can't run chkdsk on win xp with intel array

Question

Hello,

After a power outage i got yellow messages in the clock tray. I tried to run chkdsk in windows but it says it cant run and schedules to run on restart. When Windows restarts, chkdsk starts and it says it cannot run because the volume is locked.

I tried to run the Recovery console from my Windows Xp cd. It says it can't find any hard drives installed on the system. I searched the internet and found Raid drivers, put them on a floppy and tried R again. After i press F6 and i put in the floppy with raid drivers, i get 4 versions of drivers. I tried all 4 of them - same result: the xp cd doesn't see any hard drives.

Please help me with this issue, as I need badly to run chkdsk. My specs are:

Dell XPS Gen 4

3 gb ram

250 gb intel array

Win xp with sp3 and all available updates

theflash1932 · Accepted Answer

Download nLiteOS.com to integrate the driver into your installation media (this will create a new CD from which to boot to Recovery Console - there is no need to hit F6 with this method).

You can probably use this driver (extract first):
www.dell.com/.../DriverFileFormats

Or you can use this driver (must be extracted/unzipped first):
downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx

When using nLite, at the appropriate time, choose Multiple Drivers, select ALL that are presented, then choose TextMode.

Burn the new ISO to a CD using CD image burning software (ISO Recorder, CDBurnerXP, or in Windows 7 just right-click ISO and Burn Image to CD/DVD).

If you have a Vista or Windows 7 DVD, you can boot to it and run chkdsk /r from there.

Causes of problems for which chkdsk is a possible treatment can come from hardware as well as software problem, which is why Rick recommended checking your hardware. There is no point doing a chkdsk if your disk is failing.

leorot · Answer

Thank you for your timely response, Rick.

1. Last known good configuration didn't work.

2. I booted into the utility partition, checked EVERYTHING and I got no errors. My problems are Windows related, not hardware.

3. I started in Safe Mode - cmd - chkdsk /r. Prompted to restart, I did it and there you go - " cannot open volume for direct access ". My old problem.

Any other ideas ?

PudgyOne · Answer

leorot,

Restart the computer and slowly tap repeatedly the F8 button. Select the last good known configuration. If that doesn't work, can you try safe mode?

If you can get in the safe mode, start, all programs, accessories, command prompt. Type

chkdsk /r (space between the k and /)

Hit enter. Answer with a Y

Restart the computer.

It should run with no problems.

If it doesn't then run the full diagnostics and report back any error messages. How to Run the Dell™ Diagnostics Utility

Rick

PudgyOne · Answer

leorot,   Maybe this will help from Microsoft   http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823439     Rick

leorot · Answer

Thank you, but that's about sp3. As I said in my opening post, I already have all the updates. My volume is still locked...

leorot · Answer

Thanks a lot guys. The second link worked for me - I have intel 82801FR Sata Raid controller and using that link I made a floppy with raid drivers for my controller. I started my computer booting from XP cd, pressed F6, installed the raid driver for my controller from the floppy I made and then ran the recovery console - dos mode. From there I was finally able to run chkdsk /r. Strange that I only had 2 parameters available for use with chkdsk - /p and /r. I didn't have the /f parameter, I wonder why. Anyway, after I ran chkdsk all my Windows XP yellow warnings dissapeared and I was able to defragment as well. Thanks again and keep up the good work.

theflash1932 · Answer

Good to hear it.  Take care.

Windows General

can't run chkdsk on win xp with intel array

Was this post helpful?