Windows Vista Problems checking disk errors

When I try to check my external drive for errors using the Vista Error-checking tool I get the following message:
"Windows cannot check the disk while it is in use. Do you want to check for hard disk errors the next time you start your computer? "
I click "Schedule disk check ".
Previous advise informed me that this should start a disk check the next time I start my computer. However when I Restart my computer the disk check is not initiated.

Vista refused to back-up using this drive because it has detected a disk error. It is a 500G My Book drive which works well in every other respect and is about 50% full.

 

I don't use Vista but if this was XP I'd try starting in safe mode and running the disk check then.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. Am currently backing up on another drive but will give it a go later tonight and let you know. Happy 2009 from Oz we are 30 mins away. You guys should be getting into the Oban fairly shortly.

 

The check worked in safe mode. But Vista backup still does not like drive. I'm currently using SyncBack to do the job without a problem. So much for Vista. Thanks for your help.

 

Thanks for the feedback Glenina.