Scandisk Hangs

Hi all,

I'm helping my uncle with his computer since he can't get windows to load.

When he tries to boot into windows, he always gets a Microsoft scandisk that usually appears when a computer is not properly shutdown. However, while scanning till 22%, the whole system 'hangs' and cannot proceed to load windows.

He tried booting into Safe Mode but the scandisk dialog appears too. At one time, scandisk reported something related to disk cluster which I can't exactly remember what it is. It did mentioned something related to the cluster digit.

Normally, one can bypass the scandisk by pressing the 'ESC' key or simply exit the scandisk process. However, in his case, this trick didn't work either.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

I would try running scandisk from DOS. On my computer I hit F8 at startup and select Command Prompt. Type in 'scandisk', hit Enter. Allow it to repair any problems it finds and also let it do a surface scan. Mine takes about 2 hours on 30 Gb harddrive. Hope this helps.

shotsi

 

Localhost

Yes boot to DOS as Shotsi directs, but before you run scandisk do the following. This will cleanup some potentially problem files before the scandisk.

Cleanups
While booting hit F8 to startup menu. Chose "command prompt only ".

Type these commands

del c:\*.swp (may get file not found, is ok)
del c:\windows\*.swp
deltree c:\windows\shelli*.*
deltree c:\windows\temp\*.* (answer yes to all) "ALL "
deltree c:\windows\tempor~1\*.*
deltree c:\windows\history\*.*
deltree c:\windows\spool\printers\*.*

After this when you run scandisk use this command line:

scandisk /all /surface /autofix

Be sure to let it run as long as it is progressing even if very slowly possibly could take 3-5 hours.

If it goes to completion when you reboot F8 to safe mode and do a windows scandisk. The reason for this is a windows scandisk is more intelligent and more thourogh.

Let us know

Good luck
Mike

 

Hi mflynn,

Thanks for the list of solutions. However, I've tried all, followed closely to each steps and it still doesn't work.

My uncle encountered this error message (after performing all the cleanups) at 12% of scandisk:

'Scandisk encounter a data error at cluster 9428. Scandisk will try to continue to pass this error.' Hit 'Yes' to continue and he did so.

Soon after, another message came up saying:

'Windows can create an undo disk etc.' My uncle has the option to create the disk or skip it. I told him to skip it and it continue to 24% before it finally hangs again.

I'm not sure what I can do to help now... any solutions would be wonderful

 

I believe you have a bad HD. What brand is the HD. If it is a Western Digital then go to Westerndigital.com and download the Data Lifeguard Tools it will further diag this.

If it is just one bad physical place on the disk then an Fdisk and Format may get rid of it and you probably will not have a problem.

But if there are many bad spots in different areas then the HD is failing and should be replaced.

So check the WD site first!

Mike

 

localhost

I can not say what venders software will do for you.

But It reads to me like that HD needs to have Norton DiskDoctor run on it FROM DOS.

Preferably from a floppy boot up.

I am not sure if a DOS scandisk with surface check will do the job or not. I have not used same. I prefer Norton for the job.

BillyBob

 

mflynn: I'm not sure of the brand of that HD but I'll try to find out. Anyway, thanks for your input. I'll give it a try if the HD happens to be of Westen Digital brand.

BillyBob: Hi, how would it be possible to load norton diskdoctor? Do you mean that I have to create the Norton Diskdoctor rescue disk from my computer and run the disk on his computer?

Also, can I ask, what is the possibility that the HD problem would go off if I perform a full format on the system?

Thanks

 

That is what I tried to tell you. This sounds like a physical surface defect.

If it is just one bad place on the HD. This could happen if someone bumped the computer while it is on. A computer should never be moved while running.

Normally if you have 1-3 bad places on an HD it comes from being bumped. If you have manny spread over the HD then the drive is going bad and needs replacing.

Norton Disk Doctor is worth a try.

If that don't work then both an FDISK and FORMAT is the next step. If that won't do it the HD is gone.

Mike

 

NO ! NO! NO !! do not use the rescue disks. The AV rescue disks are OK ( I BELIEVE ) but not the one that Utilities makes.

If you have Nortion Utilities ( or I believe System Works also ) the Norton DOS utilities are on the CD. They are usually in a folder NU.

Just boot to the startup disk, change to the CDROM/ NU folder and run NDD and set it to do a through surface check.

Any questions. Please ask before doing. And we will gladly help you.

BillyBob

 

Ah, I appreciate the reply.

I'll try the solution that BillyBob suggested before making further evaluation.

Might take some time for me to post the results because I won't know when I'll pass the CD to either my uncle himself or I'll have to personally do it myself.

Will keep you updated ASAP.

Meanwhile, thanks for everything guys

 

Apologies for the late late response and "abandon" post.

I managed to personally work on the mentioned computer recently. The HDD is dead. There were bad sectors and the HDD screams loudly at times.

Nevertheless, I have already replaced it with a new HDD and it's working perfectly fine now.

Thanks for all the kind gesture and help folks