CheckDisk

Probably stupid question, but still learning the basics of WinXP. I have run the Error-checking utility ((My Computer|right click Properties|Tools), which I believe is called CheckDisk, several times. It runs fast enough until Step 5, which is something like "checking free space ". That step alone takes about an hour. Since it is "free space" I wonder why it needs checking. But, in any event, is there some setting where I can skip Step 5 when I want to?
P.S. I have a relatively large hard drive (160GB) and little is presently used.

 

Jim:

I can't answer your free space question, but before you get much farther along with your system, I would suggest you seriously review the creation of multiple partitions on your 160GB.
This will make maintenance easier (scandisk/defrag), backups/restores, data separation, reinstalls, disk (partition) failures, etc

 

Free space has a representation in the volume bitmap (Master File Table) that must be correct.

Try running chkdsk from the Recovery Console. If you have installed the Recovery Console as a boot option (see Help & Support) while connected to the internet, your recovery software was updated by Dynamic Update during the installation process. Chkdsk run from the Recovery Console catches and repairs more errors than XP's native chkdsk. From the RC, run:
chkdsk drive: /p
or, if you have the time, run the more complete:
chkdsk drive: /r.

You can also use this bootable floppy to check your NTFS volumes while XP is not running:

http://users.adelphia.net/~abraxas/dl/CheckNTFS.exe

 

WhitPhil and Abraxas--Not as easy as I had hoped, but your answers are clear and are on my "to do" list when the dust settles.
Thanks.
Abraxas--Any explanation what CheckNTFS does? Is it a substitute for CheckDisk? (My harddrive is set up for NTFS.)

 

CheckNTFS is simply a chkdsk program that mounts NTFS drives so that they can be checked from DOS. I've set up the disk so that the checker autostarts with some brief directions. It's a bit slower than the Recovery Console, but can always be used even when the CD-ROM doesn't boot, so it's a handy additional tool.