CHKDSK running 24hours now, decreasingly slow - Please Help!

Hi folks,

I´m running a german version of Win7 on my notebook.
Some time ago I discovered a broken fotograph-file, so I ran a check, and it discovered 6 "schwebende Sektoren", what translates to sth like floating sector or sector on the edge or maybe even bad sector - don´t know the english terminus.

I then tried to secure the data using the windows backup-utility, but it failed. What i did then was to run a checkdisk using the win7-utility (Computer - Drive C: - Porperties - Tools..), afterwards I could backup using the win7 utility.

Yesterday I tried again to backup my system, with the same error, so I thought, OK, it worked last time, so let me check the harddrive first.

It started nicely, but then after a while it got really slow.
Yesterday at 11pm it reached this point:

99% done. (99056202 of 100059133 free clusters processed.)

(translated in my own words, an english-speaking windows might call it sth alike)

Now, 9 hours later it reached
99077202 of 100059133 free clusters. that is 21000 clusters in 9 hours. Anticipated it keeps working this speed it will take 420 hours to finish.

Yesterday evening 1000 clusters used to take 20minutes, now they take an hour so it´s actually still decreasing speed. However it didn´t stop yet completely.

Trouble is, I did this to backup the system, so I´m actually stuck doing my backup.
I still have important data on the harddrive, that would be sad to lose (about a weeks work).

Two questions:
1.) Is it very unusual that it takes that long? Is widows actually working on the bad sectors right now, and will speed up once it is passed them? In other words - can I expect a happy outcome of this chkdsk, or did it fail already? I could wait another 48 hours, then I definitely need to keep on working.
2.) Is there a SAFE way to stop this now? Then I could backup my data manually before buying a new harddisk.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,
thanks,
tolk.

Until it finishes (assuming it ever does) and gives you a report, it is impossible to say exactly how bad it is. What is likely happening is that it is finding a large number of bad sectors and is attempting to recover them.

If it were me and it had taken this long, I would be inclined to interrupt chkdsk and switch over to the diagnostic test from the hard drive manufacturer.

I might have to do that, although it´s currently speeding up again (2000 clsuters in 20 minutes...). It´s now at 99079202.

But if I have to interrupt it - how do I do it safely?
Hold the power-button a long time? Press some keys? what is the best way?
Thanks!

If it has picked up speed and looks like it might finish I would leave it alone, at least until it slows way down again. If it hangs again the only way out I know of is the good old Reset button. I would have a bootable CD with the hard drive test in the drive and ready to go when you do that.

That´s actually a tough one - Since the computer is in chkdsk, I can´t find out the name of the harddrive.
All shops in the net tell me only it´s a 500GB SATA, and even the acer website doesn´t give more information.

Is there a possibility that the stop is due to Norton anti virus? blocking some sectors or sth like that?
thanks!

tolk said:

That´s actually a tough one - Since the computer is in chkdsk, I can´t find out the name of the harddrive.
All shops in the net tell me only it´s a 500GB SATA, and even the acer website doesn´t give more information.

Click to expand...

The best thing is to have the laptop shut off and unplugged with the battery removed, then open the hard drive compartment and look.

Is there a possibility that the stop is due to Norton anti virus? blocking some sectors or sth like that?
thanks!

Click to expand...

Not if Norton is working right.

Quoting Microsoft, "Chkdsk can repair problems related to bad sectors, lost clusters, cross-linked files, and directory errors." Even though a virus issue could cause all but the first of those problems, Norton wouldn't be marking sectors as messed up.

In the simplest terms, Windows is having trouble finding things on the hard drive in the place they ought to be and chkdsk is looking for them. It could be caused by a virus, a sudden power outage, memory errors, or any number of other things. I don't want to sound like a Gloomy Gus, but when chkdsk takes this long to run it is typically because the hard drive is on its deathbed.

thanks a lot!
I took the risk and turned off the Computer and restarted it. Everything ran smoothly and I could secure all important data. Now I´m trying to repair the drive with the westerndidgital utility. (Once the computer was running it was easy to find the name of the drive in the windows device manager.

Probably will buy a new drive soon.

Thanks!

You were very wise to back your stuff up right away. I've seen a lot of people who figure they'll do it when they get the new drive, only to find out that by then it's too late.

Good luck!

The exact same thing happened on my Wife's machine last month, and the end result was a brand new hard drive, many lost files and a very unhappy Wife.

I hear you, DBone. I had a friend who had to explain to his wife of six months why a hard drive problem in his computer meant that all their wedding pictures were gone forever. That sofa can get pretty uncomfortable after a while...