CHKDSK "...cannot open Volume for direct access..."

legalsuit · #1 March 29th, 2008, 06:25 AM

Hope I have the correct Forum

Noticed that when I've scheduled the CHKDSK option to:

Automatically fix file system errors
Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.

as part of my clean up/house keeping, this past 24 hours, I've noticed that it is not doing the complete check, and a quick message relates:
"...cannot open Volume for direct access..."

Scratching my head here because apart from normal updates (eg anti-virus and MS) and regular cleanups, I really haven't done anything different.

Checked MS website, which notes my symptom:

Quote:

When you schedule the Chkdsk utility to run at startup, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following when you restart the computer:
Cannot open volume for direct access.
The type of the file system is NTFS.
IFSUTIL: Can't open drive. Status returned = c0000043.
Windows has finished checking the disk.

and for the Resolution, MS notes:

Quote:

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322389 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389/EN-US/) How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack

Having done a MS check for updates, there are none for my ThinkPad (T23 with MS Windows XP, Professional, SP2)

Any advice? I'm stumped.

Cheers

LS

legalsuit · #2 March 29th, 2008, 07:13 PM

Still unsuccessful in running CHKDSK in spite of clean ups and updates done.

As a status update, here is the exact message I am receiving when running CHKDSK:

Quote:

Checking File System on C:
The Type of File System is NTFS
Cannot open Volume for Direct Access
Windows has finished checking the disk.

In reality, no check disk has been performed per my options which I noted earlier of:

Automatically fix file system errors
Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.

Previously I could successfully run those two above options without a problem.

This is a new CHKDSK occurrence within the last 24+ hours for me. (Checking the internet, it appears to be a common problem stating as part of the error message for the users: "...Cannot open Volume for Direct Access...", though the type of reasons messaged do vary to mine.)

Hope you can help.

Cheers

LS

legalsuit · #3 April 1st, 2008, 05:25 AM

Checked MS Update, this type using "Custom" option instead of "Recommended" option, but still no updates for my Laptop and CHKDSK message per above still occurring.

Any advice regarding this anomaly from our MVP experts?

Cheers

LS

legalsuit · #4 April 2nd, 2008, 04:53 AM

Searched through CTH's archives, but can't find a post similar to mine even if it relates to CHKDSK "...cannot open Volume for direct access..." . Causes and error problems in archives differ to mine (see my previous posts. Plus, I do not have an error code occurring - and where Archives suggested actions (eg updates), I've already done earlier before first post).

FYI - I have loaded the latest updated versions for:
Windows: IE7 v7.0.5730.13
System: MS Windows XP Professional, SP2
Firewall: Windows Firewall built into Windows XP
Virus Protection: Avira AntiVirus PersonalEdition
Ad-Aware 2007: Version 7.0.2.6
MS Malware Removal Tool - latest exe is downloaded

Hope someone can help or at least point me in the right direction. This is now becoming worrying.

legalsuit · #5 April 2nd, 2008, 05:35 PM

Trying a different tact here to try and resolve my "CHKDSK ...cannot open Volume for direct access..." problem.

For my CHKDSK problem, (which I've noted in another thread, and still not had any response to date), someone outside CTH has suggested I "run chkdsk /r from Recovery Console".

From what I've read in MS Support and CTH, it appears I need a Windows CD-ROM to start the Windows Recovery Console for such a tact.

Never did get CDs or floppies when I bought my ThinkPad years back (already spoke to IBM about this, whose advice was: supposed to compose your own for backup use). Anyway, have since had made up Product Recovery CD-ROM IBM ThinkPad WXPP Bootable (and a non-bootable) CD.

Dumb question:

So if I need to try this "run chkdsk /r from Recovery Console" method, what do I do?

Do I use the Product Recovery CD-ROM IBM ThinkPad WXPP Bootable
or
Do I specifically need the Windows CD-ROM
or
Can I access it some other way without use of CD or floppies?

Please be patient with me here, I'm feeling pretty dumb and already nervous because I don't want to risk screwing my system up, so I'm seeking expert advice.

Cheers

LS

legalsuit · #6 April 4th, 2008, 02:48 PM

Anyone out there who can help...Please?!

legalsuit · #7 April 4th, 2008, 02:52 PM

Six days since initial post with no response...Anyone out there who can advise? Please!

photolady · #8 April 4th, 2008, 05:25 PM

Perhaps if you had posted this in the Windows XP forum you might have gotten an answer. Problems with XP belong in that forum, not Applications where problems with word, excel, etc belong.

Since you didn't post in xp, I'll now move this thread there and perhaps some one will answer you.

legalsuit · #9 April 4th, 2008, 06:05 PM

Thank you Photolady...for moving my thread from Applications to XP. As stated in my initial post to this thread, I wasn't sure if I had the right Forum. So I much appreciate your correction. (I expect my second thread re "CHKDSK /r" has been deleted as it concerns same issue.)

In any case, thanks, and hopefully I'll get advice now

Cheers

LS

photolady · #10 April 4th, 2008, 06:30 PM

I wasn't quite sure if your other post was the same or related so I merged it into this one. To run chkdsk /r you need an xp cd. You boot up with the xp cd in the optical drive, and at the prompt press any key to boot from cd, at the first screen you should see an option to repair xp, then press the R key. This will take you to the recovery console. It will ask a few questions, you enter 1 for the windows you want to repair, at the next prompt (for password) press enter. Then at the next prompt you type in chkdsk /r make sure there is a space inbetween the k and the / mark.

legalsuit · #11 April 4th, 2008, 07:04 PM

Hi PL, and thanks for your new advice re merging my two threads.

Re running chkdsk /r: I don't have an XP CD, so it looks like I can't try that tact. The only CDs I have made up (as noted earlier) are:

Product Recovery CD-ROM IBM ThinkPad WXPP Bootable
and a non-bootable Product Recovery CD-ROM IBM ThinkPad WXPP

So I guess I'm back to my original enquiry re receiving the message when running CHKDSK:

Quote:

Checking File System on C:
The Type of File System is NTFS
Cannot open Volume for Direct Access
Windows has finished checking the disk...

when in reality, no check disk has been performed.

photolady · #12 April 4th, 2008, 08:44 PM

The problem is, those recovery cds won't let you run chkdsk /r as far as I know. Wait for GretaP as she knows for sure.

w1che · #13 April 4th, 2008, 10:41 PM

Most people don't know this but it works on most all XP machines.. Go to Start/run/cmd.. In the command line copy/paste this.. C:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons ..You will get a window telling you that you need a windows cd for recovery console OK that out & then you will get a window asking you if you want to install the recovery console click yes & you will see a window like a file downloading. After that finishes when you reboot you will get a black screen with the recovery console as a boot option.. Hope it works for you and anyone else that only has a recovery cd like I do..

To uninstall the recovery console go here.. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216417/ scroll down & there are the directions on uninstalling..

legalsuit · #14 April 6th, 2008, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photolady

The problem is, those recovery cds won't let you run chkdsk /r as far as I know. Wait for GretaP as she knows for sure.

Thanks PL!

Quote:

Originally Posted by w1che

Most people don't know this but it works on most all XP machines.. Go to Start/run/cmd.. In the command line copy/paste this.. C:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons ..You will get a window telling you that you need a windows cd for recovery console OK that out & then you will get a window asking you if you want to install the recovery console click yes & you will see a window like a file downloading. After that finishes when you reboot you will get a black screen with the recovery console as a boot option.. Hope it works for you and anyone else that only has a recovery cd like I do..

To uninstall the recovery console go here.. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216417/ scroll down & there are the directions on uninstalling..

Hi w1che. Tried copy and paste of "C:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons" which produced small window shown below which didn't have the "OK" you mentioned (sorry if I'm sounding dumb here

). The "Continue" was greyed out (ie not available). What now?

Quote:

Windows Setup

Setup cannot continue because the version of Windows on your computer is newer than the version on the CD.

Warning: If you decide to delete the newer version of Windows that is currently installed on your computer, the files and settings cannot be recovered.

---------------------------------------------------------
To exit, click Cancel. For more information, click Details.

Don’t display this message again

Continue Cancel Details

w1che · #15 April 6th, 2008, 03:31 PM

Try this one C:\WINDOWS\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons I think the space was missing between e & / on the other one.. Some computers don't have a copy of the recovery console in their I386 folder but most do. The first window that pops up will more than likely tell you that you have a dll missing.. That is the one you just want to ok out..