Scan Disk in Safe Mode

Hello,
My good friend is running a Dell computer, Windows ME.
She has in the past tried to ScanDisk and Disk Defrag in normal mode and even after shutting down all her programs, stopping her screen saver, she couldn't complete the task because of the error message that windows tried ten times to scan but could not because something was running.

So since we couldn't figure it out, I instructed her how to get into the Safe Mode and run the Scan Disk from there since nothing extra will be running on the system.

Well, it didn't work, here is what she wrote to me yesterday,

"When I was running that scan, in the safe mode, it stopped about halfway done, and this window came up, saying that it tried ten times to scan but could not because something was running.
Very bizarre, because its the same window that use to come up BEFORE I use to scan NOT in the safe mode. Now the same window comes up in the Safe mode. Jean, how can anything be running while in the safe mode? "

I'm at a loss as to what to suggest now. Any help will be appreciated.

Jean

 

THe possibility that she has a virus or worm or spyware which runs even in safe mode comes to mind.

There are other possibilities, but this should be ruled out first.

Please download
Mcafee stinger multivirus removal tool
Install and run

Spybot search and destroy
Ad aware personal form Lavasoft
Install, update,run, check for problems , fix problems.
A Squared trojan remover
Download, install, update, scan and fix.

Codestuf starter startup manager and process viewer
(Starter lets you see what is running as well as control startup items)

 

Hello Jean,

One process that may be trying to run in safe mode is the Screen Saver.

Regards - Charles

 

Hi Everyone,

The reason I haven't answered anyone about this problem is because I have not been over to my friend's house to work on the problem.

But to answer a few questions, I'm in great doubt that she has a virus or spyware because she is faithful about running all her programs that check the probems, Norton AntiVirus, Ad-Aware, SpyBot. I don't know about a Trojan Horse though, we will have to download and run the program that oshwyn5 suggested.

I will also tell her to turn off her screen saver before she tries again although I don't think she has a screen saver running.

I will report back after I visit her and check things out again.

Thanks for your help.

Jean

 

See if something here helps.

Err Msg: ScanDisk Has Restarted 10 Times Because Windows...

Troubleshooting Scandisk problems

Knowledge Base Links / Commands & Utilities / SCANDISK & CHKDSK

 

Sorry I haven't posted the results but today is the first time I was able to get over to my friend's house. I put her computer is safe mode today and it scanned without any stoppage. I'm not quite sure what happened but we didn't get any error messages.

Thanks for all your help. I'll keep the notes just in case we need them in the future.

Jean