Can't Run Chkdsk

from WinCustomize Forums
Has anyone run across this little problem? It just started happening on my PC.
Err Msg: "Cannot Open the Volume for Direct Access" When You Start ...

I can no longer check for file system errors. I looked through Microsofts info, and the only dirext reference to it I could find concern win200, or virus or disk monitoring software, neither of which I have changed recently. I have run all my adware/virus scans and done all the usual stuff you would do, but I am simply locked out of this task. Any hardcore geeks out there no what's up?
117,359 views 41 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have Zone Alarm on my PC for the last year without this happening. Checking the link from Jafo.

Okay, everything on that link I have tried or normally do to check the volume, and that's the problem. None of it works. The chkdsk I run can only be run on restart/boot...the other one to recover bad sectors runs fine. Now I tried to run that fsutil dirty query c: and it won't work. When I eneter it and click 'OK", the little black screen flashes and is gone. So this is another command I can't run.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
initiatedsean441 I have tried both methods, your's being the one I normally use, and niether works.

Googling now.

Also searching for Autochk.exe to make sure I still HAVE it.
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
initiatedsean441 that was the first link I ever saw on this when I looked earlier. The prob is, what do they mean by
1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Devices.
3. Click NetworkX, click Startup, click Disabled, click OK, and then click Close. This change does not take effect until the computer is restarted.

I don't see 'Devices' on my Control Panel.

As far as the reference to CrypKey Software Licensing System version 4.3 from Cobalt Systems, is that something I am supposed to have on my PC, because I am unfamiliar with it.

I kind of left the article alone because it seemed to apply to WIN200 and NT4. Does it apply to me? I have XPHome.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hey Po : sometimes when there are actual disk errors this can happen when running the command 'chkdsk' in 'run' - try going into 'my computer'from the taskbar menu, right click 'my computer', click 'properties', click 'tools', click 'error checking', click the two check boxes, when you close with 'OK' you will get an error msg stating 'you do not have exclusive access to local disc C, would you like to schedule a check disk next time you reboot' select yes, reboot - the Microsoft blue screen check list will come up & will probably take a hlf hr to check your C volume for errors & correct them
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Did you "Google" it?
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Po : this is starting to sound like you have 'corrupt data' & that is really shittay - here is Microsoft's response...hopefully this will trblshoot it
Link
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
this Forum from Windows XP Help & Support will clear everything up for you Po...it seems the command to ScanDisk has to be done from safe mode, then rebooted & it will finally do what you so desperately want it to do....as you & I well know, Windows can be temperamental


Link
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
this Forum from Windows XP Help & Support will clear everything up for you Po...it seems the command to ScanDisk has to be done from safe mode, then rebooted & it will finally do what you so desperately want it to do....as you & I well know, Windows can be temperamental


Have you tried Recovery console? I think only XP pro has it though..
Boot into Dos and type Chkdsk at the prompt if your running Home..
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This is what I get with a regular chkdsk, after I ran a fsutil dirty query c:, if this helps anyone to understand what may be wrong. Does the 'not dirty' mean it's not corrupt?

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner>fsutil dirty query c:
Volume - c: is NOT Dirty

C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner>chkdsk c:
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Volume label is PRESARIO.

WARNING! F parameter not specified.
Running CHKDSK in read-only mode.

CHKDSK is verifying files (stage 1 of 3)...
File verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (stage 2 of 3)...
Index verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (stage 3 of 3)...
Security descriptor verification completed.
CHKDSK discovered free space marked as allocated in the volume bitmap.
Windows found problems with the file system.
Run CHKDSK with the /F (fix) option to correct these.

40136008 KB total disk space.
16935464 KB in 123451 files.
49004 KB in 7188 indexes.
0 KB in bad sectors.
316616 KB in use by the system.
65536 KB occupied by the log file.
22834924 KB available on disk.

4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
10034002 total allocation units on disk.
5708731 allocation units available on disk.

C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner>

Run CHKDSK with the /F (fix) is what I CAN'T run at all.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
CHKDSK discovered free space marked as allocated in the volume bitmap.
Windows found problems with the file system.
Run CHKDSK with the /F (fix) option to correct these.


Try running it with the /f switch Po and see if that helps...

You could also try system file checker...


To use the system file checker typ CMD at the run box in the start menu.
At the prompt type sfc/scannow
have the windows XP installation disk handy because you will need to put it in the ROM to complete the file checker.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Try running it with the /f switch Po and see if that helps...

This is the cmd I CAN"T run. This is what I originally posted about. When I set it to run and restart the computer, instead of running at the boot, I get this message...
Checking File System on C:
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Cannot open the volume for direct access.

have the windows XP installation disk handy

I have XP embedded in this piece o' crap...no XP disc..just the recovery disk's..which may be where I am headed.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This is the cmd I CAN"T run.


Have you tried it with the switch in DOS?

At the prompt type chkdsk /f
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Have you tried it with the switch in DOS?

I don't know what that is.
Red Faced
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Start-run-cmd-chkdsk /f

You should be prompted to reboot.

Alternatively...do same from safemode....

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok..Not a prob, Assumimg you have a Floppy drive and a spare disk

Grab a floppy and stick it into your drive. Go to My Computer and right click the floppy drive and choose to format..

At the bottom of the box there is an option to create a MS DOS Start-up disk..
choose that option and format

When you have created it reboot...You should end up at the command prompt.. just type in the command chkdsk /f <~~~~ exactly like that, with the space between the command and the switch...
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
there ya go Po....you should be fine dude...all of this is excellent & sound advice
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This is the cmd I CAN"T run.


It likely because with Windows loaded & running there's a whole shedload of DLL's, driver files etc etc that are locked by Windows so chkdsk can't access the disk freely.

There's a /X option for chkdsk which forces dismounting of the disk first, but I would try this only as a last resort and reboot immediately after chkdsk finishes since all those DLL's would no longer be 'connected' to windows.

Better is to do it from a boot disk like DZ suggests above...

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Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Start-run-cmd-chkdsk /f

You should be prompted to reboot.

Alternatively...do same from safemode

I can't.

Ok..Not a prob, Assumimg you have a Floppy drive and a spare disk

I don't and I don't. CD-RW?DVD-R drive. A lot of computers don't come with Floppy drives anymore. Like mine.

Tried booting in Safe Mode and Safe Mode Command Prompt. It starts to boot and then freezes with this list of stuff on my PC tat turns red.

Where oh where can my Underdog be? Oh where oh where can he be?
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
darn double post



Is it time to grab a bottle of Jack, arm myself and wait for the Blue Screen O' Death ? I promise, I may be the first one hurt, but I won't be the last!
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WTF.......all this over chkdsk....??

OK......first off...is Presario actually the name of your OS volume (partition) or is it the name of your HP recovery volume?

Second....list the spyware apps you have installed.

Third.....why are you even running chkdsk. Is there a problem with something?