Thinkpads Forum

I made this thread a while ago, and the reason I'm creating a new one rather than posting in that one is I'm realizing there's something weirder than just a Diskeeper problem going on. Basically, I still get that "Operation failed to start" error in Diskeeper, but what's bothering me now is this: when I try to run chkdsk /f, it tells me this: "chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process." It then offers to run on next restart, which I said yes to, but I think it might have just done the chkdsk part and not the /f part, because it didn't change anything. Anyway, is there some way I can learn which process is causing this behavior? Something is clearly hindering access to my disk.

(I wasn't sure whether to put this here or in the Windows OS section. Sorry if it's wrong.)

I don't believe the two issues are related. You will always get that chkdsk error msg when you run chkdsk with the /f (fix) option on the system volume ( c: ). If you run chkdsk without the /f it will run ok.

What OS are you running??

Note also that the Diskeeper service, dkservice.exe, must be started for diskeeper to operate.

I am running Windows XP. Running CHKDSK on restart doesn't seem to fix anything. I tried to do a new install of Windows, and it wouldn't work - the first time, it got nowhere and it gave me an error message that there was a problem and I needed to check my hard drive for corruption. I tried again, and it got past that point, to the part where I tell Windows Setup which partition to install on, but it failed to list any, saying it couldn't find them. I pressed "enter" with no partition selected and got another restart-forcing error message. I tried running Windows Setup in Repair Mode, ran the command "CHKDSK," and it told me simply and quickly (and without seeming to scan anything at all) "the volume appear to have several unrecoverable errors" (not verbatim, but close enough).

I gave up and rebooted with the Windows I already have installed, which worked, but now I am missing 3 GB of free space from my hard drive. Windows Setup obviously stored some files somewhere, but I can't even figure out where!

This is frustrating because, not only is something obviously wrong with my fairly new hard drive, but I can't even figure out what the dang heck it is. Any suggestions will come highly appreciated. Is there some utility other than chkdsk I can use, since it doesn't seem to be doing anything?

Hmmm, sound familiar.....

Can try 2 things
a) Uninstall Diskeeper

If that don't work
b) From START,
right click MY COMPUTER,
left click on Manage (4th from the top),
then select Disk Management (2nd from the bottom),
right click your C Drive
select properties
Click Error Checking
Select the 2 options then press start

If still don't work, then launch C prompt (start->all programs->accessories->command prompt

type help chkdsk for the options

I think it should be chkdsk c: /f /x

If still can't work, restart PC, press F8 after message "....blue button...."disapper, select launch into MSDOS, then type chkdsk c: /f /x

Whoah, what the heck? I am at the point in your (helpful) instructions where I am about to try chkdsk /x, but when I was in disk management, I noticed a 5.25 GB partition on my hard drive that I hadn't known about? It's called SERVICEV001 and it won't let me access it or anything (none of the options that are there when I right click C Drive are there when I rightclick SERVICEV001, there's just "Help.") Anyone know what that's all about? Did Windows Setup put that there when I was trying to reinstall XP (that would explain why I can't find what's taking up space on my hard drive).

Anyway, once that gets figured out I'll try chkdsk /x on C drive.

thatcrazycommie wrote:snip............It's called SERVICEV001 and it won't let me access it or anything (none of the options that are there when I right click C Drive are there when I rightclick SERVICEV001, there's just "Help.") Anyone know what that's all about? Did Windows Setup put that there when I was trying to reinstall XP (that would explain why I can't find what's taking up space on my hard drive)..........snip

1. That's the hidden service partition:

Purpose of the non-DOS service partition on the hard drive.

2. Regarding HDD space, please refer to: why my available HDD under Vista is decreasing, it will work under Windows XP oem installation too.

3. If you were trying to reinstall Windows XP retail on factory preload then I think that's the root problem of what's causing the Defrag. programs not to run. You can try going back to factory state (after backing up your important data), to see whether the problem persists or not.

thatcrazycommie wrote:Whoah, what the heck? I am at the point in your (helpful) instructions where I am about to try chkdsk /x, but when I was in disk management, I noticed a 5.25 GB partition on my hard drive that I hadn't known about? It's called SERVICEV001 and it won't let me access it or anything (none of the options that are there when I right click C Drive are there when I rightclick SERVICEV001, there's just "Help.") Anyone know what that's all about? Did Windows Setup put that there when I was trying to reinstall XP (that would explain why I can't find what's taking up space on my hard drive).

Anyway, once that gets figured out I'll try chkdsk /x on C drive.

Lol, you never pressed the Blue button before?

DON'T Format that hidden partition, leave it alone.

By the missing space, I meant that suddenly, after my failed attempt to reinstall Windows XP from CD, there was a few GB missing. I know that the Windows Setup had something to do with it, because now whenever I reboot it asks me if I want to run Windows XP or Windows XP setup (even though the CD is not in). I know that RnR and System Restore use up space, but I meant that specifically Windows Setup did something when I tried unsuccessfully to use it.

In any case, I've backed up my files and I'm going to try restoring it to factory defaults. If I do this and still cannot defrag then I will know something is very wrong with the hard drive.

Try this for a lean mean thinkpad machine

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=

Restoring it to factory settings fixed it, and I was able to back up all my music and videos, so it was fine. I still have no idea what was wrong, though. It was so strange.