One of your applications is not releasing control of the hard drive to Windows, boot into safe mode and try to run it.

I hve been having the same problem. Have tried about everything and can not get scan-disc or defragment to work.

do a clean boot to use scan disk if everything else fails

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=310353

or  Normally if you hold the Shift key while Windows is loading you can prevent the Startup applications from being launched. So hold down the shift key  while xp boots and then run scan disk

ferris

 Chkdsk Runs Each Time That You Start Your Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316506

A corrupted registry can cause this

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That

Prevents Windows XP from Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307545

At one time I had the same problem with it getting to 10 and restarting over and over. Here is a way if you are using MacAfee Virus scan and or Firewall Plus. Right click on Red M box nest to the clock. Move curser to Virus scan and then at the bottom disable. Do the same with Firewall Plus. The M Box will probably turn black due to disables. Go ahead and try the disc cleanup. Good Luck.DON'T FORGET TO GO BACK TO M BOX-VIRUS SCAN AND CLICK ENABLE ALSO ON FIREWALL PLUS. The box should return to Red. The same thing worked for me on Defrag.

ferriswheel: Did you find anything that worked??????

Yes, i have been having the same problem with my computer. It will not allow me to run scadisk because another program running in the background has exclusive rights to that program so it asks me if i want to schedule scandisk to run when windows restarts. I select yes and go to restart my computer. My computer restarts and it goes through the dell screen, the slight dos prompt screen, the xp loading screen then it goes to run scandisk... at around 25-29% scandisk kicks off blue screen for 2 seconds describing problem then computer restarts saying there was a keyboard failure. The process is repetitive and it will not allow me to cancel the scandisk because i have no access to the keyboard. The only way I have found to fix this is unplug the mouse and the keyboard then the power and hold down the power button for 10-15 seconds, plug the keyboard, mouse and power back in and turn on the computer. As soon as u see the windows xp loading screen hold down the escape key the scandisk will come up and should cancel if you continue holding down the esc kee. The only reason i can think this is happening is that my keyboard is a USB keyboard and the USB devices are PnP and load with windows that would be the only way i could explain the brief loss of power to the keyboard when you need it most. If anyone has any suggestions or problem solving techniques i would love to hear them because this has had me baffled for the longest time.

Thanks,

-|3 R | /-\ (\)

Message Edited by Jcrew7782 on 11-07-2003 01:29 PM

Well folks, I was supposed to get an email when a reply was generated but it never happened.  Suffice to say that I was very surprised today to check the site and find SEVEN replies.  So please accept my apology and I promise to check more often.

No, I have not solved the problem yet and yes, it still won't run Scandisk even in safe mode.  I'll be trying some of the tips offered here thus far and will post any results.

Once again, thank you for everyones help.  Note that I have suspected a registry problem but that is an area that I hesitate to enter for fear of really screwing up everything.

I'll let y'all know soon.

 

Okay, I'm back.  Scandisk still does not complete even with the XP firewall turned off AND in safe mode.  So that did not solve the problem.  This only futher convinces me that I have a registry corruption of some kind. 

The links provided were informative but not really helpful other than ruling out possibilities.  One link was in regard to Scandisk running never ending upon start-up, which I can control by canceling the command.  I understand that.  That link, however, did not really deal with the root of the problem, except with perhaps another link in regard to corrupted registries.

Moving on, and exploring the registry link, I find warning of frightening nature.  Sort of like reading the possible side effects on a prescription medicine.  It's like "Take for headaches, may cause internal bleeding".  Oh yeah, I think I will pass. 

I've decided to purchase a registry repairer and am currently trying to figure out which is the most effective AND user friendly.  I'll let y'all know how that goes.

Thanx for everything and everyone.

ferriswheel

Dell 4100, 1000 mhz, 512 meg sdram, 40 gig HD, ATI 7500 All In Wonder, 19" Sony CRT monitor...

 

 

 

 

 

 

hei ferriswheel,

you can try " registry mechanic" for as low as usd 19,95 to buy, very easy to use. http://www.winguides.com

or you can lease " pcdoctoroncall2 "  for 7 days ( usd 29,95 ) or 365 days ( usd 119,95 ) also easy to use: http://www.pcdoctoroncall2.com

good luck

gaggen