CHKDSK /F/R not repairing

Hi,
My first post, please be patient.

I have read all the treads I can find on CHKDSK, and could not find my problem.

I have a Dell, 60 days young. OS, Windows XP. NTFS

If I run CHKDSK from Start|Run|Cmd| or from Tools in Local Disk C:, neither will repair the error: 'Windows found problems with the file system. Run CHKDSK with the /f ( fix) option to correct these.'

I check yes, and type CHKDSK(space)/f/r. Shut the computer down, it runs the scan, and when I check, still shows I have errors in my file system.

I have run Spybot, Ad-aware, NAV, back to a Restore Point, nothing shows up. I ran sfc(space)/scannow and it wanted a file. I didn't know how to extract the file it wanted, so just put the CD in, and 'hoped' it would extract what it needed. Tried again, still CHKDSK /f/r will not repair.

All help would be so very gratefully appreciated,
Sincerely,
Elizabeth

 

Boot to Recovery Console off of CD, and do a chkdsk /r from there.

 

if that does't work, you may want to check your drives integrity with a disk check utility from the manufacturer of the drive.

 

Hi Adrynalyne,

I have two CD's, I am not sure which one to use.
Dell Dimension Resource CD: Contents: Device drivers|Diagnostic and utilities|Computer documentation.
That one or:
Dell Reinstalliotion CD: Microsoft window XP Home Edition:?

"Boot to Recovery Console off of CD, and do a chkdsk /r from there."

What does that mean? How do I do that?

Sincerely,
Elizabeth

Hi Kodo,

You are so far over my head I have no idea what to do.

"If that does't work, you may want to check your drives integrity with a disk check utility from the manufacturer of the drive."

Like I said, this computer is only a little over 2 months old. I get up every morning at 3am, and read|read|read until 8 or 9am, and TRY so hard to learn. This was the only problem I have left on the computer.

To put my computer ignorance right out here for everyone to read was my last resort.

What problems am I facing if I don't fix this?

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

 

This one:



Dell Reinstalliotion CD: Microsoft window XP Home Edition

When you boot off of it, you will have 2 choices.



To install windows xp, or repair windows xp using the recovery console.


At this point you press 'R'


It wil ask which windows installation to log into, which is usually '1'

Administrator password is usually blank for OEM Xp Home.

Just press 'Enter'




What Kodo said simply put is if this doesn't work, you may have to use another 'brand' of disk checking software.


As for letting it go, two things could happen.


Something or nothing.


There is really no way to tell what will happen, especially if the computer is fine now.

 

Hi Adrynalyne,

I 'think' I understand.
I use this disk: Dell Reinstalliotion CD: Microsoft window XP Home Edition
Put the disk in, shut down the computer, and boot up. Choose R. Then 1. The Enter.

R is going to Repair the problems, hopefully? It will just do it all by itself?

Question. Is this site strickly for people who are computer geniuses? Maybe I misunderstood this site. Maybe you have a site for people who are not so computer savvy?

Thanks again for your help, will try tomorrow morning .....

Sincerely,

Elizabeth


Kodo,

Thank you. If what Adrynalyne suggested doesn't work, maybe you can tell me what CD to put in next, please?

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

 

No, it won't fix it automatically.

It will bring you to a DOS-like command prompt, on a black screen.

At the prompt, you type chkdsk /r

Press 'Enter'


It will continue from there.



When it is finsihed, you type 'Exit' at the command prompt.



It will reboot back to windows XP.



You are in the right place for help. However if we don't know your level of skill, sometimes we will talk in more 'advanced' terms.

Just let us know, and we will adjust accordingly.


This site is perfect for you, just give it some time. There are many awesome techies here, some of which work under Microsoft supporting Windows XP technicians when they need help *rasies hand*

And you are usng Windows XP so....

 

Hi Adrynalyne,

You 'adjusted' to my level quickly .... thank you ) Know what a DOS prompt looks like, and there I type in CHKDSK (space)/r.

I was delighted when I found this site. Read posts/threads day after day, was sure someone here could help me. Then when I got my first answers, was suddenly very insecure that I had misunderstood. Nice to be wrong )

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

 

let us know if that doesn't work. then we'll go about getting your drive manufacturer name and find out what disk checking utility is available for it.

this software will just check the drive to see if it's failing. i'm pretty sure it's a maxtor drive in that dell, but we'll just double check it by running a hardware audit on your machine to see what goodies you have in there

 

Good Morning Adrynalyne and Kodo )

I put the 'Dell Reinstallation CD Microsfot Windows XP Home Editon Including Service Pack 1A' in.

Booted the computer twice, neither time did it boot to the CD.

Went to My Computer, double clicked on Drive E. I got four choices:

Install Windows XP
Install Optional Windows Components
Perform additional tasks
Check system compatibility

I peeked in each but 'Install Windows XP'. None of them said anything about Repair.

I had my notes all ready:
Boot to Dell Reinstallation CD
Push 'R'
1 (one)
Administrator password: 'Enter'
Run Chkdsk (space)/r at DOS prompt
Enter
Type: Exit

On a personal note, I turn 59 today, NOT feeling too wise in my 'golden years.'

Thanks for all your help,

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

 

You have 3 options.



1. If you have more than one CD or DVD drive, try booting off of the drifferent drive.

2. Enter the BIOS and change the bootorder for the CD/DVD drive to be the first boot device.

3. Install the Recovery Console onto the hard drive. You can do this by putting in the Dell Reinstallation CD, going to START, RUN and typing x:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons, then press ENTER. X=whatev er the letter of the CD/DVD drive the Dell CD is in. Then follow the prompts as they appear. Once it finishes, Recovery Console will be a boot option.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654


Options 1 and 3 are easiest for you, in my opinion.

Options 1 and 2 are the best way to go.

Hope this helps.

 

as far as the boot order, with most Dells you press F1 at boot to get into "setup" Somewhere in there you will find the boot order. Set CD-rom to be the first device. Then it should boot from the CD.

 

Hi Adrynalyne, Kodo, Fw190,

I tried to boot from my E drive, wouldn't boot.

F2 on the Dell is Setup ( thanks Fw190 )
F12 Is Boot Device Menu

I got these options on F12:
1. Normal
2. Sata Primary Drive
3. Diskette Drive
4. Hard-Drive Drive C
5. IDE CD-Rom Device
6 System Setup
7. IDE Drive Diagnostics
8. Boot to Utility Partion

Have no idea where BIOS is. Know it is an acronym for Basic Input/Output Sytem. Read that.

I just ran SFC /scannow, again. I was instructed to put my Windows XP Home Edition in, that files that are required to run properly must be copied to the Dll Cache? I purge the cache as soon as I run SFC /scannow.

If I put my Windows Home Edition in and run chkdsk /f, would that fix the problems?

Also, I have been trying to back up My Documents. It shows files that are over 64 characters, and wants me to rename them. I don't know how, but could this be my problem with my files showing errors?

You can see I am quessing at this point, so will take a good guess, bad guess any guess at all from anyone.


Sincerely,

Elizabeth

 

Woah woah woah...the fix here is easy....you open the command console, and type chkdsk /f
then, itll tell you you have to restart, so, do that.
Then, when it turns back on, keep pressing f8, and then select boot into safe mode.
Itll start loading the files, then, stop....and stay there for a really long time.
Dont worry about it, its actually running chkdsk, and *fixing* the errors.
If you let it boot normally, it wont fix the errors.....its a Windblows issue.

 

Bios=Setup, same thing, Dell just named it that so people could comprehend what it did better.

Press f12, then choose IDE CDrom, then follow the instructions above about getting into the repair console.

 

I highly doubt he has a significant problem here...I had a similiar problem, and was about to format when I learned that XP will only do a proper chkdsk when booting into safe mode.

 

Hi ChrisC,

Okay, I go to 'command console' and type CHKDSK (space) /f. Command console being the C prompt?

Keep pressing F8 on boot-up. Put into Safe Mode.

Question: Do I have the Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition in the CD Rom, or just booting to Safe Mode will run CHKDSK /f ?

Thanks in advance Chris,

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

 

YEs, you have it
You dont need the windows cd in the cdrom while running the test.

As a warning, this could take several hours, so, dont panic if it doesnt 'snap out of it'
Id say run it overnight, and when you wake up, all should be well.

 

Hi ChrisC,

Thank you so very much ) I know from past experience when running CHKDSK /f, took a long time, about 45 minutes. Had no idea that this would take longer. Thank you for the warning on the length of time this will take, I would have been hysterical. Will try this afternoon or tonight, and post back to let you know )

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

 

Well, it might not take hours, Ive run it on a system before when an error was found, took about 30 mins. On the same system, at a later date, it took about 5 hours to run.
It all depends on how much data is on the drive, and how bad the errors are.

Hope it works out for ya

 

Hi ChrisC,

Can hardly wait to try ...... thanks for the good wishes .....

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

 

Hi ChrisC,

Did what you said, here are results:

At F8 it has:
Safe Mode ( which I chose )
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe mode with Command prompt

First time, it only took about a minute, I was timing it. Ran CHKDSK, and had errors in files.

Tried it again. Still only took about a mintue, but when I ran CHKDSK is showed no errors. Pushed my luck, ran it again. I show errors in file system.

I do have compressed files on this computer, would that make a difference? It is a 120 GM computer but only little over 4 GM is used, rest is free space.

I don't know what else to tell you. Do you know anything else to try?

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

 

So, you ran the command prompt in windows, typed chkdsk /f, rebooted into safe mode....and you still have errors?

Sounds like this may be a fairly bad problem; Id suggest doing some of the other suggestions, especially getting the hard drives manufacturerers utility to test if the drive is going bad.

But, I have an exam pretty much now, then, im bussing home, where the net might be disconnected....best of luck, as you've already seen, everyone else here has plenty of knowledge, and you'll get this sorted in no time

edit: compressed files should not affect chkdsk.

 

Thanks ChrisC,

Luck with your exams, and have a wonderful holiday.

Thank you for all your help.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

 

ChrisC, if you had a 5 hour chkdisk, then your drive has some MAJOR issues. Sounds like your FS was totally screwed.
The longest disk check /F I've ever run into was 10 minutes.

Elizabeth, please download and run this application

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=181

this will tell you all about your system.

run the application.. when it loads, click on computer then summary and scroll down until you see storage. For the listing of DISK DRIVE(s) , please post here what it says.

 

Hi Kodo,

Thank you for checking this thread.

I did as you instructed and download Aida.

Results:
Floppy Drive : Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive : ST3 120026 AS (120 GB, 7200 RPM, Ulta - ATA/100)
Optional Drive: Samsung CD-R/RW SW-248 F ( 48x/24 x/48xCD-RW)
Optional Drive: Samsung DVD-Rom SD-616T ( 16x/48 x DVD-Rom )

I don't know what else to tell you. I have read for hours and run out of guesses to suggest for help. It is a Dell, Dimension, 4600. I had it custom built, I can give you the purchase order specs.

Thanks for all your help,

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

 

Not sure where you got this information, but you are incorrect. If XP is working properly, then chkdsk will work just fine in either mode.

Incidently, a proper thorough chkdsk does not run in normal or safe mode.

 

Go here
http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/

try either the seatools online or the seatools desktop and run the diagnostics on your drive. this will take a while so be patient.

 

Hi Kodo,

Went to Seagate ran drive test online. Chose option #3. Run extended Drive Self-Test ( seemed to be the most extensive )

Ran test twice, essentially because I couldn't seem to click DONE and exit the site the first time.

Test took 47 minutes, ( each time )
Generated a log file which I saved.

Run: 12/18/2003 3:47:27 AM

Primary IDE Channel : ST3120026AS

Model: ST3120026AS

Serial Number: (Maybe I should not leave that number in)

Capacity: 120.00 GB

Test result: Self-test routine completed without error.

Does this mean my drives are okay?

I read your post where you say before you post, give information, information, information. Only thing I can think of, which I believe I have already stated, is after I run CHKDSK /f, then go to C prompt and run CHKDSK, it reads find. No errors. Second time I type it in, it shows I have errors on my file system to run CHKDSK /f again.

Thanks AGAIN for all your help,

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

 

Found the Answer

Hi Adrynalzne and Kodo,

Found the answer ) Came back to post so maybe this information can help some one else.

It is a Glitch. Went here http://webspiffy.com/archives/2002/08/ntfs_file_system_glitch/

This was the EXACT message I got when running CHKDSK:

Security descriptor verification completed.
Correcting errors in the Volume Bitmap.
Windows found problems with the file system.
Run CHKDSK with the /F (fix) option to correct these.

Then I took their advice and checked to make sure I didn't have a dirty drive. Ran: “chkntfs <drive letter>:” Didn't have a dirty drive.

It is just a GLITCH ...... tiz a good day.

Thanks again for all your help,

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

 

Good to know, thanks for the feedback.

 

I stumbled on this forum and couldn't help but notice you say you had a Dell. Your best option in that case would be to use Dell's support site at support.dell.com. It has a ton of information on your system. You can even register with an account on the site and find information based on the service tag of your system. Since you have only had your computer for 2 months, I'm sure your system is still under warranty as well. You can even get live help through chat or phone to assist with any issue you have.

Of course, this is hardware support, so since this is a hardware issue, I'm sure they would be happy to help.

 

Check the thread date