Scandisk gone mad??

Ok unsubscribing this one.

Outta here.

mike

 

md2lgyk:

Have you run a full surface scan to check for bad sectors?

Have you attempted to access the files within any of these folders that are reported as damaged, to see if they can actually be reached?

Are any of the damaged folders, ones that you can delete?

 

Yes, i ran scandisk from DOS, including a full surface scan. It found no errors. I have tried several of the folders shown as being damaged, and I can access them all. The BKUPDLLS folders was empty so I deleted it.

 

I also tried this morning to run scandskw.exe from safe mode, but now there's new issue - my computer won't go into safe mode! I tried first by using the System Configuration Utility and checking Enable Startup Menu, and the computer still booted the same as it always does. I never saw a startup menu. I also tried rebooting while holding down the Ctrl key. The only difference there was my startup folder programs didn't start. Other than that the computer booted as usual.

 

I going to try one more time here.

Yesterday I gave you the steps for a deep cleanup thru dos. Then asked a couple of times about it without answer. You later stated it didn't matter as it seemed to cause no problem.

If you are ready to do these steps I will show you how to enter safe mode from dos.

So here goes follow the steps to the point where it say boot to safe mode.

At this point type

Cd\windows
Hit enter

Then type

Win /d:m

This should force safe mode to start unless you have other config problems.

Then finish the scan and defrag.

Mike

 

I have done all the things you suggested earlier for deep clean. However, when I try to boot into safe mode using Win /d:m it doesn't work. The computer boots normally.

 

Ok first try to scandisk again since all these cleanups.

If it still fails do this

start run

msconfig

put dot in selective startup amd uncheck all items.

save exit

reboot

F8 to boot menu

choose safe mode

see if this works now, if not try the scandisk from here anyway


Mike

 

If the above don't do it then you definately have another gremlin causing this, so now to try something new.

Additionally it could also be doing something you have not triped over yet. Another reason to fix it even tho nothing seems effected now.

F8 command prompt only

type

scanreg /fix

wait till finished

then type

scanreg /opt

reboot to full

Download install and run the following

RegCleaner <http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/shtml/regcleaner.shtml>
Look in first 2 cols for programs you thought you uninstalled or removed, these are the dregs left by the uninstaller. Also tag and remove any that you are POSITIVE are not supposed to be on your computer. After removing these go to the top Tools-Registry Cleanup-Do them all. Delete all it finds.

EasyClean1.7 <http://gswi.com/downloads.htm>
Run only unnecessary files and registry clean delete all it finds. If you have ME or XP in the "Unnessesary Files" type the word HELP in the skip box. Do not do Duplicate files!

Post results.

While trying to fix scandisk all these steps will only help in general to improve speed and stability so are not a waste of time even if they don't fix scandisk. But we will find the problem if you will do the steps.

If you do not use SpyBot already the get and use it also.

SpyBot http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download
Run this twice delete all it finds, "ALWAYS" run this before AdAware.

Leave all it wants to leave after the second run.


Mike

 

Mike,

Not to step over/on/etc you, but the statement "I have done all the things you suggested earlier for deep clean. However, when I try to boot into safe mode using Win /d:m it doesn't work. The computer boots normally" sounds strange!!

md2lgyk
Are you booting to DOS?
Or doing a Shutdown > Restart to DOS

before you enter the Win /D:M Command???

If you are, the only way that I can think that this may happen, is if you have a file called Win.bat which runs as a result, and in turn, it has a Win command in it?

 

Oh no, Whit thanks for stepping in.

Yeah I realize it is strange, hence my last message referring to another Gremlin!

Now you may have something there. I have told him as clearly as I could to F8 to dos. He never indicated the he was not doing so, but was in fact shutting down to DOS thru windows.

He in fact told me he did what I directed. And you are exactly right, the windows stub would still be there and he could not boot safe mode.

So how bout it, MD???????????

Thanks agin Whit because I just didn't consider it.

EDIT: good idea also on the win.bat. MD search for a win.bat and if found rename it to win.bak.

Mike

 

I guess I'm not understanding what is meant by "booting to DOS." I have been selecting Start/Shutdown/Restart in DOS Mode. If I try to boot while holding the F8 key, the computer stalls and does nothing until I release the key.

I already have RegCleaner, EasyClean, and SpyBot, as well as Ad-aware, and run them all every week or so. Other than SpyBot finding usage tracks and cache entries, most of them don't ever find anything.

I do not have a win.bat file.

Running scandskw.exe still shows all the errors as before.

 

Ok! You have been doing the DOS cleanup and the safemode all wrong.

Whit you da man!

Print only this post for directions while in DOS. It repeats all that you need to do from all other posts.

Do exactly this, skip no steps and do in the order presented.

Start-Shutdown.

Computer is off!

Turn on.

At the first sign of anything on the screen begin to tap the F8 function key on the top row.

Do not hold down, tap continually about every 2 swconds untill you get a black and white "Boot menu ".

Choose command prompt only.

This true pure DOS.


These are for 95 98 only!

Type these commands exactly hit enter at the end (do not type the notes that are in parenthesis like this).

del c:\*.swp (may get file not found, is ok)

del c:\windows\*.swp

deltree /y c:\windows\shelli*.*

deltree /y c:\windows\temp\*.*

deltree /y c:\windows\tempor~1\*.*

deltree /y c:\windows\tempor~1\*.*

deltree /y c:\windows\history\*.*

deltree /y c:\windows\spool\printers\*.*

deltree /y c:\windows\taskmon.exe

deltree /y c:\windows\applog
____________________________________________
Then do this
type

scanreg /fix

wait till finished

then type

scanreg /opt

____________________________________________
Then boot to safe mode and do the following

Boot to safe mode by doing this

Type

Cd\windows

Then

win /d:m

Should get you in safe mode now

Configure CleanMgr to max settings
Go to Start-Run and type

cleanmgr /sageset:1
The above need only be ran once (these settings will be remembered as the default until another sageset is ran).

It will present a menu select all except compress, then

Go to Start-Run and type

cleanmgr /sagerun:1
As long as /sageset above has been ran on this computer from now on the /sagerun is the only thing that needs to run.

NOW do the scan and defrag WHILE IN SAFE MODE!

Report back.

Mike

 

OK, I think I understand now. I really appreciate all the help - I'm sure you're exasperated with me by now.

I will follow your instructions to the letter and report back. I'm in the process of moving to a new house so it may be a couple of days.

 

Well, no joy yet. Intent on following the instructions to the letter, I shut off the computer. I turned it back on and began tapping the F8 key as soon as something appeared on the screen. Well, no Boot Menu ever appeared! The computer booted to Windows the same as always. I tried this several times, even varying the interval between taps of the key.

I also tried the instructions on my other computer, which is set up the same except it has Win 98SE. Same results - no Boot Menu and it booted to Windows the same as always. What am I missing here?????

 

OK another way is to hold down the CTRL key untill you get the menu.

Or boot from the Windows install floppy. Cancel setup.

Then

type
c:

then
cd\

then do all the steps as directed, including the win /d:m


Mike

 

As I noted early on in this thread, holding down the Ctrl key has no effect - the pc boots normally (except the programs in my Start folder don't start). Same behavior on the other pc with 98SE.

I'll have to root around and see if I even have a Windows installation disk. The pc (both of them) came with Windows pre-installed so I don't know if I ever got one.

 

Try also

Start > Run > MSCONFIG > Advanced button and select "Enable Start Menu "

Then Shutdown > Restart

 

This was also suggested (and tried) earlier in this thread. It does not work - the computer boots normally.

 

Geeze

Go to BootDisk.com and download a windows 98 boot floppy

Here: http://koti.mbnet.fi/~nibz/bootdisks/boot98se.exe

After you get this put a floppy in the drive and execute the Boot98se program it will make a boot floppy.

Then leave that disk in the drive and restart. It will ask a couple of questions, choose cd rom support. When you end up at a command prompt;

type
c:
then
cd\

then begin the steps.

Mike

Odds say BIOS is set to not boot to a: ,hee hee!

 

OK, I'll give that a try.

Just a wild shot in the dark, but this morning I found purely by accident that the date on the pc was set wrong (March, 2003). I think one of my grandkids was messing with it a week or so ago. Could that have any effect on all the errors scandisk is finding? I reset the date but haven't had a chance to run it again.