"USA Check Value" Error Messages

[TMitchell]

Running either chkdsk /f or /r reveals the following "errors":

The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
The expected value is 0x17.
The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
The expected value is 0x17.
The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
The expected value is 0x17.
The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
The expected value is 0x2.
The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
The expected value is 0x2.
The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
The expected value is 0x2.
The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
The expected value is 0x2.

However neither seems to correct them. I've searched the internet and
found numerous message threads about this kind of problem (mostly with
XP, but I'm running W2K), but none of them come to a solution.

Any ideas what these disk-error messages mean (are they critical or
what) or how to solve them?

 

[Dave Patrick]

You can also run
chkdsk /r
from the recovery console command line. (/r implies /f and /p)

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000
Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have Setup
floppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup CD,
use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks. At
the "Welcome to Setup" screen. Press F10 or R to repair a Windows 2000
installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The Recovery
Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do not have
the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts
in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot
access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,
and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. Once the password has been validated,
you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access to the hard
disk. You can only access the following folders on your computer: drive
root, %systemroot% or %windir%

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
|
| Running either chkdsk /f or /r reveals the following "errors":
|
| The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
| The expected value is 0x17.
| The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
| The expected value is 0x17.
| The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
| The expected value is 0x17.
| The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
| The expected value is 0x2.
| The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
| The expected value is 0x2.
| The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
| The expected value is 0x2.
| The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
| The expected value is 0x2.
|
| However neither seems to correct them. I've searched the internet and
| found numerous message threads about this kind of problem (mostly with
| XP, but I'm running W2K), but none of them come to a solution.
|
| Any ideas what these disk-error messages mean (are they critical or
| what) or how to solve them?

 

[TMitchell]

Running chkdsk /r from the Recovery Console did not clear up the errors.
I still don't know what they mean as far as if they are critical or not.

 

[Dave Patrick]

Are these the only errors? Are you leaving anything out? I'd run the
manufacturer's disk diagnostic utility. Check all cabling, make sure the
controller driver is correct and or up-to-date. If in the case of SCSI make
sure the termination is correct.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Running chkdsk /r from the Recovery Console did not clear up the errors.
| I still don't know what they mean as far as if they are critical or not.

 

[TMitchell]

This is an offshoot of a couple of another problems you kindly helped me
with in the past. Ironically, everything you suggested was tried in the
course of solving those other problems (and thank you for you help in
solving them). So, yes, I have done all you have suggested. The only
thing I haven't done is to reinstall the OS, as this would entail
reinstalling several dozen other programs and several year's worth of
supporting data files for those programs (I do video editing and
animation work). Unless someone tells me that the "USA Check Value..."
error messages are critical to system operation, I guess I'll just live
with them, as I do not detect any other OS operating problems. I'm just
damn curious as to what the error messages mean.

 

[Dave Patrick]

OK, I hadn't made the connection. Just be sure you have backups for anything
you cannot afford to lose. More than likely the file system is somehow
corrupt. I like to flatten and rebuild every 6 to 12 months.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| This is an offshoot of a couple of another problems you kindly helped me
| with in the past. Ironically, everything you suggested was tried in the
| course of solving those other problems (and thank you for you help in
| solving them). So, yes, I have done all you have suggested. The only
| thing I haven't done is to reinstall the OS, as this would entail
| reinstalling several dozen other programs and several year's worth of
| supporting data files for those programs (I do video editing and
| animation work). Unless someone tells me that the "USA Check Value..."
| error messages are critical to system operation, I guess I'll just live
| with them, as I do not detect any other OS operating problems. I'm just
| damn curious as to what the error messages mean.

 

[Guest]

I have been getting very similar messages after running Chkdsk on XP. An
example is “The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
The expected value is 0xe.†There probably are over 100 similar entries in
all.

This was happening on two of my computers. They both seem to be working
fine. Now, today, the error messages are no longer showing up on one of the
computers. It must be software something, but I haven’t figured it out. I
first noticed it after running Window Washer. The run included wiping free
disk space. But I have no other reason to suspect Window Washer.

 

[Arthur]

I have been getting very similar messages after running Chkdsk on XP. An
example is “The USA check value, 0x0, at block 0x3 is incorrect.
The expected value is 0xe.†There probably are over 100 similar entries in
all.

This was happening on two of my computers. They both seem to be working
fine. Now, today, the error messages are no longer showing up on one of the
computers. It must be software something, but I haven’t figured it out. I
first noticed it after running Window Washer. The run included wiping free
disk space. But I have no other reason to suspect Window Washer.

McT! I stumbled on your post and this forum through a Google search
today. Running XP, I'm getting identical error messages, after TODAY,
installing Window Washer, so I am very suspicious of this program. Error
messages remained after running chkdsk by hitting E: (my hard drive)

Properties > Tools > Error checking > Auto fix errors. I also got a

cryptic error message thru the WW program when trying to clean up some
files. The error program within WW tried to communicate to the Webroot
site, but tried to use Outlook Express as the mail client, which,
naturally I do not use. I hope to send a note the the WW support team
tomorrow. Please let me know if you have any new insights, or contact
with the Webroot Tech Support. BTW, I also managed to wipe out all my
stored passwords in Netscape, perhaps due to a setting I overlooked in
Window Washer. Currently I'm not a happy camper, especially since I paid
today for a licensed copy after an apparently OK trial period of the
program.

Art ...... drartieAtATTd0tnet

 

[Guest]

Art,

I tried Webroot support early on, but they wouldn’t help saying that it was
a “windows function.†I’m going to send them a copy of this tread for what
it’s worth.

 

[TMitchell]

Art,

I tried Webroot support early on, but they wouldn’t help saying that it was
a “windows function.†I’m going to send them a copy of this tread for what
it’s worth.

I started this thread, but missed some of the follow up replies.

I too use Webroot's Windows Washer and their Spy Sweeper programs.

Did I miss something about Webroot's stuff possibly causing this USA
Chack Value error message when running chkdsk (my OS is W2K, not XP).

 

[Dave Patrick]

I thinks it's all here,

http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...2b9141-9bf4-4ec8-adc3-a906fb07504c&sloc=en-us

or here.

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...ubject:Messages&rnum=1&hl=en#7fe8e321c00cd313

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| mctavish wrote:
| > Art,
| >
| > I tried Webroot support early on, but they wouldn't help saying that it
was
| > a "windows function." I'm going to send them a copy of this tread for
what
| > it's worth.
| >
| I started this thread, but missed some of the follow up replies.
|
| I too use Webroot's Windows Washer and their Spy Sweeper programs.
|
| Did I miss something about Webroot's stuff possibly causing this USA
| Chack Value error message when running chkdsk (my OS is W2K, not XP).

 

[Arthur]

OK, I hadn't made the connection. Just be sure you have backups for anything
you cannot afford to lose. More than likely the file system is somehow
corrupt. I like to flatten and rebuild every 6 to 12 months.

Could you elaborate what you mean by "flatten and rebuild?" I wonder why
this "USA..." message is so poorly understood, (at least as far as I've
determined from searching Microsoft's sites). I wonder how one of
mctavish's computer cured itself??? -=Art=-

 

[Dave Patrick]

It means clean install. To do a clean install, either boot the Windows 2000
install CD-Rom or setup disks. The set of four install disks can be created
from your Windows 2000 CD-Rom; change to the \bootdisk directory on the
CD-Rom and execute makeboot.exe (from dos) or makebt32.exe (from 32 bit) and
follow the prompts.

Setup inspects your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to
install the Setup and driver files. When the Windows 2000 Professional
screen appears, press ENTER to set up Windows 2000 Professional.

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows 2000 Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with
your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new
partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use
all available space.

Be sure to apply SP4 and these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/A/E6A04295-D2A8-40D0-A0C5-241BFECD095E/W2KSP4_EN.EXE
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

Then

Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...CF-8850-4531-B52B-BF28B324C662&displaylang=en

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Could you elaborate what you mean by "flatten and rebuild?" I wonder why
| this "USA..." message is so poorly understood, (at least as far as I've
| determined from searching Microsoft's sites). I wonder how one of
| mctavish's computer cured itself??? -=Art=-

 

[Arthur]

It means clean install.

Thanks, Dave, and oops, I am using XP, but probably can correctly do a
clean install, since I recently had to do that after a HD failure. But I
was only moderately prepared for the problem, and much searching was
required for backups. I had wanted to prepare for a future disaster by
using something like Norton's Ghost, which I now have but have not yet
learned to use it. However, I suspect that image-type restore programs
may offer the likelihood of also restoring the corruptions which are
causing this "USA" problem. Am I correct here? THanks for your interest.

Art drartieAtATTD0TNET

 

[Dave Patrick]

Yes, probably.

To do a clean install, boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom. Setup inspects
your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to install the Setup
and driver files. When the Windows XP Professional screen appears, press
ENTER to set up Windows XP Professional.

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows XP Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with
your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new
partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use
all available space.

Be sure to apply SP2 or at least these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thanks, Dave, and oops, I am using XP, but probably can correctly do a
| clean install, since I recently had to do that after a HD failure. But I
| was only moderately prepared for the problem, and much searching was
| required for backups. I had wanted to prepare for a future disaster by
| using something like Norton's Ghost, which I now have but have not yet
| learned to use it. However, I suspect that image-type restore programs
| may offer the likelihood of also restoring the corruptions which are
| causing this "USA" problem. Am I correct here? THanks for your interest.
|
| Art drartieAtATTD0TNET