CHKDSK not completing

Question

I've been trying to run chkdsk for the past several days with no success.  I'm running it with the /f /r switches.  

The error message I receive is:

CHKDSK is verifying files (stage 1 of 5)...

360896 file records processed.

File verification complete

Deleting orphan file record segment 141083

readable file record segment 141083 is not writable

Windows has finished checking the disk.

Then the machine boots to Windows.

I'm running Vista Ultimate SP1

Any thoughts as to why this is happening?

Thanks

Fledd

Answer 1

Have you tried running it out of the Windows environment?  If you have an install DVD that you can boot to (or a Startup Repair option via the F8 Safe Mode screen), try launching the Command Prompt from the options provided when you go down the Startup Repair path.

Do not perform the Startup Repair, just look for, and go to the option for the Command Prompt (from the Choose a Recovery Tool dialog), and try running Chkdsk from within that.

Startup Repair: frequently asked questions

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/5c59f8c1-b0d1-4f1a-af55-74f3922f3f351033.mspx#EHF

How to use the Command Prompt in the Vista Windows Recovery Environment

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial147.html

Answer 2

This is an old article and probably wont do much for you solution wise, but it might give you something to consider?

NTFS Directory Corruption with Frequent File Creation

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/169404

See if the Fsutil command can do anything for you?

Vista Backup error 0x80071A91 and/or failed Windows Updates

http://blogs.vertigo.com/personal/alexark/Blog/archive/2007/03/15/vista-backup-error-0x80071a91-andor-failed-windows-updates.aspx

Vista's FSUTIL Command

http://itsvista.com/2007/03/fsutil/

You can determine whether your file system errors are legitimate.

To know if you've got a file system error, you can type the following

command at the command prompt:

fsutil dirty query c: (replace c: with your drive letter)

I have anecdotal evidence that ChkDsk in Vista is a bit buggy and no longer trust it other than as a last resort.  I always run it in read-only mode before allowing it to change anything on the hard drive, and I keep plenty of backup images.

Is ChkDsk still a worry when run in Vista?

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistaprograms/thread/73df6210-7818-45fc-b9e6-d266541b96ae/

Answer 3

Fledd99, Lets try running chkdsk without fixing or recovering any sectors, do the following:  

1. Click Start, and then type cmd in the Start Search box.
2. Right-click cmd in the Programs list, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type your password or click Continue
3. At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER: Chkdsk
4. When the test is complete, click on the icon at the top left portion of the window, click Edit, then click Select All, press Enter key.
5. Paste the content into your reply by pressing CTRL+V on your Keyboard.

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Rami

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

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Answer 4

Brian,

I executed the steps you suggested and the program bailed out prior to it finishing; no error messages, no dialog boxes stating what went on.  I would imagine that since it is calling chkdsk, it bailed out at the same step as when chkdsk is run from the command prompt.

I ran  SpinRiteon the disk and all sectors come back as readable and writeable.

An interesting note is that when I restore the machine to factory defaults from my other partition, this error goes away.  I can run chkdsk and it runs through all stages (1-5) and all is well with the disk. (I don't necessarily want to go this way and reinstall all my programs....)

I use Windows Home Server for my backups, and these have been going well until this last Friday when this orphaned file issue came up.  I went back a week and restored my machine, and the orphaned file issue was still present.  I have even reformatted (not quick format) the disk prior to being restored.  Needless to say, I can't perform any backups until I can get this issue resolved.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks for your help.

Fledd

Answer 5

Hi Fledd99,

Try the following:

1.       Click Start

2.       Double-click Computer

**3.**Right-click the disk that you are wanting to check, and then click Properties

4.       Under the Tools tab click Check Now located under the “Error-checking” category

If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

5.       Under “Check disk options”, check Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors

6.       Click Start

Let us know the results. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

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Brian

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

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