Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process

Anonymous
2014-12-25T22:56:33+00:00

Hi,

Whenever I turn on my computer or even restarted it, and then tried to run the command 'chkdsk /r /f', I faced the error 'cannot lock current drive', although there are no other process hare running.

I had to schedule it to be running in the next restart.

When I scheduled it to be running in the next system restart , it was running well when it was restarted.

Threads merged.

Duplicate deleted.

Moved from Windows 7 Email and Communications Forum.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2014-12-31T16:14:25+00:00

I personally don't think you'd gain anything from a scan with UBCD.  We can learn all about the HDD's health by looking at its SMART data.  It may pass a diagnostic test with flying colors, and still have corrupted numerous files (in the past) and/or have many (remapped) bad sectors.

    Looking at your HDD's SMART status, I can see that it had 104 (hex 68) bad sectors which have since been reallocated (see Reallocated Sectors Count).  Since Current Pending Sector Count is 0, all suspected bad sectors have been successfully remapped, probably thanks to an earlier chkdsk /r scan.

    Everything else looks good.  I would suggest keeping an eye on the HDD every once in a while to make sure that it isn't developing more bad sectors (Current Pending Sector Count or Read Error Rate increasing from 0 in the far-right column).

    In case you didn't know this, HDDs are quite sensitive to being jostled while in operation.  Setting a laptop down too hard while it's on are is one the easiest ways to kill a laptop's HDD.  If you need a laptop that can be thrown around, it would be a good idea to upgrade to a SSD, since they have no moving parts.  This will also greatly speed up the laptop since the HDD is the biggest bottleneck in practically all laptops made nowadays.

Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.
0 comments

60 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2014-12-30T10:41:43+00:00

        If you don't specify a partition to scan, chkdsk assumes the drive letter in your "current directory" (the command-prompt path).  That's why it behaves the same way with or without the "C:" in the command.

        In addition, C: cannot be dismounted because of numerous OS files being open while Windows is running.  That's why chkdsk asks whether you want to schedule a boot-time scan.  If you just want to scan for errors without rebooting, use "chkdsk C:".  You can usually force a dismount and full scan/fix of other drives using "chkdsk D: /f /x".

        However, in my experience, without the "/f" (fix) flag, chkdsk frequently ignores file/folder corruption caused by power loss, saying that no errors were found, and yet a file that was being written to during power loss is 0 KB.  After running chkdsk with the "/f" flag, the file regains its proper size and is usable again.

    Thank you all of you very much indeed,

    First of all:: I was expecting that 'while on 'C:\Windows\System32', I could run ' 'chkdsk c: /f /x'since '/F Fixes errors on the disk.' and '/X Forces the volume to dismount first if necessary. I really tried running this command 'chkdsk c: /f /x' while on 'C:\Windows\System32'. However, I found that same error. However, I think I can never be able to force a dismount and full scan/fix of C drive using "chkdsk C: /f /x"

    first:: @If you just want to scan for errors without rebooting, use "chkdsk C:".  You can usually force a dismount and full scan/fix of other drives using "chkdsk D: /f /x".@ WHAT BENEFIT IS THERE FROM RUNNING THAT COMMAND ON DRIVERS NOT HAVING OS INSTALLED?

    Second:: Do you think that I can use all these options for commands all together ?

    'chkdsk c: /f /x /r

    Finally: Since that command didn't list any errors when I scanned my hard disk C with that command

    'chkdsk C: /r /f ' after scheduling in a boot-time scan, I really fairly still think that my hard disk has some bad sector(boot sector).

    Some newer BIOSes have hard disk diagnostic tests that you can run from the BIOS that work well at testing the hard drive. I don't remember exactly how to do it, and I don't know for sure if my BIOS supports it. Do you think I should download the Ultimate Boot CD and run one of its many hard disk diagnostic programs. Burn it to a CD (using the Burn Disk Image option in my CD Burning program.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2014-12-25T23:49:06+00:00

    Hello,

    You must go for the check disk utility from the GUI mode. Refer to the article on Using CheckDisk the GUI Way.

    And to answer your question, although there are no other process's running, but the hard drive is still in use by the computer! Which means its active and a disk check cannot be run on partition which is in use.

    And at last, this is not an Email and Communications question. Please move it to the Performance and Maintainence category.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2014-12-25T23:04:32+00:00

    Hi,

    See if this assists you:

    "How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7"

    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

    Also read this too:

    "How to Read the Event Viewer Log for Check Disk (chkdsk) in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8"

    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/96938-check-disk-chkdsk-read-event-viewer-log.html

    Cheers.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Deleted

    This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

    Comments have been turned off. Learn more