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General discussion

Unable to do chkdsk

Aug 6, 2010 10:18AM PDT

Last month my computer (running Vista Home Premium ed) crashed after a McAfee update was automatically installed; it would not accept any kind of input (mouse, touchpad or keyboard). I spent hours with Dell who checked my system and said this was not a hardware problem (everything works fine in safe mode) but a software problem. I went to the McAfee forum and they helped me to uninstall McAfee from my system which allowed my computer to once again accept input from all devices. I have tried to restore my computer to the day before the crash, but get a message that there is a bad sector on the C: drive and I must run a chkdsk to fix this. I again asked Dell for help and we tried multiple ways to do a chkdsk to no avail; Dell recommended doing a backup, then booting up in safe mode and then restoring to factory settings (2 1/2 years ago). OK, I tried to do the backup but get a message that I must fix the bad sectors on C: before I can do a backup. I feel like I am running in circles.

Any help would be appreciated; BTW, I'm not entirely sure that McAfee is entirely at fault but really don't know what went wrong here.

Christine

Discussion is locked

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That bad sector is a bad sign.
Aug 7, 2010 2:58AM PDT
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Bad sector
Aug 7, 2010 3:14AM PDT

The HD is 80 GB Serial ATA hard drive (7200RPM); when I was working with the Dell techs, they told me there was not a hardware problem but rather a software problem. How do I tell if this is indeed a hardware problem (and then I can get Dell to fix it or replace it...). When I do a chkdsk under the safe mode command prompt, it does a read only and finds 8 file record segments corrupt, then stops

Christine

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Bad sectors are a hardware problem.
Aug 7, 2010 3:18AM PDT

It's sad to run into techs like that.

Chkdsk does NOT scan the surface by default to mark out bad spots. And most laptops do not come with the right bootable Vista DVD to deal with this.

-->> YOU ASK "How do I tell if this is indeed a hardware problem"

I supplied an example tool above but without the make and model drive I can't give you the exact test tool to use. Sorry about that but details are needed to get the right test tool.

As to the Dell replacement it's a shame you have to work so hard here. It's a bad sector so it should "game over" and they get to replace it.
Bob

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Cannot chkdsk
Aug 7, 2010 4:55AM PDT

I really appreciate the help I've gotten so far. I guess I misnamed the errors I get when I try to do a chkdsk; I do not get any "bad sectors" message but rather that the "disk C: has errors. Windows has detected file system corruption on C:. You must check the disk for errors before it can be restored". This is the point at which I try to run the chkdsk and cannot. I've run the McAfee programs to remove it from my computer and now need to find a Vista troubleshooter to see if that can find and correct the errors

Christine

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That changes everything.
Aug 7, 2010 5:06AM PDT

Sorry about that. I was using the bad sectors as the premise for all my replies. It would be GAME OVER if there were such.

Ok. Back the CHKDSK.

BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING... Be sure your files are safe.

Done? Ok, click the Vista ORB and find the command prompt or run CMD. This scares some (can't write why?) but here's a TUTORIAL on Vista CHKDSK:

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html

It covers it from many angles but set aside time for it to get done.

--->>> Worth noting is that chkdsk can't repair all errors. When that happens I get to decide if I can wait till I can start over.
Bob

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Typo.
Aug 7, 2010 5:07AM PDT

I meant back to chkdsk.

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chkdsk doesn't work
Aug 7, 2010 7:25AM PDT

Thanks for the URL; I've run the scannow followed by a reboot (arranging in advance to run a chkdsk at startup) and no chkdsk was done. It looks like the next step is going into the registry...hope I'm not gettingin over my head!!

Christine

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Vista problem
Aug 7, 2010 8:37AM PDT

OK< I found the chkdsk won't run at startup in the Vista forum and have been running through the solution. I have gone into the registry and changed the autocheck autochk /p \??\C: to autocheck autochk*. I am then told to Take_ownership of this file; when I try to DL the file needed, I am asked what program I want to use to do so and am stumped.

Also, it looks like I have the 32 bit version of Vista and do not have SP2 installed

Christine

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I would install SP2.
Aug 7, 2010 11:22PM PDT

There are many fixes in SP2. This may be one of them.
Bob

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Chkdsk won't run
Aug 8, 2010 1:52AM PDT

I looked at the updates and it looks like I am getting all of the automatic updates (which I presume includes SP2). the latest update offered was for MS Office.

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Let's say that you completed all the steps at link.
Aug 8, 2010 2:14AM PDT
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Chkdsk won't run update
Sep 26, 2010 7:44AM PDT

In July I reported that my computer seemed to have crashed after a McAfee update was installed. I spent some time with the Dell techs who finally decided that the problem was a software problem and not a hardware problem so was not covered by watantee. I came to this forum after discussing the issue oin the McAfee forum and followed all of the excellent sugestions given. I was unable to do any kind of backup automatically, so started the laborious process of transferring my files individually to my backup HD. Last month my compter completely went out; just a black unresponsive screen. Dell sent out a tech who replaced the otherboard and the AC adaptor with no help. I sent the computer back to Dell (keeping the new battery, AC adaptor and old HD here). This week my computer has returned and the paperwork indicates the video card was the problem (the one Dell replaced a few months back). I can now do an automatic backup; I'm guessing that if I try to do the chkdsk, that too will work. so much for this being a software problem...glad I have the computer under warrantee for another 18 months.

Christine