Can't use Disk Defragmenter because of Checkdisc (Chkdsk/f)

I'd really rather fix it myself (this thread). I'd just like to know if I've exhausted all my options.

I've tried all these suggestions, is there something I could be doing wrong?

when I right-click on C and do the properties thing, it tells me I need to restart it for it to work. I do, but nothing seems to happen. Do I need to be doing something in between? Or is this just a sign that I'm beyond my own help and need to go a head and buy the software?

between the chkdsk/defrag problems in this thread, the untold and therefore unknown problems you experience and (paid or free) registry cleaners. That's why I suggested you better start a totally new thread, in stead of appending to this one, which will lead to nothing.

Kees

I just recently got the CHKDSK/f, C drive corrupted. It was NOT! I had a badly authored FACTORY DVD in a DVD ROM drive. On removal I was able to defrag drive with no problems. Go figure! I saw no funky auto inf's or such, but SOMETHING on the DVD was was effecting the operating system drive. Clean ALL temps from C with system tool Disc Cleanup before defragging!

Sambia;
Thank you very much (old school) works everytime. I can now defrag because of you thanks.

Thanks a lot Sambia ! Your solution worked on my Dell notebook Windows XP Professional SP 3 where I was facing the same problem () !

Go to - MY COMPUTER
Right Click - LOCAL DISK (C
Choose - PROPERTIES
Choose - TOOLS - CHECK NOW.

I choosed both options "Automatically Fix File System Errors" (which means the chkdsk/f (fix)and "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" .

A new screen asked me if I wanted to schedule a check disk at startup - I choosed Y for YES (even though U was getting the "Can't use Disk Defragmenter because of Checkdisk (Chkdsk/f)" ) and selected Y (Yes) anyway.

I turned my computer completely OFF (Start-> Turn-Off Computer-> Turn-Off ). Then I pushed the power button to start again my computer anf I saw the scan disk started. I waited for the scan disk to finish .

After that I was able to do the defragmentation of my notebook (Start->All Programs -> Accessories->System Tools-> Disk Defragmenter )


What I would like to know is WHAT WAS THE CAUSE that generated this problem IN THE FIRST PLACE ?

Thanks again Sambia !

The "Chkdsk/Error Checking" fixed some of those corrupted items and allowed the computer to run correctly.

Hope this helps.

Grif

I'm using the "Tune Up" one regularly now, but it makes me uneasy. I'm not exactly sure what it's "correcting", it didn't seem to find as many problems as the less convenient programs did, and the 30 days are almost up!

I'd really rather just use the computer's own defrag.

Is there any easy mistake I might be making when fixing this manually? I've done the C drive properties, I've rebooted it in safe mode (there's more than one, which one's best?) and tried again. Nada.

thou less thorough then the check disk at start up, there is a limited work around. Go to your C: drive (if this is your OS drive) right click on it, choose properties, choose the tool tab, choose error checking, unclick the box marked "Automatically...." then click "scan for and attempt to recover.....". Click only the lower box not both. Let it run.

This might fix it, maybe. That's a big maybe.

tried all the advice and it tells me cant perform check because disk is NTFS..... about to call someone to re install windows but really dont want to spent hundreds of dollars on this machine
thanks anyone

Then try registry repair software. These can cause some problems, occasionally serious. Use at your own risk.

See link:

http://www.download.com/3120-20_4.html?qt=registry+repair&tag=srch&tg=dl-20

used regcure, hasn't made a dif
thanks

If this fails you might consider re-installing the OS, sorry.

It is not listed for Vista:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx

dont know what it was as i tried everything, but it seemed to be once i started uninstalling software that it worked such a relief, i think it might of been norton because when i uninstalled it told me a fatal error had occured in install then rebout and chkdsk ran and now my computer working good again....yayaayaya such a relief i was so close to spending heaps and reinstalling windows
cheers all this site rules!!!!!!!!

Sometimes the solution is not the most obvious solution, things are often not as they appear. Amazing and very complicated machines, computers.

Go to Start button, click "Run", Type in chkdsk /f Note: there is a space between the K and / click ok. A black box appears with white writing, Type in Y Hit hit "return" and close down computer. Reboot and a light blue check list appears. Let it run its course (it took several minutes for me) It will automatically boot to Windows on its own and the problem should now be solved. Now defrag.

You've posted to a three year old thread.. Do you have a question? And if you have a problem similar to the one in this topic, please try ALL of the suggestions that are listed in the thread.

Hope this helps.

Grif

That's your problem in a nutshell.

Check the registry entries mentioned in http://www.infocellar.com/winxp/chkdsk-and-autochk.htm
If they are present delete them and see if defrag will run now. Be careful when deleting!

Kees

Sadly moderators haven't pinned something like the following at the top of this rather unnecessarily lengthy post, if so it would save a lot of unnecessary posts, not to mention everyone's time and energy.

When defrag balks about check disk (supposedly being scheduled), ms has never recongnized and/or afforded a completed popup detail for this error.

To prevent corrupted directories, prior to 'defrag' being allowed to run, the subject drive undergoes qa pre-defrag check for drive issues. It's here that the otherwise misleading and incommpletely written popup is displayed.

M$ should have added to that popup: 'users must run check disk in order to continue with and allow safely running the defragmentatation utility.

I decided to test scheduling Chkdsk at next startup efore doing it on a remote client machine by right-clicking C:\ drive in My Computer|Properties|Tools|Error Checking. I selected both options even though MS says to pick one (read about that later), and rebooted. Had the fright of my life! Booted but then it hung but weirdly, nothing on the screen, not a BSOD, it was like the monitor was not even turned on. HD spinning but no Chkdsk scan screen showing at all. I had to power off at the button.

I tried, F8 which I could get to, F10 which I could not get to and Hirens CD of utils which I booted to, for a couple of hours. Then I thought, what the hell, I've blown up the family computer, I will try anything now. I got the Dell XP CD and inserted it, then hit F12, thinking to just reinstall and booted to that CD. Same issue, not booting, black screen. Powered off, and rebooted with the CD still inserted, but did not select F12 this time, and I was just about ready to power off at the button and start drinking when the CD drive kicked in. AND THE PC booted to XP, no problems. I read sometime this morning about someone experiencing similar, and that he had experienced a loss of power in the past with that machine. Me, too. So power loss, on a Dell, SATA, Samsung HD, XP Pro SP3, and I selected both options for Chkdsk instead of just one - who knows what the cause was, but inserting an XP CD and rebooting a couple of times did the trick. Stay calm is my advice and grab an XP CD.

Several posts I read said all their data was gone, but it's not. And the machine boots, but boots to nothing. I could get to Safe Mode screen, just not any of the options. I could get to the F12 screen, and boot to a CD. The icon light for HD is lit and shows activity. Hirens did not come up with any HD or surface or sector errors.

Hope this helps some other schlep like me. Susan