CHKDSK running every few days

rmg1

Hi all

Just recently, when I switch on the computer it comes up with a CHKDSK warning and it goes through the various checks.
I've let it do it every time but I'm just wondering why it's suddenly started doing it.
I always do a proper shutdown (from the Windows icon (I'm running Windows 7)) and it only happens every few days.

Anyone know if CHKDSK stores any logs anywhere that might be useful or how I can stop it happening?

-TangleFoot-

Where to find CHKDSK results in Vista, Windows 7 - Kevin's Blog

Could it be a sign of impending disk failure?

macman

Exactly, your hard drive may well be on the way out. I trust you have a back up, if not then do one now, and don't switch the PC off until you've done it.
It's doing it for a reason, because some sectors of the drive are no longer being read from consistently.

wdv

More importantly- what are the results of the CHKDSK when it does complete? Is it stating errors/bad sectors? Have you set it to run each time on boot?

rmg1

I have a back-up (but not recent, I'll set one off tonight).
It's not reporting any bad sectors (as far as I can see). It did once but only a few KB out 1TB but nothing recently. It seems more interested in sorting indexing and recovering orphaned files.
I'll have a look at the blog later when I'm at home and see what it says on there.

Kernel_Sanders

-TangleFoot- wrote: »

Where to find CHKDSK results in Vista, Windows 7 - Kevin's Blog
Could it be a sign of impending disk failure?

I've been getting this too occasionally, and not just at startup. Could it be because I'm running my HDD at near capacity, and does this in turn mean more likelihood of failure? I'm on XP Home.

mroing wrote: »

A significant part of the cost of buying a prefab tower would probably be the Windows licence - you don't need to buy a new one, since you already have one.

I have been warned on this board that it is fraudulent to transfer it from one machine to another.

-TangleFoot-

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

Could it be because I'm running my HDD at near capacity, and does this in turn mean more likelihood of failure?

No idea; CHKDSK is also triggered after 'improper shutdown' - which in my experience is usually the result of power loss or misbehaving third-party software.

debitcardmayhem

Just a quick question do you use Linux too , either dual boot, or from a livecd?

rmg1

I checked Event Viewer (courtesy of the link from TangleFoot) and all I can see is that the HDD has a bad block.

I assume one or two bad blocks isn't a serious issue (yet) or am I wrong?

What I was hoping to find is a file of some description (text?) which shows what CHKDSK has done so I can have a proper read and maybe post it on here for someone to look at?

GunJack

if the bad sector of the drive is always being attempted to be used, then this will trigger chkdsk...full disk image needed on a regular basis in prep for new hdd

macman

As above, you need to assume that disk failure is imminent-which is why your first action should be to take a current backup. That's more important than analysing the logs.
As GunJack suggests, you can then stop worrying about it if you have a disk image. When it happens, pop in your new hard drive and restore from the image.
It could go on working for years, it could fail tomorrow-no way of predicting it. Be grateful that it's given you some warning.