Problem with chkdsk

[Chuckles]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forums - so glad I found it as there's always little problems I come up against with my PC, so hopefully I'll have to look no further than here!

I have a problem currently with my PC. I recently tried to run an error check on my C drive.
As expected, I was given a message saying this would be carried out the next time I restarted my PC. However, I keep receiving the message:

CHECKING FILE SYSTEM ON C

THE TYPE F SYSTEM FILE IS NTFS
CANNOT OPEN VOLUME FOR DIRECT ACCESS.

I've tried all the suggestions mentioned in the link below and none work.

http://www.pcmech.com/forum/windows-legacy-support-xp-earlier/130099-chkdsk-f-wont-run.html#post907693

I have Windows XP and would be really grateful if anyone could help. Pllease bear in mind I have very little knowledge on the technical side of PCs. Thank you.

[glc]

Do you have XP Service Pack 2? If not, install it.
Are you running Zone Alarm version 5? If so, uninstall it or update it.
Are you using GoBack?
What antivirus are you using?

[Chuckles]

I don't have Service Pack 2, so I'll try installing that.

I don't have Zone Alarm so I've obviously discounted that, but I don't know what Goback is.
Is this similar to System Restore?

My antivirus is AMF.

I'll try your suggestions and let you know. Thanks for your help.

[Chuckles]

Originally Posted by Chuckles I don't have Service Pack 2, so I'll try installing that. I don't have Zone Alarm so I've obviously discounted that, but I don't know what Goback is. Is this similar to System Restore? My antivirus is AMF. I'll try your suggestions and let you know. Thanks for your help.

Sorry, I should say my antivirus is AVG!!! (7.1)

[Panama Red]

GoBack is a Symantec product like Norton AntiVirus that provides a custom Restore optiion. It seems redundant to XP's native system restore to me and causes more trouble than it's worth on XP machines.

[glc]

Okay - you have probably nailed it - this is a known issue in XP that has been fixed in SP2.

[Chuckles]

I've had real problems trying to install SP2, but did get SP3 - will this help rectify the problem or not?

Sorry, I really have no idea what to do!!

[glc]

There is no SP3 for XP yet.

How are you trying to install SP2, and where are you getting it from? Is the machine clean of all viruses and spyware? Are you running a ton of background processes?

[Chuckles]

Originally Posted by glc There is no SP3 for XP yet. How are you trying to install SP2, and where are you getting it from? Is the machine clean of all viruses and spyware? Are you running a ton of background processes?

Ah - well in that case I need to get SP2 - tried download.com but when I tried to download and run it, it said the right version of Windows couldn't be found!

I've restricted the background programs to the minimal through Tune Up Utilities. This is what is running:

AVG Control Centre
dslagent
PHIME2002Async
Tuneup Memoptimizer
URL Checklist

The only other program running is titled ???????? 2002a Microsoft which I believe is part of the operating system.

[glc]

Tuneup Memoptimizer???? Uninstall that junk.

You should be getting SP2 from Windows Update, not a non-Microsoft download site.

[Chuckles]

Tuneup Memoptimizer is part of Tuneup Utilities, however I have closed it now.

Tried updating my PC from the Microsoft site and I'm being told my PC is up to date and yet the problem is still there.

Is there anything else you can suggest?

Thanks.

[glc]

Control panel, system, general - does it say Service Pack 2?

[Chuckles]

Originally Posted by glc Control panel, system, general - does it say Service Pack 2?

Yes, it does. At least that mystery is solved!!! Unfortunately it is still trying to rund dskchk every time the computer boots up.

[glc]

Open a command prompt and type:

chkntfs /d

It will run chkdsk on next startup but this may fix it for good.

[Chuckles]

Thanks for that - it did stop the message appearing, however my PC will not let me run disk defrag. as it says a chkdsk has been scheduled.

It's asking me to run chkdsk on /f

The plot thickens....

[glc]

Now you need to open a command prompt and type:

chkdsk c: /f

Answer Y to the prompts, close the window, and reboot.

[Chuckles]

Ok, I’ve done that and got the following message:

Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts Y / N

When I restarted the PC the error message didn’t come up, but it still won’t let me run disk degraf. I get the following error:

“Defrag has detected that chkdsk is scheduled to run on the volume NTFS ( C: )”

“Please run dskchk /f”

Sorry about this but......what next?

[glc]

Did you answer Y and did it do a chkdsk on restart? If so, do the chkntfs /d again. You might want to run manufacturer's diagnostics on the hard drive - or boot with the Windows CD, choose Repair, log into the console, and run CHKDSK /P

[Statica]

Are you running Diskeeper?

[Chuckles]

Originally Posted by glc Did you answer Y and did it do a chkdsk on restart? If so, do the chkntfs /d again. You might want to run manufacturer's diagnostics on the hard drive - or boot with the Windows CD, choose Repair, log into the console, and run CHKDSK /P

Yeah, I did that - when the PC rebooted it went straight into start up without running any checks at all.

I don't have a Windows CD with my PC and I have no idea how to run manufacturer's diagnostics - I'm afraid I'm very much a novice at this sort of thing!

Originally Posted by Statica Are you running Diskeeper?

I had diskeeper - I actually tried to run defrag through that, but it wouldn't let me, I kept receiving an error messaging saying diskeeper couldn't run until dskchk had been carried out.

[Statica]

Try the steps listed here: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_c.htm#cd

[Chuckles]

I tried all of the following and no joy, unfortunately:

Go to Start/Run/CMD and type in: fsutil dirty query c:
(Modify the drive letter accordingly)

If it comes back as dirty, it hasn't cleared. For more information go to Start/Run/CMD and type in: CHKNTFS /?

Option: From a command prompt type chkntfs /D and then reboot, a chkdsk should run but not again on next boot.

This edit does not work for all users, circumstances depending:

Disable or Enable CheckDisk Upon Boot (Line 82)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm


I have no idea at all what to do next. I stil can't run disk defrag as I get the following message:

Disk defrag has detected that chkdsk is scheduled to run on the volume NTFS (C
Please run chkdsk f/.

[glc]

Uninstall Diskeeper.

[Chuckles]

I've already tried that, but it hasn't made any difference.