Chkdsk

KT8

Every 7~10 days CHKDSK runs at start-up for no apparent reason. The PC hasn't crashed or closed down badly. CHKDSK will just run, normally on the same 1 or 2 partitions, it won't find any problems. The next time you start it will run again, restart run again and so on. The only way to stop it is to remove the data from the partition, format it, then move the data back. It will be OK for a while then start to do it again....

PC runs great apart from that, but it's getting a bit irritating.

PC Spec:
Mobo: Abit KV7 (Bios 18)
CPU: XP3200
RAM: 512MB
HD1: WD 160GB SATA (Main Drive) (6 Partitions)
HD2: WD 80GB EIDE (2 partitions)
DVD-ROM: Pioneer DVD-104S
DVD-RW: Pioneer DVR-108
GPU: Nvidia GF4 Ti4800SE
Audio: Audigy
Win XP Pro

It's always a partition on the SATA drive that's being checked.

Please help!!

Thanks...

kryyst

try this do chkdsk /f from dos on the drive(s) that are giving you the issue. It'll then give you a blurb about running it next time you reboot. Usually the cause of that problem is that it runs chkdsk without actually fixing the problem and it tells you that but the screen flies by faster then you can read it.

This won't always fix it I've seen that problem before and this does sometimes work. Plus it's the easiest quickest first step.

KT8

kryyst wrote:

try this do chkdsk /f from dos on the drive(s) that are giving you the issue. It'll then give you a blurb about running it next time you reboot. Usually the cause of that problem is that it runs chkdsk without actually fixing the problem and it tells you that but the screen flies by faster then you can read it.

This won't always fix it I've seen that problem before and this does sometimes work. Plus it's the easiest quickest first step.

This kind of works, it does stop chkdsk running on every start, but the problem returns after a week of so. The latest time it selected 2 partition. No problems were found on either.

I also get this message....

P:\>chkdsk /f
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Cannot lock current drive.

Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another
process. Chkdsk may run if this volume is dismounted first.
ALL OPENED HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID.
Would you like to force a dismount on this volume? (Y/N)

kryyst

well you can manual dismount the drive and have chkdsk check it as long as it's not your boot drive. Have you run a scandisk and defrag yet?

imported_oldtimer

This must be a scheduled task,check there.
:drinkup:
Scandisk made it easier to say no.

Shockjock

Hey oldtimer, maybe you should learn to read. He clearly has the OS listed as XP in the comp specs. Maybe if you weren't in such a hurry to make smart ass remarks, you would see the obvious.

youvegotjermz

oldtimer wrote:

I'll assume XP.This must be a scheduled task,check there.
Scandisk made it easier to say no.

once agian, and maybe i missed something, but i'm confused.
oldtimer, is there a language barrier?

KT8

oldtimer wrote:

I'll assume XP.This must be a scheduled task,check there.
Scandisk made it easier to say no.

Nothing in my Scheduled tasks except checking for mcafee updates.

kryyst wrote:

well you can manual dismount the drive and have chkdsk check it as long as it's not your boot drive. Have you run a scandisk and defrag yet

Scandisk doesn't report any errors, and I've defragged a few times. It's odd because it doesn't happen for 7~10 days, then for no apprent reason runs chkdsk at boot-up.

The PC works great, it's just beggining to bug me!!

kryyst

is your system rebooting during boot up or not fully shutting down all the way ever? There is a reason windows calls for the chkdsk and it's because of an improper boot up or because the last chkdsk it tried to run didn't finish. You could try to do an repair install but that's pretty drastic and I certainly wouldn't advise it if you are running sp2.

KT8

kryyst wrote:

is your system rebooting during boot up or not fully shutting down all the way ever? There is a reason windows calls for the chkdsk and it's because of an improper boot up or because the last chkdsk it tried to run didn't finish. You could try to do an repair install but that's pretty drastic and I certainly wouldn't advise it if you are running sp2.

Shuts down normally, and it doesn't reboot during boot up, there's nothing obvious happening to cause chkdsk to run. (I am running SP2)

LIN

towards the bottom of this Microsoft link it reads:

NOTE: This behavior also occurs in Systems Management Server 2.0 SP2. Following the installation/upgrade to the SP2 client components, client computers may begin exhibiting the same behavior.

For additional information, see article number 235771.


maybe there's some connection..?


LIN

KT8

LIN wrote:

towards the bottom of this Microsoft link it reads:



For additional information, see article number 235771.


maybe there's some connection..?


LIN

This is what needs to be edited, but I don't have a 'rchelp' key under 'services'.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\rchelp

Any other ideas?

imported_oldtimer

Don't post suggestions you havn't used.
Make this an exeption,i know it probably doesn't solve this,but maybe was overlooked by some useing chkdsk for the first time.
Don't dare tell me it's off topic and give a little headroom for replys.kryyst
I havn't used this but will when the times comes.
:drinkup:

kryyst

oldtimer what are you talking about? Seriously what 3rd party solutions are you on about none have been listed here at all. You really make no sense some times.

Hawk

Hehehehehe,

KT8

I thought I'd fixed this problem, but it's back!!

Whichever drive chkdsk runs is reported back as dirty using fsutil dirty query. I then run chkdsk /r which fixes the problem, but only temporarily. A few days later, or maybe a week or so chkdsk will run again. Sometimes on the same drive, but as often or not on a different drive.

So I go through the same process, fsutil dirty query, then chkdsk /r and it's gone again for a while.

I don't understand what the dirty bit is, or why it keeps tripping chkdsk to run...I'm confused... :faint:

kryyst

Sounds like you have a bad drive, the dirty bit is set everytime there is a change made to the drive that wasn't completed. Usually that is the result of the system being shutdown imporperly however it could also be due to a bad drive.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/library/ServerHelp/740cb38b-66dc-41e2-9f0b-7f2816c7c2ca.mspx

there's some reading material that explains a little more.

KT8

The drive is less than 6 months old (Western Digital), and their Data Lifeguard utility reports that there are no errors on the drive. Is it worth contacting WD?

Hawk

This is your main drive with 6 partitions? If so, May I ask why you have made 6 partitions on it? Why not just the standard 2 which win xp sets up. 2G for OS and rest for you to use as you see fit. You can spread things out with different folders. That's just a curiosity I have. Didn't know if making all those partitions made it better in any way. I was thinking all those partitions could be contributing to the chkdsk running on these unscheduled times for no reason.
I'd say IF you want to get rid of the problem for now, go in and back off the SP2. Just remove SP2 for now.Write to MS and wait until they give you a fix. If that's feasable for you. It might be a must have on your machine, I don't know. I'm not running SP2 om my 3 machines because of all the glitches and horror stories I here or read about on the net. I get all my critical security patches, software,hardware updates and forget the SP2. I've had no problems on all 3 networked pc's folding 24/7. On & off the net all the time.

kryyst

6 partitions? Unless you are dual booting between windows and linux that's a complete waste of your drive. With NTFS you no longer need to split partitions to get access to the full drive like you used to have to do with Fat32.

So WD says the drive isn't bad - which from my experience means the drive isn't bad. So windows is the culprit (big shock) I think you may just want to bite the bullet here and do a fresh install. At the same time I'd also recomend reducing partitions if you can.

Hawk

That was my thoughts on it kryyst. Maybe 2 or more OS'es on it. Couldn't figure out why if not that. I remember everyone going to multiple partitions quite a while back, Fat 32 times as you say. Even then I didn't do it and had no problems. You think backing off the SP2 might fix it? Think I'd try that before fresh install, as long as there's no other problems arising.

kryyst

Backing off SP2 may fix the problem. My only hesitation is that I've had to back off SP2 twice now and both times it screwed the system that I had to do a clean install anyway.

I've just had generally horrible luck with SP2.

Hawk

That sucks. From what I understand there's going to be a SP3 before longhorn comes out. The scuttlebut on the net is SP3 should be out early fall sometime.

iam14fun

KT8 wrote:

This kind of works, it does stop chkdsk running on every start, but the problem returns after a week of so. The latest time it selected 2 partition. No problems were found on either.

I also get this message....

P:\>chkdsk /f
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Cannot lock current drive.

Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another
process. Chkdsk may run if this volume is dismounted first.
ALL OPENED HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID.
Would you like to force a dismount on this volume? (Y/N)

I too had this problem with older versions of McAfee. What really helped was when I updated my registry and got the newest version of McAfee (but not everyone can afford that)... At one point I did have to completely remove McAfee and reinstall with specific parameters and custom install, but that was a hassle and a time-waster. If your savy with editing the registry, try KT8's advice, if not, LIN pointed you to the right MS site with the temp fix

kryyst

Hawk wrote:

That sucks. From what I understand there's going to be a SP3 before longhorn comes out. The scuttlebut on the net is SP3 should be out early fall sometime.

I'd heard that too which I see as a good thing - or at least a can't be worse thing. SP2 tightened up XP but added no needed functionality or stability it just fixed some gapping security errors and enforced internet sharring and firewall. The security flaws I'm already protected from, ICS I have no need or desire for and the firewall is still a piece of shit. So SP2 for me huge waste of time. SP3 I'm thinking is going to be much the same. Could be worse if they start to incorporate some of Longhorn's DRM concepts. With every piece of news from M$ lately they just piss me off more and more. M$ is on the decline and they just can't figure it out yet. They seem to think that by adding funciton people don't want and more proprietary systems that people don't want they'll be able to charge more and seel product. They are out of their minds. It's nice to see though that everything M$ just puts more fuel on the fire for reasons for consumers to switch to MAC or Linux.

Ok back to the topic. iam14fun has a point it could be anti-virus software that is locking the drive and not causing it to shut down propperly. I've never had that happen before with norton or avg but since he mentioned it I have heard of macfee doing strange, bad things.

Hawk

I'm very dissatisfied with MS and their tactics with XP. I put out $340 for 1 copie of xp home and 1 copie of xp pro. And can only load 2 of my pc's. I have to use win 98se for the other 2 on my home network! And I can only see it getting worse with every newer versions.
I only wish there was one of the other OS's that you can run everything on. All the different hardware, programs, games, etc.
I'll be changing over to something else soon anyway I guess. I'm tired of dumpin all my money on something that you can only run on 1 pc. Then have to reformat every so often, just because of all the glitches. If you walk into one of the average pc stores, they're still charging $299 for xp pro.! What a rip-off. You could buy a whole E-Machine for that or less!

kryyst

Agreed, though M$ isn't alone in that regard, if you say have a MAC you'd have to multiple versionf of OSX to cover more then one of them. Even linux if you say were running Suse, or Xandros or any of the other version you pay for you technically have to buy multiple versions for each system you'd install it on.

Linux though at most would run you $99 for a full version and they quickly drop in price for buying multiple copies.

The reality of the world is M$ has put themselves in a market where generally only corporations buy the software and people if it comes with a system. Most people know a friend who knows a friend who will upgrade theire OS for them as a favor. Same goes for M$ Office almost no home users going to shell out $500 for a full blown version of office and yet many of the tools are esential for most people because what they do at work they want at home. M$ pricing policies promotes piracy that's about all there is to it.

For my home system I keep flipping around between linux and XP. The only reason right now that I use XP more often is because at the current rate cd/dvd authoring software is subpar on Linux. Nero, god I love that program. Nero has recently just put out a version for linux, I haven't tried it yet but I've heard it's not that good - though the fact that they have recognized the demand for it is a good thing.

I wish companies would realize that there is a huge and growing linux market for home users and start producing software for it. I love the fact that on general terms I can get something for linux and get it free under the GNU. However I'd be more then happy to pay for a commercial quality application that does the job I want it to do. Ok I'll take a breath now.

KT8

Fresh Install, 1 partition....so far, so good!!

Hawk

Glad to hear that's going to work for you KT8. And thnx for keeping us up to date on your progress.