Chkdsk Hangs every time. Disk reports OK?

Hi All,

On Vista Home Premium, I've set Chkdsk to run but each time it hangs
about three quarters of the way through step 5, at the same cluster
each time. I've run the harddisk tests (SMART, surface scan etc) from
the computer recovery console and it passes every test OK.

If this a physical problem with the drive or a file system one? If
it's the latter why can't Chkdsk fix it? It's a new computer should I
go through the hassle of returning it to the manufacturer?

Thanks a lot,
Adam

P.S. History: it's a brand new Lenovo laptop. When I first switched it
on, it gave me that "Vista didn't shut down properly last time"
screen, but apart from that everything seemed OK until I got most of
the way through all the security updates, cleaning up all the bundled
software etc and Windows Update blankly refused to install SP1. I
tried a system restore and that told me there was a disk error and to
run Chkdsk. Chkdsk refused to run (something about the drive being
locked) and in the end I did a factory reset. This is OK in that now
all the updates have installed and there are no more errors, but I
wanted to double check the disk, so invoked Chkdsk and... see above.

On 7 Jun, 09:28, Adam <n...@snowstone.org.uk> wrote:

> On Vista Home Premium, I've set Chkdsk to run but each time it hangs
> about three quarters of the way through step 5, at the same cluster
> each time. I've run the harddisk tests (SMART, surface scan etc) from
> the computer recovery console and it passes every test OK.
>
> If this a physical problem with the drive or a file system one? If
> it's the latter why can't Chkdsk fix it?

I've also tried downloading the Western Digital hard disc diagnostics,
but they're not available for use with Vista (

Adam

Adam wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> On Vista Home Premium, I've set Chkdsk to run but each time it hangs
> about three quarters of the way through step 5, at the same cluster
> each time. I've run the harddisk tests (SMART, surface scan etc) from
> the computer recovery console and it passes every test OK.
>
> If this a physical problem with the drive or a file system one? If
> it's the latter why can't Chkdsk fix it? It's a new computer should I
> go through the hassle of returning it to the manufacturer?
>
> Thanks a lot,
> Adam
>
> P.S. History: it's a brand new Lenovo laptop. When I first switched it
> on, it gave me that "Vista didn't shut down properly last time"
> screen, but apart from that everything seemed OK until I got most of
> the way through all the security updates, cleaning up all the bundled
> software etc and Windows Update blankly refused to install SP1. I
> tried a system restore and that told me there was a disk error and to
> run Chkdsk. Chkdsk refused to run (something about the drive being
> locked) and in the end I did a factory reset. This is OK in that now
> all the updates have installed and there are no more errors, but I
> wanted to double check the disk, so invoked Chkdsk and... see above.

"Brand new Lenovo laptop" + problems right out of the box = call Lenovo tech
support immediately for repair/replacement.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

On Jun 7, 4:28*am, Adam <n...@snowstone.org.uk> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> On Vista Home Premium, I've set Chkdsk to run but each time it hangs
> about three quarters of the way through step 5, at the same cluster
> each time. I've run the harddisk tests (SMART, surface scan etc) from
> the computer recovery console and it passes every test OK.
>
> If this a physical problem with the drive or a file system one? If
> it's the latter why can't Chkdsk fix it? It's a new computer should I
> go through the hassle of returning it to the manufacturer?
>
> Thanks a lot,
> Adam
>
> P.S. History: it's a brand new Lenovo laptop. When I first switched it
> on, it gave me that "Vista didn't shut down properly last time"
> screen, but apart from that everything seemed OK until I got most of
> the way through all the security updates, cleaning up all the bundled
> software etc and Windows Update blankly refused to install SP1. I
> tried a system restore and that told me there was a disk error and to
> run Chkdsk. Chkdsk refused to run (something about the drive being
> locked) and in the end I did a factory reset. This is OK in that now
> all the updates have installed and there are no more errors, but I
> wanted to double check the disk, so invoked Chkdsk and... see above.


Stage 5 is verifying freespace. You may have a lot of freespace and
chkdsk may appear to freeze yet still be working. Is the hard drive
light blinking, or does it stop? If chkdsk will continue to fix
problems, but sometimes if it finds too many, it needs to start over
and will loop. I've seen chkdsk run all day and all night in some
cases. If there doesn't appear to be any hard drive activity, then I
would be concerned -- although, it can pause for several minutes while
it maxes the cpu and memory with no apparent hard drive activity.

One could remove the drive and run chkdsk with the drive as a slave to
another, or one could download additional drive verification utilities
from the drive manufacturer; but, since it is under warranty I'd call
tech support and complain. Let them figure it out or ship you a new
drive or a new laptop.

I wouldn't fret about SP1 not installing. As you've probably learned,
there are lots of reasons that SP1 doesn't install; certain hardware,
drivers, OEM utilities or other software incompatibilities will
prevent SP1 from automatically downloading and installing. As those
problems are resolved, you will receive updates through Windows Update
and eventually SP1 too.

-solon fox

On 7 Jun, 13:05, Malke <ma...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> Adam wrote:
> > Hi All,
>
> > On Vista Home Premium, I've set Chkdsk to run but each time it hangs
> > about three quarters of the way through step 5, at the same cluster
> > each time. I've run the harddisk tests (SMART, surface scan etc) from
> > the computer recovery console and it passes every test OK.
>
> > If this a physical problem with the drive or a file system one? If
> > it's the latter why can't Chkdsk fix it? It's a new computer should I
> > go through the hassle of returning it to the manufacturer?
>
> > Thanks a lot,
> > Adam
>
> > P.S. History: it's a brand new Lenovo laptop. When I first switched it
> > on, it gave me that "Vista didn't shut down properly last time"
> > screen, but apart from that everything seemed OK until I got most of
> > the way through all the security updates, cleaning up all the bundled
> > software etc and Windows Update blankly refused to install SP1. I
> > tried a system restore and that told me there was a disk error and to
> > run Chkdsk. Chkdsk refused to run (something about the drive being
> > locked) and in the end I did a factory reset. This is OK in that now
> > all the updates have installed and there are no more errors, but I
> > wanted to double check the disk, so invoked Chkdsk and... see above.
>
> "Brand new Lenovo laptop" + problems right out of the box = call Lenovo tech
> support immediately for repair/replacement.

Yes. The trouble is... I've already done that. This laptop is a new
(different model) replacement for another broken (different problem)
Lenovo

It was a real hassle trying to convince them there was anything wrong
with that one - and the symptoms were *way* more serious (it wouldn't
turn on!). I don't have much faith in tech support either finding any
problem or solving it

Thanks,
Adam

On 7 Jun, 13:17, solon fox <solon...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jun 7, 4:28*am, Adam <n...@snowstone.org.uk> wrote:

> > On Vista Home Premium, I've set Chkdsk to run but each time it hangs
> > about three quarters of the way through step 5, at the same cluster
> > each time. I've run the harddisk tests (SMART, surface scan etc) from
> > the computer recovery console and it passes every test OK.
>
> > If this a physical problem with the drive or a file system one? If
> > it's the latter why can't Chkdsk fix it? It's a new computer should I
> > go through the hassle of returning it to the manufacturer?
>
> Stage 5 is verifying freespace. You may have a lot of freespace and
> chkdsk may appear to freeze yet still be working. Is the hard drive
> light blinking, or does it stop?

Yes, the light stops. I left it in that state over night and nothing
changed, so it seems pretty likely that chkdsk crashed.

[snip]
> another, or one could download additional drive verification utilities
> from the drive manufacturer;

Unfortunately Western Digital don't support Vista with their
diagnostic tools
I tried the DOS-based ISO image but that seems to think it's running
from a floppy and keeps referring to not being able to find files on
A:.

I seem to be at a dead end

Adam

On Sat, 7 Jun 2008 07:59:04 -0700 (PDT), Adam <>
wrote:

>On 7 Jun, 13:05, Malke <ma...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>> Adam wrote:
>> > Hi All,
>>
>> > On Vista Home Premium, I've set Chkdsk to run but each time it hangs
>> > about three quarters of the way through step 5, at the same cluster
>> > each time. I've run the harddisk tests (SMART, surface scan etc) from
>> > the computer recovery console and it passes every test OK.

It sounds like you set the option to force Chkdsk to scan the surface
of each sector. Have you first tried the much faster and simpler
option of simply "fixing errors" without checking the surface of every
sector?

I suspect some clusters are simply cross-linked. NTFS should normally
fix these easily at the expense of losing whatever is in these
clusters. Chkdsk can actually out smart itself and hang at the same
place each time where if set to the simpler option simply fly through
the drive and actually fix it. If something is truly wrong with one or
more clusters those are useless at this point anyway.

On 7 Jun, 16:14, Adam Albright <A...@ABC.net> wrote:
> On Sat, 7 Jun 2008 07:59:04 -0700 (PDT), Adam <n...@snowstone.org.uk>
> wrote:
>
> >On 7 Jun, 13:05, Malke <ma...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> >> Adam wrote:
> >> > Hi All,
>
> >> > On Vista Home Premium, I've set Chkdsk to run but each time it hangs
> >> > about three quarters of the way through step 5, at the same cluster
> >> > each time. I've run the harddisk tests (SMART, surface scan etc) from
> >> > the computer recovery console and it passes every test OK.
>
> It sounds like you set the option to force Chkdsk to scan the surface
> of each sector. Have you first tried the much faster and simpler
> option of simply "fixing errors" without checking the surface of every
> sector?

Yes, that runs through fine.


> I suspect some clusters are simply cross-linked. NTFS should normally
> fix these easily at the expense of losing whatever is in these
> clusters. Chkdsk can actually out smart itself and hang at the same
> place each time where if set to the simpler option simply fly through
> the drive and actually fix it.

Do you mean if I do the short chkdsk, then a following long chkdsk
might work all the way through?

I'm hoping that my problem is a quirk with chkdsk rather than
something wrong with my disc!

Thanks,
Adam

"Adam" <> wrote in message
news:d7947328-a09c-4497-a9fb-...

Unfortunately Western Digital don't support Vista with their
diagnostic tools
I tried the DOS-based ISO image but that seems to think it's running
from a floppy and keeps referring to not being able to find files on
A:.

I seem to be at a dead end

__________________________________________________ __

There must be a way to use the WD diagnostics without a floppy drive, as I
had to use it when one of my Raptors was showing a SMART error. I must have
used the CD image, as I do not have a floppy drive on my main desktop PC,
and it was before I bought a USB floppy drive. I /may/ have used the UBCD,
but I doubt it. It may be worth you trying it though.

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

ss.

On 7 Jun, 19:45, "Synapse Syndrome" <syna...@NOSPAMsyndrome.me.uk>
wrote:
> "Adam" <n...@snowstone.org.uk> wrote in message
>
> news:d7947328-a09c-4497-a9fb-...
>
> Unfortunately Western Digital don't support Vista with their
> diagnostic tools
> I tried the DOS-based ISO image but that seems to think it's running
> from a floppy and keeps referring to not being able to find files on
> A:.
>
> I seem to be at a dead end
>
> __________________________________________________ __
>
> There must be a way to use the WD diagnostics without a floppy drive,

Well, if there is, I haven't worked out how! I've asked WD tech
support though...

> as I
> had to use it when one of my Raptors was showing a SMART error. *I must have
> used the CD image, as I do not have a floppy drive on my main desktop PC,
> and it was before I bought a USB floppy drive. *I /may/ have used the UBCD,
> but I doubt it. *It may be worth you trying it though.
>
> http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

Great, thanks for that. Although none of the three WD apps on that CD
worked (one caused a kernel panic, one just hangs half way through the
licence screen and the last one can't find a disc to check), I finally
got ViVard working and did a complete check of the disc surface
without any problems showing up

Cheers,
Adam