Hard disk error check

[Eric]

Running Windows XP Home with no problems for a year. For
the past week now, every time I boot up, the hard disk
check utility runs for my secondary hard disk (blue
scrren with message as below). Not only is this
happening every time, but the scan is taking a huge
amount of time--often 12 to 24 hours. Needless to say, I
can't take a day for my system to boot up each time. Any
way to keep the system from doing this, or any way to
abort it and continue booting when it does? And any idea
whay this would suddenly start happening? I do have
Norton Utilities on my system, but have for a year with
no problems and can't find anywhere that it is scheduling
these checks. Any help is appreciated. The message I see
on the screen at startup is below. Thanks

Checking file system on F:
The type of the file system is FAT32.
The volume is dirty.
Volume serial number is 5C9F-414F
Windows is verifying files and folders . . .
[much later and often after messages about a few files]
Windows is verifying free space . . .

 

[Andre Cruz]

Hello,

Do you need FAT32 on your F drive ?
If not, change the F drive to NTFS....
Start-Run-cmd
on the command line > convert f: /fs:ntfs
Then it will ask you to reboot.

The problem can be happening because of some problem with the disk itself or
a particular file or folder, if you want to be sure first Start-Run-cmd
on the command line > chkdsk f:

 

[Hilary Karp]

Eric,

Download a drive diagnostic utility from the web site for the
manufacturer of the hard drive. This is normally an exe file that when
run will create a floppy disk. You then boot up with the floppy and run
the diagnostics on your drive. It could be that the drive is failing.

Whatever you do, backup the data from that drive now.