Help! My PC is disintegrating! What is "chkdsk utility"?

[CanuckAmok]

Something has completely buggered up my PC. It keeps alerting me to corrupt files, and each time I boot up it runs a 2+ hour disk check before being useable.

Serious mess here.

What's the chkdsk utility? It keeps telling me to do that.

I've tried a system restore and that didn't do it.

(Win XP-Media Ed)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Check disk.

Perhaps try defragmenting?

[CanuckAmok]

3. It won't let me defrag. it tells me:

"Disk Defrag has detected that chkdskis scheduled to run... please run Chkdsk/f."
it's also running very slow. I think I'm fucked.

[sendero]

2. chkdsk..

... is a program that runs and does what is called a "filesystem consistency check". What that means is that it makes sure that the index and file structure makes sense. For example, if the index says that a physical sector is used by two different files, well that means the index is corrupted and remedial action must be taken.

To run chkdsk, use Start->Run and then type in "chkdsk /f" (no quotes). The /f tells the chkdks to "fix" any problems it finds, otherwise, it just issues a report to the console which does you no good.

But, and here is the nasty bit - if chkdsk finds cross-linked files or other corruption, all it can really do is delete one or both of the files. If system-critical files are corrupted, they will be deleted and you will wind up having to re-install Windows.

Sucks, I know.

[CanuckAmok]

4. eep.

"Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)"

If I have to reinstall windows, I'm in big trouble. My PC came with is pre-installed.

[sendero]

5. I forgot to mention that..

... chkdsk /f cannot run while you are using Windows. When it asks you to schedule, say Yes and then reboot. When it starts booting, before it starts up Windows fully, it will run chkdsk and you will see the results on screen.

To be honest, I don't think you have a lot of choice here. If you have some really precious data files, save them to CD or somewhere, because there is no guarantee they will still be there after chkdsk runs.

Save your most important files, schedule chkdsk to run, reboot and cross your fingers. Good luck!

[CanuckAmok]

7. I'm back!

Everything seems to be okay.........

[Benfea]

6. Did you reformat the HD on your system restore?

If not, do so, and do not chose "quick format." Do the thorough one.

If that doesn't clear things up, then perhaps your hard drive controller or hard drive are going bad.