You need to use the parameter chkdsk /f from the command
prompt. Click Start>All Porgrams>Accessories>Command
Promt and type 'chkdsk /f' (without the quotes). You will
probably get a message saying xp cannot check your disk
because files are in use. In this case it will suggest
you schedule a chkdsk the next time you boot your
machine. Accept the schedule option and then reboot your
machine. Chkdsk should then run.
Incidentally if you are using the ntfs file system chkdsk
does not need to be used for general disk checking. You
can use it to check to see if your disk has any problems,
but there is no need to use it for file problems. The
ntfs file system is a journaling file system so if you
have a crash ntfs simply repairs the problem by going
through the journal it created before the crash. You
will, however, need to use chkdsk if you are using the
fat32 file system.
Hope this helps
John Barnett - MVP
Associate Expert
