Disk Checker Utility Problem

[Guest]

Never ran disk checker before but read that it was good to do this every few
weeks so decided to try it. noticed advisory that it took several hours so
when I quit work I started the thing up, I selected my drive C: checked
“Check file System†and “Check & Repair Disk Errors,†rebooted, left the
computer running & went home.

Came back next morning, computer was still running, screen showed “Checking
file System on C:†and “The type of file system is NTFS.†Didn’t show any
thing else. I saw there was no way to exit this screen so used the power
button to turn off. When I rebooted it returned to the same screen, with
another message: “A disk check has been scheduled, to skip disk checking,
press any key within 10 Seconds.

I had assumed “File Check†and “Disk Check†would both run during the night,
and I had work to do so I hit any key to cancel the disk check, but nothing
happened, the computer was frozen. Turned off with the power button, rebooted
and discovered I am locked in a loop and return to the same “A disk check has
been scheduled†screen every time I try a normal boot.

Attempt to boot in “Safe Mode†shows a lot of drivers loading, then freezes
after loading Mup.sys driver. “Last know good configuration†and “Debugging
mode†both take me to the XP Logo screen and I watch the blue dashes run for
a minute, then system freezes.

Don’t see any thing apparently wrong in BIOS. Can’t get to safe mode to run
system restore so would appreciate any advice on how to fix this.

Running XP Pro. 1GB Memory, 250GB SATA HDD

 

[John Barnett MVP]

You might try this link from my website to prevent chkdsk continually
running when you restart:

http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_prevent_chkdsk_from_run.htm

What size hard drive do you have that it took all night to check the disk?
Running chkdsk at start up should take around 5 to 10 minutes at max - well
it takes less than that actually but my drive is only, currently, 80GB.

Chkdsk is continually popping up because XP has marked the disk as 'dirty'
(not physically, it is just a term) and until the chkdsk has completed you
will continually be in this loop unless you cancel it and prevent it from
starting again via the instructions on my website.

You could try running it from the command prompt. Open a command prompt and
type chkdsk. Obviously you can't use the /f switch from the command prompt
because the computer needs to do this at boot up, but you should be able to
do a standard chkdsk.

I've just chkdsked my system from the command prompt and it took 2 minutes.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Guest]

Actually youre cmd or syntex for the cmd,doesnt exist...One either selects
chk for errors or repair disk,not both.Also,the 2 functions can run together
from cmd,but it would be:CHKDSK C: /R This also can run in recovery & takes
.30 min to .45 with a 250gb.For the problem(s) fix,install xp cd,boot to xp
cd,
recovery,press 1 For C: Press enter for password,type:Fixboot Agree,type:
EXIT Let xp start,remove cd.

 

[Guest]

Thank you John Barnett, I read the instructions on your web site, but I want
to make sure we are talking about the same Check Disk utility? I have already
had some bad shut downs and the thing that pops up and runs on restart is
annoying but not really slow, and it don’t look like what I tried to use.

The utility that I attempted to use is found by clicking “My Computer,†then
“Disk 0_Vol 1 (C Properties,†and then the “Tools†tab.

If you click “?†in the upper right corner of the “Tools†tab, then click
the error-checking icon, you are advised that “The disk is not available for
use when it is being scanned†and “The disk checking process can take a long
time for a drive that contains an extremely large number of files.â€

A “Long time†and “An extremely large number of files†needed some
definition, so I searched Microsoft and found it defined at the following
URL:

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

"If you use chkdsk /f on a very large disk (for example, 70 gigabytes) or a
disk with a very large number of files (for example, millions of files),
chkdsk might take a long time (for example, over several days) to complete.
The computer is not available during this time because chkdsk does not
relinquish control until it is finished."

My Hard drive is 250GB, but I was only checking my system partition C: which
is 50GB, with only about 25GB being used, so I hoped running the utility
overnight would finish the job.

If you think we are talking about the same utility, please let me know.
Since it stops my normal boot at the progress bar, and halts safe mode boot
after loading a driver called Mup.sys, I would be interested in any work
around that will let me disable this thing.

 

[Guest]

It sounds like you and John Barnett are talking about the same disk checking
utility, it sounds pretty fast but I am not sure what you two are talking
about is the same Check Disk utility that I attempted to run.

I have had some bad shut downs and the utility that pops up and runs on
restart is annoying but not really slow, and it don’t look like what I tried
to use. The utility that I attempted to use is found by clicking “My
Computer,†then “Disk 0_Vol 1 (C Properties,†and then the “Tools†tab.

If you click “?†in the upper right corner of the “Tools†tab, then click
the error-checking icon, you are advised that “The disk is not available for
use when it is being scanned†and “The disk checking process can take a long
time for a drive that contains an extremely large number of files.â€

A “Long time†and “An extremely large number of files†needed some
definition, so I searched Microsoft and found it defined at the following
URL:

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

"If you use chkdsk /f on a very large disk (for example, 70 gigabytes) or a
disk with a very large number of files (for example, millions of files),
chkdsk might take a long time (for example, over several days) to complete.
The computer is not available during this time because chkdsk does not
relinquish control until it is finished."

My Hard drive is 250GB, but I was only checking my system partition C: which
is 50GB, with only about 25GB being used, so I hoped running the utility
overnight would finish the job.

If you think we are talking about the same utility, please let me know. I
have my XP Pro disk but have never done a repair installation. I understand
that my documents are protected when I run this, but wonder if I would loose
all the Microsoft updates? Or any of my other venders programs? Or drivers?

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Hi Linus,

Yes we are talking about the same utility.

As a suggestion take a look at this link:
http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-71958.php In particular the reply by
Nika right at the bottom. I'm not saying it will help, but it appears Nika
has had some success with it.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Linus, a repair install only repairs the windows xp files it doesn't touch
anything else. Yes by all means backup your important data, but it shouldn't
affect your windows updates or any other third party applications. 'But'
before you do anything try the fix I indicated in my earlier post to you,
I.e, the PCreview newsgroup post link.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Guest]

Thank you John Barnett.

As you suggested I tryed Nika's solution but it didn't work for me. People
who have dealt with this problem condemn hardware and software both, so I
decided to try some hardware solutions.

I stripped my MB and attempted to boot after removing each item. After I
unplugged my ATI video capture card it booted right back to the frozen screen
showing the Disk Checker. About the time I started to swear again, the screen
came alive, Disk Checker began running and giving me reports, the machine did
a normal reboot and every thing was suddenly fine. I tried to boot in safe
mode and it went right past Mup.sys and into safe mode Ok.

I wanted to be sure the capture card was the cause so I plugged it back in
to see if the machine would freeze, it didn’t, every thing still worked so I
still don’t know what caused the problem, but unplugging the capture card
appeared to be the fix.

Everything in my machine is pretty new and the capture card works fine, so I
left it in the slot and re-installed all my hardware, every thing is back to
normal today.

Thank's again for your help.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

You're Welcome!

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..