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Hi, all. I am running Windows XP Pro SP2 with all the updates.
I have a 300 gig Maxtor external HD with 2 FAT32 partions on
it (don't ask! the problem isn't related to that). One is for
all my non-graphics backups, primarily MP3s and the other is
for all my graphics files, primarily JPEGs.

In Explorer, when I right-click on the volume name>Tools>Check
now, I check both boxes and click Start and get the message
"the disk check could not be performed because the disk check
utility needs exclusive access to some Windows files on the
disk. These files can be accessed only by restarting Windows.
Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time
you restart the computer?".

Yes, restart, and no-thing happens. No disk check, just the
login screen. So, I try it again, same message, say yes again.
This time, I check Control Panel Scheduled Tasks. Nuttin',
honey. Well, that explains why I didn't get a check, think, or
am I missing something easy here?

So, I did the obvious. Opened a DOS window and searched the
entire partition(s) for Hidden and System files. Nuttin',
honey again. Except for the bullshit Norton Protect files
System Works 2006 parks there. But, I have Norton Protection
turned off. Deleting these files does work, but I still have a
no-go on the check. And, by the time I do another dir /s /ah
/as again, the Norton Protect files are back.

So, other than lose the Norton, what do I do? I know this
worked a month ago but I cannot make it work today. I got
around this by going back to the DOS window and running chkdsk
/f /r. That worked, after I allowed Windows to dismount the
volume, but I'd really like to run the check from Windows.
Restarting is Okey, Dokey, if I could get it to work.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

--
ATM, aka Jerry

On Sat, 11 Feb 2006 20:49:22 -0600, All Things Mopar wrote:

> Hi, all. I am running Windows XP Pro SP2 with all the updates. I have a
> 300 gig Maxtor external HD with 2 FAT32 partions on it (don't ask! the
> problem isn't related to that). One is for all my non-graphics backups,
> primarily MP3s and the other is for all my graphics files, primarily
> JPEGs.
>
> In Explorer, when I right-click on the volume name>Tools>Check now, I
> check both boxes and click Start and get the message "the disk check could
> not be performed because the disk check utility needs exclusive access to
> some Windows files on the disk. These files can be accessed only by
> restarting Windows. Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the
> next time you restart the computer?".
>
> Yes, restart, and no-thing happens. No disk check, just the login screen.
> So, I try it again, same message, say yes again. This time, I check
> Control Panel Scheduled Tasks. Nuttin', honey. Well, that explains why I
> didn't get a check, think, or am I missing something easy here?
>
> So, I did the obvious. Opened a DOS window and searched the entire
> partition(s) for Hidden and System files. Nuttin', honey again. Except for
> the bullshit Norton Protect files System Works 2006 parks there. But, I
> have Norton Protection turned off. Deleting these files does work, but I
> still have a no-go on the check. And, by the time I do another dir /s /ah
> /as again, the Norton Protect files are back.
>
> So, other than lose the Norton, what do I do? I know this worked a month
> ago but I cannot make it work today. I got around this by going back to
> the DOS window and running chkdsk /f /r. That worked, after I allowed
> Windows to dismount the volume, but I'd really like to run the check from
> Windows. Restarting is Okey, Dokey, if I could get it to work.
>
> Any suggestions would be appreciated.

You could run chkdsk from the Recovery Console (boot the XP cd.)

Today Meat Plow commented courteously on the subject at hand

>> Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>
> You could run chkdsk from the Recovery Console (boot the XP
> cd.)


I did successfully run the DOS chkdsk from a DOS window, then I
discovered that if I didn't check the top box to do a file
integrity check, and just a search for bad sectors, it runs
successfully and, thankfully, I have no errors. This probably
stems from my desire to run FAT32, with XP doesn't like. Bill
the Gates will do anything to get users to run their systems
his, way, but he ain't the one paying /my/ bills, I just pay
his, so I'll do a Frank Sinatra "I did it /my/ way."

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll try that next time.

--
ATM, aka Jerry

On Sun, 12 Feb 2006 13:23:23 -0600, All Things Mopar wrote:

> Today Meat Plow commented courteously on the subject at hand
>
>>> Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>>
>> You could run chkdsk from the Recovery Console (boot the XP cd.)
>
>
> I did successfully run the DOS chkdsk from a DOS window, then I discovered
> that if I didn't check the top box to do a file integrity check, and just
> a search for bad sectors, it runs successfully and, thankfully, I have no
> errors. This probably stems from my desire to run FAT32, with XP doesn't
> like. Bill the Gates will do anything to get users to run their systems
> his, way, but he ain't the one paying /my/ bills, I just pay his, so I'll
> do a Frank Sinatra "I did it /my/ way."
>
> Thanks for the suggestion, I'll try that next time.

It will ask for a reboot to gain exclusive access no matter if the drive
is internal or external or regardless if it is FT32 or NTFS. Why are you
scanning for bad sectors?

Today Meat Plow commented courteously on the subject at hand

>>>> Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>>>
>>> You could run chkdsk from the Recovery Console (boot the
>>> XP cd.)
>>
>>
>> I did successfully run the DOS chkdsk from a DOS window,
>> then I discovered that if I didn't check the top box to do
>> a file integrity check, and just a search for bad sectors,
>> it runs successfully and, thankfully, I have no errors.
>> This probably stems from my desire to run FAT32, with XP
>> doesn't like. Bill the Gates will do anything to get users
>> to run their systems his, way, but he ain't the one paying
>> /my/ bills, I just pay his, so I'll do a Frank Sinatra "I
>> did it /my/ way."
>>
>> Thanks for the suggestion, I'll try that next time.
>
> It will ask for a reboot to gain exclusive access no matter
> if the drive is internal or external or regardless if it is
> FT32 or NTFS. Why are you scanning for bad sectors?

I /always/ scan for bad sectors /before/ doing a de-frag. I'm
cautious and unsure if Windows or Norton Speed Disk are bright
enough to verify a cluster before they write to it. I haven't
found a bad block in years, but I believe in never giving
Murphy an even break.

I know, BTW, why it wants to to a restart. That's fine. But,
why the hell doesn't the scan run then? Windows just restarts,
I logon on, and no-thing happens. Also, should a scheduled
chkdsk show up in Scheduled Tasks in Control Panel or not?

Thanks.

--
ATM, aka Jerry

On Mon, 13 Feb 2006 07:31:47 -0600, All Things Mopar wrote:

> Today Meat Plow commented courteously on the subject at hand
>
>>>>> Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>>>>
>>>> You could run chkdsk from the Recovery Console (boot the XP cd.)
>>>
>>>
>>> I did successfully run the DOS chkdsk from a DOS window, then I
>>> discovered that if I didn't check the top box to do a file integrity
>>> check, and just a search for bad sectors, it runs successfully and,
>>> thankfully, I have no errors. This probably stems from my desire to run
>>> FAT32, with XP doesn't like. Bill the Gates will do anything to get
>>> users to run their systems his, way, but he ain't the one paying /my/
>>> bills, I just pay his, so I'll do a Frank Sinatra "I did it /my/ way."
>>>
>>> Thanks for the suggestion, I'll try that next time.
>>
>> It will ask for a reboot to gain exclusive access no matter if the drive
>> is internal or external or regardless if it is FT32 or NTFS. Why are you
>> scanning for bad sectors?
>
> I /always/ scan for bad sectors /before/ doing a de-frag. I'm cautious and
> unsure if Windows or Norton Speed Disk are bright enough to verify a
> cluster before they write to it. I haven't found a bad block in years, but
> I believe in never giving Murphy an even break.

That's because IIRC, modern drives map bad blocks on their own. Back in my
CNE days, the Novell OS used to do that on its own. You knew it was time
to change a drive when the OS started moving blocks of data to an area
reserved by Novell for that reason.

> I know, BTW, why it wants to to a restart. That's fine. But, why the
> hell doesn't the scan run then? Windows just restarts, I logon on, and
> no-thing happens.

Not sure, maybe the drive hasn't mounted yet??????????????

>Also, should a scheduled chkdsk show up in Scheduled
> Tasks in Control Panel or not?

I would ASSume it would But I'm not sure just how much of the OS
actually mounts when it does a chkdsk upon boot hence the need to add it
to the Task Scheduler in the first place.


> Thanks.

YW

Today Meat Plow commented courteously on the subject at hand

>>> It will ask for a reboot to gain exclusive access no
>>> matter if the drive is internal or external or regardless
>>> if it is FT32 or NTFS. Why are you scanning for bad
>>> sectors?
>>
>> I /always/ scan for bad sectors /before/ doing a de-frag.
>> I'm cautious and unsure if Windows or Norton Speed Disk
>> are bright enough to verify a cluster before they write to
>> it. I haven't found a bad block in years, but I believe in
>> never giving Murphy an even break.
>
> That's because IIRC, modern drives map bad blocks on their
> own. Back in my CNE days, the Novell OS used to do that on
> its own. You knew it was time to change a drive when the OS
> started moving blocks of data to an area reserved by Novell
> for that reason.

Didn't know that! Thanks! I guess my technical data is pretty
out-of-date, huh? <grin> This'll save me a /lot/ of time when
I want to defrag from now on.

>> I know, BTW, why it wants to to a restart. That's fine.
>> But, why the hell doesn't the scan run then? Windows just
>> restarts, I logon on, and no-thing happens.
>
> Not sure, maybe the drive hasn't mounted yet??????????????

No, I don't think so, Meat. I tried this over and over, waited
awhile, checked again, nuttin' honey in Scheduled Tasks. And,
a restart produced no chkdsk run. I "solved" that one by not
checking the top box on the Tools dialog box, the one that
verifies file integrity. But, in light of your earlier
comment, I think I can stop doing this routinely and save not
only time, but frustration..

>>Also, should a scheduled chkdsk show up in Scheduled
>> Tasks in Control Panel or not?
>
> I would ASSume it would But I'm not sure just how much
> of the OS actually mounts when it does a chkdsk upon boot
> hence the need to add it to the Task Scheduler in the first
> place.

Yeah. I was taught as a boy engineer 37 years ago what happens
when you ass/u/me - it "makes a 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me'.
<grin> The issue is now moot, thanks to you. Have a good one!

--
ATM, aka Jerry