the weekend after this problem
started. The drive has 40% free space and very little
dispersed white space. Defragging didn't help. Other
ideas are welcome.

Ricky

 

[R. McCarty]

What happens if while running Windows you open a command
prompt and type Chkdsk C:
It will only scan for errors, not attempt to make any corrections.
Try that and see if the scan gives the drive a clean bill of health.
If errors are found it will recommend you do the Chkdsk w/
the R or F qualifiers.

 

[t.cruise]

Go here for help:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm

Click on the letter "C" and scroll on down to "Chkdsk runs on every
boot". You should be able to find something here to help you solve
the problem.

 

[Ricky]

I have run the chkdsk several times. Somtimes it is
clean, sometimes it finds problems. I had it run on
reboot with the "/f" and that part seemed to run fine,
then it immediately started the "check disk for
consistency" and did the same old thing, finding the files
and folders, completing that fine, then getting hung up in
the verifying free space. It may have gotten a little
further in, say 8% rather than 2% before hanging up, but I
may have just been overly optimistic. I apprreciate your
help and hope you have more ideas. I spent much of the
weekend going through this over and over and getting
nowhere. It is maddening. Today, the whole system has
run fine all day for my regular work, but I have not doubt
it will repeat this stuff when I reboot.

Thanks, Ricky

 

[Ricky]

I ran the chkdsk c: and got one problem:
\WINDOWS\Prefetch\CHKDSK.EXE-2CC4C59D.pf first allocation
unit is not valid. The entry will be truncated. This
is the only comment. It goes on to say "File and folder
verification is complete. Convert lost chains to files
(Y/N)?" I said Y. Your thoughts?
Ricky