Scan disk & Defrag problems

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

Been working on an older HP4445 with Win98. Doing a lot of system maintenance
with spyware/virus programs, but having a problem with scan disk. When I try
to run defrag, it stops at 4% checking drive for errors, and says that the
defrag can't be completed due to errors. Run ScanDisk. When I try to run
ScanDisk, it always hangs (progress bar) near the "A" in "Advanced" over on
right side of window. If computer freezes and then is rebooted, the
automatic scan starts. If I let that run, it hangs at 85%. Is there any test
or other thing I can try?? Please help.
PS. I always use AdAware and SpyBot. My friend paid for NoAdware and
SpyBlocsv3.0. Does anybody know if these are any good? Is it OK to run 2
adware and 2 spyware programs? ( I know I shouldn't run 2 anti-virus programs
at same time.) AdAware caught 150+ items even after I had run NoAdware.
Thanks.
--
Barb Zakrzewski

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

"Barbara Z" <BarbaraZ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:6FDF4371-EE64-4739-BDE1-54456F24828F@microsoft.com...
> Been working on an older HP4445 with Win98. Doing a lot of system maintenance
> with spyware/virus programs, but having a problem with scan disk. When I try
> to run defrag, it stops at 4% checking drive for errors, and says that the
> defrag can't be completed due to errors. Run ScanDisk. When I try to run
> ScanDisk, it always hangs (progress bar) near the "A" in "Advanced" over on
> right side of window. If computer freezes and then is rebooted, the
> automatic scan starts. If I let that run, it hangs at 85%. Is there any test
> or other thing I can try?? Please help.

If "the automatic scan" DOS version is hanging then you likely have serious
disk problems. Download and run the diagnostics from the disk manufacturer's
web-site. Most have these programs freely available.

Stay away from defrag until you get it straigtened out. If you're having disk I/O
problems, doing a defrag is about the last thing you want to do.

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (More info?)

Re: NoAdware and SpyBlocs, I suggest you stay far away from them, and recommend to
your friend that he/she do so also. SpyBlocs is a rogue anti-spyware app, meaning
it creates false positives and actully installs spyware/adware. NoAdware has a very
poor record and is not recommended. See here for more:
SpyBlocs:
http://castlecops.com/startuplist-4655.html
NoAdware:
http://www.adwarereport.com/mt/archives/000023.html

Re: your scandisk problem, reboot and start in DOS mode (Command Prompt Only), then
run scandisk in DOS.
-Start the computer and hold down the CTRL key till the Windows 98 Startup menu
(boot menu) appears.
-Use the arrow keys to select "Command Prompt Only" and press Enter.
-Type the following and press Enter:
scandisk c: /surface
-When done, you will be back at the C:\ prompt. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to reboot.

You can also run the diagnostics for your brand on hard drive.
If you don't know what brand the drive is, you can download the limited-use free
edition of OnTrack Data Advisor from this location:
http://www.ontrack.com/freesoftware/#dataadvisor

When you click the download link on that page for Data Advisor 5.0 Free edition, you
will be taken to a page to register with the OnTrack site, then you will be able to
download the diskette creator file.

The downloads are diskette creators. They are to be run once from a working Windows
system and will guide you through the process of extracting the Data Advisor onto a
3.5" floppy disk.

Download and Use Instructions:
http://www.ontrack.com/dataadvisor/downloadinfo.asp

As far as I know, Maxtor's diagnostics will also work with any brand of drive.

Hard Drive Diagnostic Programs by Vendor:

OnTrack Data Advisor:
http://www.ontrack.com/freesoftware/#dataadvisor
IBM/Hitachi Drive Fitness Test:
http://www.hgst.com/hdd/support/download.htm
Western Digital Data Lifeguard Tools:
http://support.wdc.com/download/
Quantum/Maxtor PowerMax:
http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/d [...] wermax.htm
Seagate SeaTools:
http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/index.html
Download:
http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/B7a.html
http://www.seagate.com/support/sea [...] d_reg.html
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Barbara Z" <BarbaraZ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6FDF4371-EE64-4739-BDE1-54456F24828F@microsoft.com...
> Been working on an older HP4445 with Win98. Doing a lot of system maintenance
> with spyware/virus programs, but having a problem with scan disk. When I try
> to run defrag, it stops at 4% checking drive for errors, and says that the
> defrag can't be completed due to errors. Run ScanDisk. When I try to run
> ScanDisk, it always hangs (progress bar) near the "A" in "Advanced" over on
> right side of window. If computer freezes and then is rebooted, the
> automatic scan starts. If I let that run, it hangs at 85%. Is there any test
> or other thing I can try?? Please help.
> PS. I always use AdAware and SpyBot. My friend paid for NoAdware and
> SpyBlocsv3.0. Does anybody know if these are any good? Is it OK to run 2
> adware and 2 spyware programs? ( I know I shouldn't run 2 anti-virus programs
> at same time.) AdAware caught 150+ items even after I had run NoAdware.
> Thanks.
> --
> Barb Zakrzewski