XP Scandisk error-now need to format drive

[ATL]

I ran Scandisk on a slave drive with options to fix errors and scan
for bad sectors checked. XP said it could not finish the job. When I
started the computer the next day I noticed the CPU was constantly
working on something. When I attempted to open the slave drive with
Windows Explorer I received a notice that the drive was not formatted
and of course asked if I wanted to format it now. Checking the
properties under My Computer the drive appears empty now.

Am I going to be forced to reformat the drive and lose everything on
it? Is there a way to fix this without reformatting? Is there a way
to recover some of the folders/files?

Apparently because it is a slave drive System Restore does not track
it like it does the main drive, so I was unable to attempt a restore
on the slave drive.

I find it hard to believe that Scandisk has managed to erase a drive.


Thanks,
ATL

 

[Michael Ortega]

Hello,

The problem should be fixable. Open up the run command, then type chkdsk /f
then hit y and restart your computer, it should then reboot and fix your
problems

 

[A/CN-CH_EN]

Reboot to DOS, run scandisk to check the disk and fix the problems.

 

[ATL]

Thanks for the input Michael, but it was to no avail. Assuming you
were using "f" for the slave drive I changed it to "E," which is the
actual drive letter for my slave drive. F is the CD-ROM letter. When
I hit "OK" after typing in chkdsk /E in the Run command, I saw a very
brief window open; lasted less than 1 second. It appeared to be a DOS
window. So I was not able to hit Y.

Here's what I have done/attempted since then. I decided to let WinXP
format the slave drive since there is nothing of major importance on
the drive only very irritating to have to re-download some larger
driver installation programs. When I checked "Quick Format" after a
minute or so XP said it could not complete the format. I unchecked
"Quick Format" and let it attempt to format the drive again. After
several minutes, probably 10-15 minutes, the progress bar was still
empty and the computer was "scratching" around on the slave drive as
if in a rhythm, scratch...stop...scratch...stop...stratch...stop...and
so on. I stopped that format attempt because I simply could not take
the constant scratching noise (it is a loud drive compared to my main
drive). I might let it try again while I am out of the house and
don't have to listen to it.

Thanks,
ATL

 

[Ron Martell]

Thanks for the input Michael, but it was to no avail. Assuming you
were using "f" for the slave drive I changed it to "E," which is the
actual drive letter for my slave drive. F is the CD-ROM letter. When
I hit "OK" after typing in chkdsk /E in the Run command, I saw a very
brief window open; lasted less than 1 second. It appeared to be a DOS
window. So I was not able to hit Y.

Whoops.

The command you should have used is:

CHKDSK E: /R

(the E: tells it that you want to work on drive E:. The /R is for the
Repair option, which is more comprehensive and also includes the /F
(Fix) option.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Michael Ortega]

Hello ATL,

chkdsk e: /f

 

[ATL]

Update:
Running chkdsk E:/R pops open a very quick DOS window which stays open
less than one second. I can now run format for the drive and it does
in within an hour, but it reaches the end then says it cannot complete
the format. At that time I lose the drive under My Computer and have
to restart to get it back. When I click on the icon for the E drive
after the restart it again tells me the drive needs to be formatted.
So it is a never ending cycle of format-cannot complete format-needs
to be formatted. I have ran fdisk to erase the drive and startover,
but it made no difference in the format-cannot complete format
problem.

 

[Ron Martell]

Update:
Running chkdsk E:/R pops open a very quick DOS window which stays open
less than one second. I can now run format for the drive and it does
in within an hour, but it reaches the end then says it cannot complete
the format. At that time I lose the drive under My Computer and have
to restart to get it back. When I click on the icon for the E drive
after the restart it again tells me the drive needs to be formatted.
So it is a never ending cycle of format-cannot complete format-needs
to be formatted. I have ran fdisk to erase the drive and startover,
but it made no difference in the format-cannot complete format
problem.

Open a Command Prompt window first (Start - Run - CMD)

Then in that window enter the command:

CHKDSK E: /R

and make note of the result.


Use the EXIT command to close the command prompt window.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."