Scandisk doesn't run anymore after bad shutdown

I have Win98SE and my computer has quit running scandisk at bootup after a
bad shutdown. What would cause it to stop doing this, and what can I do to
correct it? Thanks

StartRunMSCONFIG

Click on the Advanced button. There's a setting there that disables Scandisk
after bad shutdown--see if it's checked. Otherwise, see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=273824

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"Phyllis" wrote in message
...
I have Win98SE and my computer has quit running scandisk at bootup after a
bad shutdown. What would cause it to stop doing this, and what can I do to
correct it? Thanks

On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 09:00:05 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune"

StartRunMSCONFIG

Click on the Advanced button. There's a setting there that disables Scandisk
after bad shutdown--see if it's checked. Otherwise, see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=273824

Another cause for this is if you ave installed a utility suite that
replaces Scandisk with something else (e.g. Norton Disk Doctor) and
then this suite is messily removed, so the change is not undone.

I can't remember the details, but seem to remember SCANDISK.ALT and
modified WIN.COM as being factors. I'd guess something like the
original SCANDISK.EXE being renamed SCANDISK.ALT, and/or the old
WIN.COM being replaced with an altered version that calls the
3rd-party disk checker instead of Scandisk.exe



-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
"If I'd known it was harmless, I'd have
killed it myself" (PKD)
-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

I do have both files on my computer - scandisk.exe and scandisk.alt. I know
nothing about win.com or what to do about it. Thanks

"cquirke (MVP Win9x)" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 09:00:05 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune"

StartRunMSCONFIG

Click on the Advanced button. There's a setting there that disables
Scandisk
after bad shutdown--see if it's checked. Otherwise, see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=273824

Another cause for this is if you ave installed a utility suite that
replaces Scandisk with something else (e.g. Norton Disk Doctor) and
then this suite is messily removed, so the change is not undone.

I can't remember the details, but seem to remember SCANDISK.ALT and
modified WIN.COM as being factors. I'd guess something like the
original SCANDISK.EXE being renamed SCANDISK.ALT, and/or the old
WIN.COM being replaced with an altered version that calls the
3rd-party disk checker instead of Scandisk.exe



-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
"If I'd known it was harmless, I'd have
killed it myself" (PKD)
-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

Check these things in more or less the order in which we suggested them,
Phyllis. First, is it disabled in System configuration Utility (MSCONFIG)? If
not, does anything in the KB article I referenced apply (altered SCANDISK.INI
file, etc.)?

If none of the above have effect, try renaming the current SCANDISK.EXE to
SCANDISK.OLD, then rename SCANDISK.ALT to SCANDISK.EXE.

If none of the above lead to a fix, use FindFiles & Folders to look for a WIN.*
(any file named WINdot{whatever}), and if one is found, is it about the same
size as the existing WIN.COM? The tricky part about this one is if you use the
same trick on WIN.COM as we used on SCANDISK.EXE vs. SCANDISK.ALT, and the newly
renamed WIN.COM doesn't function, Windows won't start and you'll have to undo
the renaming using a Command Prompt Only boot, or a floppy startup disk to
restore the previous WIN.COM.

Otherwise, the problem may not be in the whole SCANDISK at startup function at
all. There may be some other setting that incidentally disables SCANDISK from
running at startup (a situation that would require journeyman detective work),
or the problem may be from an entirely different cause--SCANDISK is prompted to
run at startup because a "dirty bit" is present. During a normal startup, the
"dirty bit" is set, and during a normal shut down it is "cleaned" from the disk.
If the "dirty bit" is never set, then SCANDISK wouldn't run at startup,
regardless of whether the shutdown was normal or not.

In any case, while automatically running SCANDISK at startup after a bad
shutdown is comforting to some, the fact is that unless you have altered
SCANDISK.INI to not automatically fix errors, it may get you into deep trouble
(SCANDISK is not always right, and when it's wrong, HooooBoy, is it WRONG!) A
better procedure is to manually run SCANDISK after a questionable situation
(like a bad shutdown), telling it to *not* fix things automatically, then, when
an error is found, *you* determine whether or not you want it fixed immediately.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"Phyllis" wrote in message
...
I do have both files on my computer - scandisk.exe and scandisk.alt. I know
nothing about win.com or what to do about it. Thanks

"cquirke (MVP Win9x)" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 09:00:05 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune"

StartRunMSCONFIG

Click on the Advanced button. There's a setting there that disables
Scandisk
after bad shutdown--see if it's checked. Otherwise, see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=273824

Another cause for this is if you ave installed a utility suite that
replaces Scandisk with something else (e.g. Norton Disk Doctor) and
then this suite is messily removed, so the change is not undone.

I can't remember the details, but seem to remember SCANDISK.ALT and
modified WIN.COM as being factors. I'd guess something like the
original SCANDISK.EXE being renamed SCANDISK.ALT, and/or the old
WIN.COM being replaced with an altered version that calls the
3rd-party disk checker instead of Scandisk.exe



-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
"If I'd known it was harmless, I'd have
killed it myself" (PKD)
-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

Thank you so much for all the info. Since it sounds like it doesn't really
have to be running then I won't worry too much more about it. I run a
manual scandisk and defrag every month anyway as part of my maintenance,
cleanup, etc. If you think it is necessary, I will run scandisk myself after
the bad shutdown. I do get them occasionally even though I hate it when
this darn computer freezes up or whatever it does. I dearly wish it would
be perfect. Thanks
..

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote in message
...
Check these things in more or less the order in which we suggested them,
Phyllis. First, is it disabled in System configuration Utility (MSCONFIG)?
If
not, does anything in the KB article I referenced apply (altered
SCANDISK.INI
file, etc.)?

If none of the above have effect, try renaming the current SCANDISK.EXE to
SCANDISK.OLD, then rename SCANDISK.ALT to SCANDISK.EXE.

If none of the above lead to a fix, use FindFiles & Folders to look for a
WIN.*
(any file named WINdot{whatever}), and if one is found, is it about the
same
size as the existing WIN.COM? The tricky part about this one is if you use
the
same trick on WIN.COM as we used on SCANDISK.EXE vs. SCANDISK.ALT, and the
newly
renamed WIN.COM doesn't function, Windows won't start and you'll have to
undo
the renaming using a Command Prompt Only boot, or a floppy startup disk to
restore the previous WIN.COM.

Otherwise, the problem may not be in the whole SCANDISK at startup
function at
all. There may be some other setting that incidentally disables SCANDISK
from
running at startup (a situation that would require journeyman detective
work),
or the problem may be from an entirely different cause--SCANDISK is
prompted to
run at startup because a "dirty bit" is present. During a normal startup,
the
"dirty bit" is set, and during a normal shut down it is "cleaned" from the
disk.
If the "dirty bit" is never set, then SCANDISK wouldn't run at startup,
regardless of whether the shutdown was normal or not.

In any case, while automatically running SCANDISK at startup after a bad
shutdown is comforting to some, the fact is that unless you have altered
SCANDISK.INI to not automatically fix errors, it may get you into deep
trouble
(SCANDISK is not always right, and when it's wrong, HooooBoy, is it
WRONG!) A
better procedure is to manually run SCANDISK after a questionable
situation
(like a bad shutdown), telling it to *not* fix things automatically, then,
when
an error is found, *you* determine whether or not you want it fixed
immediately.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"Phyllis" wrote in message
...
I do have both files on my computer - scandisk.exe and scandisk.alt. I
know
nothing about win.com or what to do about it. Thanks

"cquirke (MVP Win9x)" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 09:00:05 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune"

StartRunMSCONFIG

Click on the Advanced button. There's a setting there that disables
Scandisk
after bad shutdown--see if it's checked. Otherwise, see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=273824

Another cause for this is if you ave installed a utility suite that
replaces Scandisk with something else (e.g. Norton Disk Doctor) and
then this suite is messily removed, so the change is not undone.

I can't remember the details, but seem to remember SCANDISK.ALT and
modified WIN.COM as being factors. I'd guess something like the
original SCANDISK.EXE being renamed SCANDISK.ALT, and/or the old
WIN.COM being replaced with an altered version that calls the
3rd-party disk checker instead of Scandisk.exe



-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
"If I'd known it was harmless, I'd have
killed it myself" (PKD)
-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

(1) Do you have a "Scandisk.alt"? Then, Norton took over Scandisk. So,
look inside of it & in Norton menus/Norton FAQs/Norton Readme for an
answer. I do know: When Norton has been uninstalled & Scandisk
auto-Scandisk doesn't work, Glee will say to delete that file! (But
that's when it's been uninstalled.)

(2) As Blanton has said, Scandisk will not necessarily run. It depends
whether a write was pending at the time of the crash. If you do crash,
it is always wise to run your own Scandisk, anyhow, as the auto-Scandisk
is too quick to be doing it all. JUST... don't let yours constantly
restart!

(3) Look in "C:\Scandisk.log" to see what it may say. Colorado was
getting messages in there, even when it seemed the thing was not
running!

(4) Open "C:\Windows\Command\Scandisk.ini" in Notepad.
Change "NumPasses=0" to a positive number. Mine is "=5".
(However, if Norton has taken you over, perhaps look in
"Scandisk.alt" for that.)

(5) http://support.microsoft.com/support.../Q118/5/79.asp
Contents of the Windows MSDOS.sys File
Careful with MS-DOS.sys: It is an important file.

(a) "START button, Settings, Folder Options, View tab".
Bolt "Show all files" & UNcheck "Hide file extensions..."
(b) R-Clk "C:\MSDOS.sys" in Explorer, select Properties, & turn off
"Read-Only"
(c) Open "C:\MSDOS.sys" in Notepad.
If it shows "AutoScan=0", change that to "=1".
(The line may be at bottom, after the filler "X's".)
(b) R-Clk "C:\MSDOS.sys" in Explorer, select Properties, & turn
"Read-Only" back on.

This setting probably is equivalent to all that (but it may get
out-of-synch)...
(a) "START, Run, MSConfig, General tab, Advanced button"
(b) Uncheck "Disable Scandisk after bad shutdown".

(6) As cquirke is fond of saying, "C:\Winboot.ini", if it exists, will
override MSDOS.sys. So, check for a "AutoScan=0" in there as well, as it
has the same format as the other.


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Phyllis" wrote in message
...
| I have Win98SE and my computer has quit running scandisk at bootup
after a
| bad shutdown. What would cause it to stop doing this, and what can I
do to
| correct it? Thanks
|

Are you sure Win.com & Scandisk.exe come into it? All I've ever seen is
that Scandisk.alt should be deleted, if it has been left behind after
uninstalling Norton.


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"cquirke (MVP Win9x)" wrote in message
...
| On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 09:00:05 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune"
|
| StartRunMSCONFIG
|
| Click on the Advanced button. There's a setting there that disables
Scandisk
| after bad shutdown--see if it's checked. Otherwise, see:
| http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=273824
|
| Another cause for this is if you ave installed a utility suite that
| replaces Scandisk with something else (e.g. Norton Disk Doctor) and
| then this suite is messily removed, so the change is not undone.
|
| I can't remember the details, but seem to remember SCANDISK.ALT and
| modified WIN.COM as being factors. I'd guess something like the
| original SCANDISK.EXE being renamed SCANDISK.ALT, and/or the old
| WIN.COM being replaced with an altered version that calls the
| 3rd-party disk checker instead of Scandisk.exe
|
|
|
| -------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
| "If I'd known it was harmless, I'd have
| killed it myself" (PKD)
| -------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

I have just uninstalled Norton so that is probably the problem. I have
uninstalled it once or twice in the past also when I get sick and tired of
my computer slugging along. No more Norton for me, or at least I hope I
don't falter and do it again. I do like the way Norton seems to protect a
computer, but it also takes over which I don't like. Do I delete the
scandisk.alt since more than likely it was left behind by Norton? Thanks

"PCR" wrote in message
...
(1) Do you have a "Scandisk.alt"? Then, Norton took over Scandisk. So,
look inside of it & in Norton menus/Norton FAQs/Norton Readme for an
answer. I do know: When Norton has been uninstalled & Scandisk
auto-Scandisk doesn't work, Glee will say to delete that file! (But
that's when it's been uninstalled.)

(2) As Blanton has said, Scandisk will not necessarily run. It depends
whether a write was pending at the time of the crash. If you do crash,
it is always wise to run your own Scandisk, anyhow, as the auto-Scandisk
is too quick to be doing it all. JUST... don't let yours constantly
restart!

(3) Look in "C:\Scandisk.log" to see what it may say. Colorado was
getting messages in there, even when it seemed the thing was not
running!

(4) Open "C:\Windows\Command\Scandisk.ini" in Notepad.
Change "NumPasses=0" to a positive number. Mine is "=5".
(However, if Norton has taken you over, perhaps look in
"Scandisk.alt" for that.)

(5) http://support.microsoft.com/support.../Q118/5/79.asp
Contents of the Windows MSDOS.sys File
Careful with MS-DOS.sys: It is an important file.

(a) "START button, Settings, Folder Options, View tab".
Bolt "Show all files" & UNcheck "Hide file extensions..."
(b) R-Clk "C:\MSDOS.sys" in Explorer, select Properties, & turn off
"Read-Only"
(c) Open "C:\MSDOS.sys" in Notepad.
If it shows "AutoScan=0", change that to "=1".
(The line may be at bottom, after the filler "X's".)
(b) R-Clk "C:\MSDOS.sys" in Explorer, select Properties, & turn
"Read-Only" back on.

This setting probably is equivalent to all that (but it may get
out-of-synch)...
(a) "START, Run, MSConfig, General tab, Advanced button"
(b) Uncheck "Disable Scandisk after bad shutdown".

(6) As cquirke is fond of saying, "C:\Winboot.ini", if it exists, will
override MSDOS.sys. So, check for a "AutoScan=0" in there as well, as it
has the same format as the other.


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Phyllis" wrote in message
...
| I have Win98SE and my computer has quit running scandisk at bootup
after a
| bad shutdown. What would cause it to stop doing this, and what can I
do to
| correct it? Thanks
|

Yes, delete it, & that usually is the whole fix. Glee never said a thing
about the other stuff!
(I never had Norton, but feel much the selfsame pain with McAfee.)


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Phyllis" wrote in message
...
| I have just uninstalled Norton so that is probably the problem. I
have
| uninstalled it once or twice in the past also when I get sick and
tired of
| my computer slugging along. No more Norton for me, or at least I hope
I
| don't falter and do it again. I do like the way Norton seems to
protect a
| computer, but it also takes over which I don't like. Do I delete the
| scandisk.alt since more than likely it was left behind by Norton?
Thanks
|
| "PCR" wrote in message
| ...
| (1) Do you have a "Scandisk.alt"? Then, Norton took over Scandisk.
So,
| look inside of it & in Norton menus/Norton FAQs/Norton Readme for an
| answer. I do know: When Norton has been uninstalled & Scandisk
| auto-Scandisk doesn't work, Glee will say to delete that file! (But
| that's when it's been uninstalled.)
|
| (2) As Blanton has said, Scandisk will not necessarily run. It
depends
| whether a write was pending at the time of the crash. If you do
crash,
| it is always wise to run your own Scandisk, anyhow, as the
auto-Scandisk
| is too quick to be doing it all. JUST... don't let yours constantly
| restart!
|
| (3) Look in "C:\Scandisk.log" to see what it may say. Colorado was
| getting messages in there, even when it seemed the thing was not
| running!
|
| (4) Open "C:\Windows\Command\Scandisk.ini" in Notepad.
| Change "NumPasses=0" to a positive number. Mine is "=5".
| (However, if Norton has taken you over, perhaps look in
| "Scandisk.alt" for that.)
|
| (5) http://support.microsoft.com/support.../Q118/5/79.asp
| Contents of the Windows MSDOS.sys File
| Careful with MS-DOS.sys: It is an important file.
|
| (a) "START button, Settings, Folder Options, View tab".
| Bolt "Show all files" & UNcheck "Hide file extensions..."
| (b) R-Clk "C:\MSDOS.sys" in Explorer, select Properties, & turn off
| "Read-Only"
| (c) Open "C:\MSDOS.sys" in Notepad.
| If it shows "AutoScan=0", change that to "=1".
| (The line may be at bottom, after the filler "X's".)
| (b) R-Clk "C:\MSDOS.sys" in Explorer, select Properties, & turn
| "Read-Only" back on.
|
| This setting probably is equivalent to all that (but it may get
| out-of-synch)...
| (a) "START, Run, MSConfig, General tab, Advanced button"
| (b) Uncheck "Disable Scandisk after bad shutdown".
|
| (6) As cquirke is fond of saying, "C:\Winboot.ini", if it exists,
will
| override MSDOS.sys. So, check for a "AutoScan=0" in there as well,
as it
| has the same format as the other.
|
|
| --
| Thanks or Good Luck,
| There may be humor in this post, and,
| Naturally, you will not sue,
| should things get worse after this,
| PCR
|
| "Phyllis" wrote in message
| ...
| | I have Win98SE and my computer has quit running scandisk at bootup
| after a
| | bad shutdown. What would cause it to stop doing this, and what
can I
| do to
| | correct it? Thanks
| |
|
|
|