Vista Computer Stalling during Chkdsk

[Phyllis]

HP Pavilion a6244, Intel Core2 Duo Processor 4500, 3G System Memory, 500 GB
Hard Drive, Vista SP2

I am attempting to help a friend with her computer. Computer has started
being very slow to start up between welcome screen and actual desktop
appearing.

I have deleted temp internet files, cookies, etc. and ran malware and virus
scans and am now trying to run chkdsk. I checked for it to automatically fix
file system errors and to scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors. It
appears to be stalled during stage 5 (verifying free space). It shows
112654681 to be checked and it is has been stuck at 9123650 for about 30
minutes now. What could this mean? Do I need to just leave it be, or how
do I stop it at this point?

Thanks in advance for any help provided.

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

HP Pavilion a6244, Intel Core2 Duo Processor 4500, 3G System Memory, 500
GB Hard Drive, Vista SP2

I am attempting to help a friend with her computer. Computer has started
being very slow to start up between welcome screen and actual desktop
appearing.

I have deleted temp internet files, cookies, etc. and ran malware and
virus scans and am now trying to run chkdsk. I checked for it to
automatically fix file system errors and to scan for and attempt recovery
of bad sectors. It appears to be stalled during stage 5 (verifying free
space). It shows 112654681 to be checked and it is has been stuck at
9123650 for about 30 minutes now. What could this mean? Do I need to
just leave it be, or how do I stop it at this point?

Thanks in advance for any help provided.

Download and run the tests from the hard drive manufacturer web site.. Basic
tests are not always right so run advanced tests.

When the computer is running, does it get glitches and does it freeze
sometimes? If so, consider replacing the hard drive..

 

[Phyllis]

Download and run the tests from the hard drive manufacturer web site..
Basic tests are not always right so run advanced tests.

When the computer is running, does it get glitches and does it freeze
sometimes? If so, consider replacing the hard drive..

No, no glitches or freezing that I know of. She just complained of it being
very slow on booting up, and indeed it is. I figured maybe a virus or
malware, but she does have McAfee Internet Security running and up-to-date.
All Microsoft updates up-to-date as well. I will try testing hard drive
from manufacturer web site. Would it be safe just to turn off computer at
on/off switch at this point. It has been nearly 3 hours and no advancing
with the chkdsk.

 

[Richard Urban]

No, no glitches or freezing that I know of. She just complained of it
being very slow on booting up, and indeed it is. I figured maybe a virus
or malware, but she does have McAfee Internet Security running and
up-to-date. All Microsoft updates up-to-date as well. I will try testing
hard drive from manufacturer web site. Would it be safe just to turn off
computer at on/off switch at this point. It has been nearly 3 hours and
no advancing with the chkdsk.

It has been my experience that if chkdsk refuses to finish the hard drive is
defective to the point where it must be replaced. The hard drive test
utility from the hard drive manufacturer will likely confirm this.

If chkdsk is stalled there is nothing else to do BUT turn off the computers
power or perform a reboot.

 

[Phyllis]

It has been my experience that if chkdsk refuses to finish the hard drive
is defective to the point where it must be replaced. The hard drive test
utility from the hard drive manufacturer will likely confirm this.

If chkdsk is stalled there is nothing else to do BUT turn off the
computers power or perform a reboot.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience

Just to follow up, I went to Seagate and checked the hard drive and it
checked out to be OK.

 

[Richard Urban]

Just to follow up, I went to Seagate and checked the hard drive and it
checked out to be OK.

Your hard drive then may have "logical" corruption to the point where chkdsk
itself is now defective.

If you have been using an imaging program, such as Acronis True Image, now
would be the time to go back to the last image you created before the
problem appeared.