NTFS Error and Recovered file fragments

[DSG]

Windows XP Pro SP2
I have an external drive which Windows turns on at each launch.
First launch of computer this morning, 4/8/2006, resulted in a CHKDSK
(during the loading) of H: LaCie external drive (120 GB) (connected via
firewire).
...................................................................................
Event Type: Error
Event Source: Ntfs
Event Category: Disk
Event ID: 55
Date: 4/8/2006
Time: 8:51:00 AM
User: N/A
Computer: (my computer's name)
Description:
The file system structure on the disk is corrupt and unusable. Please run
the chkdsk utility on the volume H:.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 0d 00 00 00 02 00 4e 00 ......N.
0008: 02 00 00 00 37 00 04 c0 ....7..À
0010: 00 00 00 00 32 00 00 c0 ....2..À
0018: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
...................................................................................

Additional note: Yesterday, I added to the STARTUP folder
C:\Documents and Settings\myname\Start Menu\Programs,
a shortcut for a Word file I wanted to be loaded at every launch. The file
was located on H: external drive. Could this have caused the problem? After
this report I closed the file and removed the shortcut from the STARTUP
folder.

I have not yet run another chkdsk this morning. Should I? and with what
parameters? I only know basics of Windows housekeeping.

By searching C: I found 2 associated files dated 4/8/2006:
edb.chk (8 K) Recovered File Fragments 8:57 am
edb.log (128K) Text Document 8:57 am

Device manager says this device is working properly. The setting is
"Optimize for quick removal", though I always use the "disconnect icon"
before I disconnect it. Should the setting be "Optimize for performance"
(write cashing in windows)?

Does "Recovered File Fragments" mean the problem has been corrected?

What would be the next thing for me to do?

 

[Guest]

Absolutely NOTHING.

 

[DSG]

Additional Information
There are no programs on the external drive - only saved personal files (2.5
GB)

Does the event vierwer statement refer only to ntfs system.
and that I can move my personal files off that drive? and they will still be
okay?

I did a second launch while ago, and the CHKDSK ran again during Windows
load.
dsg

 

[DSG]

Another find:
Just looking around, I checked to make sure the external drive H: was not
being monitored by System Restore. It was actually set for monitoring. Not
sure how that happened, except I had disconnected the external drive the
other day, and later reconnected it. Would windows have automatically set
it for system monitoring when I reconnected it? I have three other drives
(not counting C and they are still checked for "Turned off."
If I ask to turn off monitoring for H: now, I get a message that if I do, I
won't be able to make any changes. Now what? DSG
..........................................................

 

[Al Dykes]

Another find:
Just looking around, I checked to make sure the external drive H: was not
being monitored by System Restore. It was actually set for monitoring. Not
sure how that happened, except I had disconnected the external drive the
other day, and later reconnected it. Would windows have automatically set
it for system monitoring when I reconnected it? I have three other drives
(not counting C and they are still checked for "Turned off."
If I ask to turn off monitoring for H: now, I get a message that if I do, I
won't be able to make any changes. Now what? DSG
.........................................................

I'm convinced that external disk drives that can be disconnected (or
lose power) before the OS flushes buffers and dismounts the device are
a BAD IDEA.

While I have used NTFS on thousands of systems, in total, since the
day it was shipped, and consider it rock solid, I have been watching
reports like this come in in the last year or two and the external bit
is the common denominator.

NTFS is a journaling file system that doesn't lose data in any case
short of hardware failure. External drives seem to be the exception.
From what the Linux file system folk say, Microsoft has not completely
documented NTFS and their attempts to produce a full-featured NTFS are
not ready for prime time.

Because of this, I wonder about the ability for a no-name asian firm
to say that their backpack USB/FW chip is tested for NTFS under all
cases. FAT is fully documented, OTOH. At the low end I suspect very
large drives (> 137GB) in no-name external boxes are part of the
problem.

Heat is also a problem in these things, but that's probably not this
guy's problems.


Comments?

 

[DSG]

I really need help with this NTFS Error

I just recalled my April 4 entry re: the H: drive: firewire jack connection
on device was loose; Message:
"Windows delayed write failed" - windows unable to save all the data for the
file H:\$mft. The data has been lost. Please try to save this file
elsewhere. I just looked up Mft. Does this mean if I go into H: to copy 2.5
GB of saved files to C: the files will be scrambled (re:Mft)?

Please direct me to another newsgroup if this is the wrong one.
DSG