Topic: Windows 2000 Scandisk Problems

[chorleydave]

I never learn, do I?  After running the wonderful Windows ME for the last six months on my main computer without so much as a bleep, I decided to format it and put Windows 2000 Pro on it.  Now I can't Scandisk.  I go to My Computer, right-click C: choose properties and Tools and then Error Checking and get the message:

"The disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive could not be obtained".

Does anyone know what this means, or would it be quicker to reformat it and get back to the comfort zone of 98 or ME?

Thanks.

[Sandra]

It means something using the drive that cant be shut down or disabled by scandisk.
Have you rebooted and tried it as soon as the pc starts ?
Failing that open task manager and close any processes that you think you can close without closing windows down.

Can you run scandisk in safe mode, I cant think if you can or not ?
Surely you can as it runs before windows loads, that way nothing can possibly be using your drive  

[chorleydave]

Hi, Sandra.

No, I've tried Safe Mode and get the same message.  I wouldn't mind, but I only put this rubbish on because work have gone onto Office 2003 and it needs W2K SP4 or XP to run it.

[chorleydave]

I've just found this on the 'net:

You will get a dialog box saying:

"The disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive could not be obtained. Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?"
Do not worry; this is expected behavior. The C: drive is busy because Windows is running, and in Windows NT, 2000, and XP, the scan runs best before Windows loads. Simply click Yes to schedule the scan, and then restart the computer."

What a load of b0llocks!  Another MS bug camouflaged as a "feature", mefinks!

[Sandra]

Have you tried installing norton utilities and running Disc Doctor etc ?

[chorleydave]

Hi, again.

I've followed the instructions I found on the 'net and it's doing the disk check now.  I think I have a copy of Norton Utilities somewhere, so I might well go down that route as I can't be bothered to mess about like this every time I want to do something as simple as a Scandisk.

Thanks again, Sandra.  

[Sandra]

Glad you got it sorted.
I am not sure which part of utilities it is but when you install it asks if you want to replace scandisk with the norton version, which I think is a bit better than the windows one  

[Simon]

You could try a little thing called EndItAll, Dave, which closes everything except which is vital to run Windows, in one go.   It's an extremely useful tool, and the download site seems very interesting too!

http://www.docsdownloads.com/Tier1/enditall.htm

[chorleydave]

Thanks, Simon.  I've got a copy of EndItAll as I used it some time ago, but I'd forgotten about it.

This gets worse.  WK2 doesn't even have msconfig - I've just had to grab a copy from an XP disk to see what starting up with Windows.

Roll on next format, then I can get rid of this garbage and get back to something that works properly.

[chorleydave]

Format might be sooner than I was anticipating.  Windows 2000 doesn't have System Restore either.  Even the much maligned, but under estimated, Windows ME had THAT!  I don't usually have it enabled, but when downloading the updates for Windows 2000 as I have been doing for the last hour, it is vital.

I have always said that Gates should have taken early retirement and enjoyed his $billions after Windows 98SE, as he would never improve on it.  Now I am convinced.

[Simon]

You should try XP again, Dave.  It's more like ME, feature wise.