PC utilities forum: Scandisk keeps restarting

Have you disabled your screen saver? That will write to the disk and cause scan disk to restart. Before XP, I always did the control/alt/delete combo and ended all programs except systray and explorer. That enabled scan disk to run without the interruptions. It also makes doing a defrag faster.

If all else fails, start your system in SAFE mode, and then run Scandisk.

Dave

I have the same problem with scandisk. My OS is Windows 98 SE, Pentium IV, 1.6 GHz with 512 DDR RAM. Scandisk fails to complete task in ordinary mode. I have run scandisk through DOS mode and found that it runs without showing any damage in hard disk. Also, I do not have screensavers running. Will running in safe mode really help? Thanks.

I have run the defrag in Windows 98 SE through DOS prompt. There was no bad sector or repair work. However, whenever I run it through Windows, it keeps re-starting and ultimately stops with a message that the scandisk has restarted 10 times. Thanks.

This happened to me, I found that an MS update had installed some server application on my system that automatically started and captured information from my net. I found this by seeing what had been added to my start-up but using Run and msconfig and then the startup tab. Try to identify every entry in the startup. Use the application names on a web search to help you.

You could also try starting your PC in Safe mode. Press F8 before Windows starts during boot up. In fact continually press F8 from the initial boot as modern PCs are sometimes too fast. This will start the PC with out running the start up lists so no errant software should be running. Run scandisk from here.
Scandisk is in Accessories/System Tools

how are you doing.
First I would like too ask you if you have your screen saver on if it is try turning it of, You can do this by right clicking your mouse in the center of your desktop and pressing properties you will then see screen saver open that folder at bottom you will see setting go into there and turn setting to never then go back to screen saver and turn sreensaver to none then press apply. reboot too take affect try running scandisk, if this does not work try booting into safe mode, you can do this buy going into start and restarting system once it restarts depending on your configuration you will see setup or some other message at that point press F5 or one of these others depending on your system F6,F7,F8
F8 works in my system it wiil the direct you into a black screen, arrow down too safe mode press enter and wait too next sreen, press on ok then try rusnning scandisk. if this does not work you most likely going too try too run scandisk befor you log into your system
you can do this by downloading Xteg Systems X-setup note be carefull with this it can setup things in your system that you may not want. once download and installed go into tab that say startup/shutdown then into run next boot, then run scandisk on next boot press apply changes say yes too all question ask the exit it will then ask for reboot do so this should help.
Also every month or so try running a defrag on your registry mite speed up system also I do my system twice a month becuse run a lot of programs in back ground do also a regular defrag once a month also helps alot.

Hello,
I can run defrag?, is there a difference between defraging and scandisk? i cannot find scandisk anywhere, i have windows me, i read the previous posts about go to my computer and then options, i tried that and its not there, i can go to start and type in defrag and it works fine as long as the screensaver is off, so my question is where is the scandisk?, it used to come on automatically when i totally powered off and now its a ghost?, thanks for any help!

I have windows 2000 and it does not provide me with the option to restart in msdoe. What is your next suggestion.

I use to have a simular problem. I discovered that scandisk restarted so often that I wanted to forget it was there. I made sure that I had everything shutdown espically the programs on the right side of the taskbar. That worked while I had dialup. If you have highspeed DSL or Cable try turning off the modem first then run scandisk. Also turn off your screen saver.

My only experience that even begins to touch on your problem revolves around the myriad of problems I had while using Me as my operating system. It is, in my experience, a very unstable platform and one subject to many problems. I even succeeded in getting one of Dell's advisors to admit to that soon after I'd bought my latest Dell with Me installed. My recommendation - do whatever it takes to get upgraded, and it IS an upgrade, to XP or, heaven forbid, even go back to Windows 98. You'll be far better off.

I found that the best way to stop this constant restart was to delete all of the programs that are running in the task manager, except systray and explorer. Windows needs these to run properly. To get to the task manager, use the three-finger salute (control-alt-delete) and delete each program that is running - this could take some time depending on the number of programs that are running. Then, retry scandisk. It should stop "restarting."

Cheers!

I had the same problem. It seems to work if you run it (and defrag) in safe mode. To get into safe mode on most computers, right after you turn your computer on, press F8 a number of times until you get a screen that asks you if you want to start in safe mode. Follow the instructions on the screen. Once in save mode (your screen may look funny but that is ok), start the scan disc the same way as you would normally. I would also do a "clean up disk" and then a "defrag" after scan disc. I don't know what operating system you use but all of these programs will probably be in start>accessories>system tools.

Good luck,
JWS

Stop all the processes except Explorer and Scandisk from running while running Scandisk (Explorer and Scandisk have to keep running.). 1. Start Scandisk. 2. After it is running, hit CTRL-ALT-DELETE once (don't hold it down too long or your computer will just reboot and you have to start over). 3. The tasklist of processes that are running will appear. 4. Select each one in turn EXCEPT Explorer and Scandisk and then click End Task. Then go do #2 again and select the next one. You can even shut down Systray and it will continue to run. 5. Some processes may not cancel right away; they will present a dialog box that allows you choices to "Wait" or "End task." Choose End task. 6. After you are done, you'll have to reboot because you need to start those cancelled processes running again. Also, if you have a network login, if possible don't log in when you're doing Scandisk - just Esc out of the login screen so Scandisk is not being interrupted by any activity coming in off the network.

NOTE: Scandisk will run without interruption when these processes are cancelled, although first you may get a message that says "Scandisk has restarted 10 times," but if you select "no" at that point it will stop reporting interruptions and will run until it's done because you have stopped all the noncritical processes.

There may be a more elegant fix than this, but this is the one I know. I also found at one point I had to do that even for defrag to finish within my lifetime.

(I am running Windows 98 but ME is based on Win98 technology and my IT guy says this fix is the same.)

I have Windows ME also and the biggest problem that causes this is your Anti Virus detector.You need to turn it off when doing a scan.

Shut off your screensaver (turn to none), and turn off any quick Launch toolbars on your start menu/bar.
IT should end the pain.