Is there a good program to perform Checkdisk on XP and keep logs?

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by google88, Dec 15, 2009.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. google88

    google88 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Posts:
    135
    Hi

    My computer occasionally freezes

    So i have to turn it off at the switch :(

    After this i sometimes run a disk check by right clicking the drives
    and selecting properties tools check now and tick both boxes.

    then there is some sort of a log if i right click my computer and search for something (I've written i down somewhere)

    and sometimes these checks need the PC to restart

    Its a bit of a mine field

    My question

    Is there a program that consolidates
    Disk checking
    keeping a log of the fixed things


    Are there risks to checkdisk
    and are there risk to the 2 tick boxes (what do they do?)


    should i run this sort of thing regularly?
    whats the risk if i don't?

    I run a Macrium reflect Backup daily
    (love the program)

    this has spotted disk problems in the past so its kind of an early warning

    But I just want things running ship shape.

    is there a program that runs disk checks and keeps logs?
     
  2. Get

    Get Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2009
    Posts:
    384
    Location:
    the Netherlands

    Do you mean this: My Computer > manage > event viewer > application > winlogon (source)?

    Maybe this is what you're looking for: never used it myself, so use at your own risk or wait for someone to comment on it who maybe used it. : http://www.freewarebb.com/CheckDisk-file2050.html
     
  3. google88

    google88 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Posts:
    135
    thanks for the info

    it looks good , defo what I'm looking for

    -
    has anyone got good or bad experiences of this sort of thing?

    or any suggestions of other software
     
  4. google88

    google88 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Posts:
    135
    i translated the german manual into english (using good old google translate)


    -------------

    Manual available at this time in German only.
    Instructions for CheckDisk.
    What is CheckDisk? It checks the disk (s) for errors and fix them, only one
    Windows PE version.
    It is this use the Windows API function.
    The following options are available:
    Standard corresponds to the normal chkdsk
    Full scan: Enhanced chkdsk it is reviewed here and the free space
    Check if dirty: Checks whether the dirty flag is set.
    Correct Errors: Only from a Windows PE. Corrects any errors.
    Verbose: Prints more information.
    This program is © 2007 by Dirk Paehl
    http://www.paehl.de

    ---------
    I'm using PC XP

    what s API?

    what s check if dirty?

    what kind of scans should i do?
     
  5. Raza0007

    Raza0007 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2009
    Posts:
    1,680
    Location:
    USA
    google88,

    If you are looking for a utility that can perform chkdsk run on a system partition or a locked partition online, then you will not find any.

    Windows XP, Vista, 7 do not allow chkdsk type utilities to run online. You can only perform chkdsk on such partitions at boottime.

    I have found the built-in chkdsk utility to be the best for solving OS and system inconsistency. Most 3rd party utilities use the built-in windows chkdsk under the hood too.

    If you are interested in logs, then chkdsk saves logs of each run and these logs can be accessed easily. Location of log files is different for each OS. You can google to find out the location for winxp.

    Chkdsk has two options:
    "Automatically fix file system errors" only checks the file system, MFT etc. If you are experiencing OS related problems you should run this often. Once a week is recommended. It is quick and on my system takes less than 2 minutes to run.

    "Scan for and attempted recovery of bad sectors" checks the physical surface of the entire partition for bad sectors. If bad sectors are found it then marks them so that new data should not be stored in them. It is not necessary to run this option all the time. I would recommend to use this only once every 2 months or so. This scan takes a long time depending on the size of your partition.

    Also, if you are experiencing severe operating system related problems, chkdsk will not be able to solve it. The best course in this case is to save all your important data, do a system wide format, reinstall windows and start fresh.

    I hope this helps.
     
  6. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2007
    Posts:
    2,201
    google88,

    This may not be an issue that the 'chkdsk' command can fix ?

    Do you use Windows XP ?
    I'm still using SP2, and I don't know if it's different with SP3, but on Windows XP 'chkdsk' does not (always) handle the ntfs format correctly.
    I know I can get error messages when I run chkdsk, but allowing chkdsk to actually fix things, will just show error message(s) the next time I run it.
    You can run 'chkdsk' to see if there are any bad sectors, but I haven't found it much use for anything else.

    And you have two drives or partitions ? I use only one.

    By all means, run chkdsk to scan for any bad sectors, or post error messages here (I'm no expert!), but that's about all it can do.

    If you want to run chkdsk I recommend doing it from the command line (start>run>cmd> chkdsk /?) for more options.

    Macrium reflect backup ? I assume that's not an imaging, just a backup program ? Imaging software can help you prevent OS corruption.

    I have no idea why your computer freezes, it may be due to corruption of the OS or security software. I once used Sophos' antirootkit software, and from that I learned that I was not infected, but that the OS was corrupted. Just a suggestion.
     
  7. google88

    google88 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Posts:
    135
    thanks guys

    lots of good info.

    Macrium Reflect link is here
    http://www.macrium.com/
    I run back ups on schedules

    I might start running regular checkdisks to keep things ship shape. I'll put a reminder in my calendar or something.
     
  8. Fajo

    Fajo Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Posts:
    1,814

    Last few times I have had that happen on XP it was signs of the Hard Drive it self dieing. At least that's what it has been in my experience.

    Just had my Main rig die I lost the Motherboard and the Hard Drive all in one night. :doubt:
     
  9. google88

    google88 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Posts:
    135
    i tried the freeware program

    its a bit "DEJA CRASH"

    scanned and then said drive is locked when rescan

    then not responding

    so I'm sacking it off


    -

    I have 5 Drives
    350GB
    1TB split (part D:)
    1TB split (part E:)
    1TB for backups
    1TB for a caddy i take off the premises

    I lost some work once :( (so i keep it pretty tight)


    is there a way of doing all the scans at once?
    and being able to check all the logs?

    or do i have to do one at a time

    if i do this the logs get lost in 10000 other things that the computer does that i don't know what they are :)
     
  10. google88

    google88 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Posts:
    135
    i ran a scan from the right click checkdisk
    it ran from a restart


    i checked for the logs in

    My Computer > manage > event viewer > application > winlogon (source)

    but there are no entries for months

    i also found bootexlog but that had a really old modified date

    my head hurts

    --

    before all of this i ran partition magic

    it said i needed to correct the length of the partition
    (i did a print screen)

    i ticked yes
    it blue screened

    and macrium reflect refused to back it up

    ---

    I'm going from bad to worse

    ---

    I'm confused over why i don't seem to have data in the ....
    My Computer > manage > event viewer > application > winlogon (source)
    ....part of my computer?

    or am i missing something where are my winlogons :(
     
  11. Get

    Get Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2009
    Posts:
    384
    Location:
    the Netherlands
    Do you mean you don't have winlogon-entries or none at all? If you don't have winlogon entries go to start-run end type chkdsk /f c and answer Y. Then reboot and look again.
     
  12. majoMo

    majoMo Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2007
    Posts:
    994
    To check sector errors (without log) you can try Windows Surface Scanner.

     
  13. Raza0007

    Raza0007 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2009
    Posts:
    1,680
    Location:
    USA
    This appears to be a problem beyond the scope of chkdsk. What version of Partition magic are you using? If it is an older version I recommend you get the latest version of a decent partition manager. Partition magic under symantec is not what it used to be.

    I think you have developed serious problems with your partition and in my experience it can only be solved by a reformat.
     
  14. google88

    google88 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Posts:
    135
    what will that do?

    i ran a 'samsung ES tool' from a boot CD it said the drive had no errors
    its like a surface scan thing. I think its the same kind of thing.




    i have partition magic 8

    the problem of it not backing up started when partition magic asked me

    Norton Partition Magic has detected an error 110 on the partition starting at sector 63 on disk 1

    the length of the partition in the partition table is incorrect
    the CHS length is 625153347, the LBA length is 62514283, and the file system length is 625142384
    Norton Partition magic has determined that the length can be changed to the correct value of 625153347

    would you like to fix this error?


    i clicked yes and got a blue screen 30 seconds later

    ------------

    also i am running a defrag to see if this corrects the error

    ---------
     
  15. Raza0007

    Raza0007 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2009
    Posts:
    1,680
    Location:
    USA
    Partition Magic error 110 is this:

    Error 110 Partition table number of sectors is inconsistent
    Error 110 Attempt to boot partition that starts past cylinder 1024

    chkdsk, when run with "Automatically fix file system errors" should be able to correct this problem.

    Disk defrag only defrags a partition and does not solve problems.

    Partition magic v8.0 was the last version released by Powerquest in 2003. It was then acquired by Symantec and labeled Norton Partition magic. Norton has not made any updates to partition magic since 2003. Since Dec 8, 2009 they have discontinued the product.

    Download the latest trial version of Paragon partition manager 10 professional and it will correct this problem with your partition size. It also has a built-in chkdsk option.

    Edit: Paragon partition manager trial has some advanced features disabled and are available in demo mode only. So, download and install it and see if the you need is available in the demo.
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2009
  16. Get

    Get Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2009
    Posts:
    384
    Location:
    the Netherlands
    I just wanted to know if there wouldn't be a winlogon-entry when you do diskcheck like that. I always do it like that and have the entries. Maybe it would even solve your problems, but that wasn't why I asked.
     
  17. google88

    google88 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Posts:
    135
    Paragon Partition Manager™ has discovered problems with this partition. It must
    have been caused by an incorrect geometry. In order to resolve the issue, please
    collect LOG-files and send them to our Support Team

    -----------

    i might just have to restore a backup of the drive i took a few days ago

    any ideas?
     
  18. Raza0007

    Raza0007 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2009
    Posts:
    1,680
    Location:
    USA
    I am assuming that the Paragon trial version can not correct the problem as that functionality has been disabled.

    Restoring a backup image will only solve the problem if the problem is very recent. I mean, if the backup image also contains this problem then if you restore from that backup you will restore the problem.

    How long has it been since you did a system wide format on your partition?

    I recommend, you do a format of the partition and then reinstall windows. Use Paragon partition manager to do the format. A format will correct the problem you are facing.

    If formatting is not an option then you should be able to use a full fledged partition manager to correct this problem. I have always used Paragon pro but if they have disabled advanced functions in the trial then you will need another. Try GParted, it is free and although I have never used it I have heard good things about it. Also see if FREE EASEUS Partition Master can solve this problem for you.
     
  19. google88

    google88 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Posts:
    135
    i restored an image i did with macrium reflect

    its working now

    and i uninstalled Partition magic 8

    The paragon program looks good - thanks for the tip

    I'm still a little concerned that i don't have application logs

    why might i have no logs? o_O
     
  20. Get

    Get Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2009
    Posts:
    384
    Location:
    the Netherlands
    Do you have any logs in Event Viewer (System for example)?
     
  21. google88

    google88 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Posts:
    135
    curiosity killed the computer

    all kind of end at jan feb this year

    I've found an article

    http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/page-60670_35_0.html

    but I've kind of lost a bit of time this week from messing about with shizzle i don't understand :)

    if i clear my event logs like the article will if F things up

    also it talks about deleting a file or something

    curiosity killed the computer

     
  22. Get

    Get Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2009
    Posts:
    384
    Location:
    the Netherlands
    Go to My Computer > Manage > Services and applications > Services and look if (in the right pane) Event Log has startup type Automatic and is started. If not, do so.
     
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2009
  23. google88

    google88 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Posts:
    135
    Event Log
    Enables event log messages issue...
    Started
    Automatic
    Local System


    all on


    i thinks its crashed somehow
     
  24. Get

    Get Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2009
    Posts:
    384
    Location:
    the Netherlands
    I don't know how to fix that, but you can always disable Event Log, type chkdsk /f c in Run, reboot and when back to desktop look at C:\BOOTEX.LOG. I suspect that to be a fresh one then.
     
  25. google88

    google88 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Posts:
    135

    sorry to be pain with all my check disk questions

    I'm using Paragon partition manager 10 now

    my question is

    do the two options in paragon:
    1. test surface
    2. check file system integrity

    relate to the two options above for check disk

    will they automatically "find and fix errors"

    is the "surface scan" the same

    are they doing the exact same job?

    If so, can i queue a whole checkdisk file system scan for every drive. Or a full (every drive) test surface scan.

    that would be pretty good and I could leave the PC running running.


    I just want to do regular checkdisks

    or have the ability to scan all the drives in one go

    the Backup/imaging software i use does a scan before backing up, so i think that is the same as the 'shorter length' file system scan . because it only takes a few seconds.


    Are the Paragon checks the same, do they fix errors. and can i queue all the drives to scan in one go? I think that what I'm trying to ask :blink:
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.