How can I fix a corrupted and unreadable Windows Software Distribution file?

Everytime I restart my PC recently, the check disc utility runs but it stops on a certain file and cannot complete the disc checking. All the errors are about "Windows Software Distribution downloads. When I tried to defragment my disc, it says that it's unable to defrag due to a corrupted and unreadable file on C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download... So, I located the file and tried deleting it but it couldn't be deleted also since the file is said to be corrupted and unreadable.

Please help me fix this problem. I'm an amateur in troubleshooting, so I would appreciate a step by step instructions on how to fix this.

Thank you very much.

 

chocoholic_mla,

From BartPE you will be able to delete that file.

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

 

Welcome to the forum's Chocoholic_mla!

For the moment, try removing chkdsk from startup - http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_prevent_chkdsk_from_run.htm
Then reset.cmd under "reset the automatic updates system" in an attempt to clear the folder's corruption.

Reboot before again executing chkdsk. Tell us, did this pc include an xpsp2 disk?

*This is xp we're on, correct?


GF