Member Avatar for Frank Wallis

One of my cousins computer(Running WinXP SP2) is having problems.

When I booted his computer, it was running a scan(which is run when computer is not shutdown properly). It was verifying and checking the files and the folders within the C drive and FAT32 partition. But it was showing many cross links and then it hanged there. Maybe the computer might be too slow that it seemed to hang.

When I restarted the computer and tried to boot into safe mode, but it restarted again and then I cancelled the scan process which appeared again on the screen .
The computer reached the desktop screen but it was too slow.
I tried to run the "CHKDSK /F" command in the run field but it said that it cannot run it because certain programs were being used in
this partition . I left the computer as it is ,and my cousin said that this problem occured after he tried to install the driver of the modem.

But I checked the modem driver in device manager ,although it was not installed but it didnot had any problem.

I wanted to know that could it be a partition(C drive) problem?
Or could it be a registry problem?

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described an XP SP2 machine that runs the pre-boot disk verification, reports many "cross-linked" files, then stalls; it reaches the desktop but is very slow. First priority is to protect data. Before running any repairs that write to the disk, boot a rescue environment (Linux live USB, WinPE, or a rescue disc) and copy irreplaceable files to an external drive or another system, or take a full image of the disk. Imaging first preserves recovery options if the media is failing.

Next, treat this like a possible hardware/volume problem rather than a driver conflict. A S.M.A.R.T. report and the drive maker’s extended diagnostic will quickly show physical issues (pending/reallocated sectors, failed tests). If those tests flag errors, replace the disk and restore from backup. If hardware looks healthy, run an offline filesystem repair from outside the running OS so the utility can fix on-disk structures while the partition is not in use — this avoids the “cannot run because files are in use” situation.

About the modem driver: it’s unlikely a driver install would create many cross-linked files; that symptom points to filesystem corruption from an unclean shutdown or failing media. was correct to suggest using a recovery environment for the offline repair, and ’s repair-install idea is reasonable only after data is secured and the disk passes diagnostics. Also check power/data cables and run a memory test if corruption persists.

Quick checklist: back up or image now; run S.M.A.R.T./vendor diagnostics; run offline filesystem repair; replace the drive if tests fail; then consider repair-install or fresh install. Microsoft’s documentation on the disk-repair utility and smartmontools are useful references: chkdsk and smartmontools.

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Member Avatar for caperjack

the scan its trying to run on bootup is chkdsk

try booting to a winxp cd and go R for recovery and rung the chkdsk /f command there !

Member Avatar for cguan_77

try to do a repair installation of win xp

Member Avatar for Frank Wallis

the scan its trying to run on bootup is chkdsk

try booting to a winxp cd and go R for recovery and rung the chkdsk /f command there !

I think Recovery console would be the best option since it will not take time like reinstallation.

I am forgeting one thing, please correct me If I am wrong, does recovery console takes the screen to a command prompt?

Regards,

Member Avatar for caperjack


I am forgeting one thing, please correct me If I am wrong, does recovery console takes the screen to a command prompt?

Regards,

yes and if you type in help you will get a list of commands !

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