Actual, viable file checking/Scandisk type of programs for XP?

[Phillip Roncoroni]

Right now I have the following two errors:

1) A file which is zero bytes, which I can't delete, after numerous reboots
and attempts to fix it.
"Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk."

2) The fact that XP seems to be braindead when it comes to deleting huge
files, and noticing that there's a huge gap in the free versus used disk
space. I have my 200GB firewire drive which I do weekly backups to, all in
big 80 to 100 gig RARs. I delete the last backup to make way for the new
one, and XP won't notice that 80 friggin gigs are free unless I reboot and
stuff. But for some reason, it's not noticing at all now. I have:

"Free space" *cough* 20.8GB, Total Size: 186GB
Select all, properties -> 11 files, 6 folders, 84.8GB

Scandisk is useless as always... even with the reboot so the drives aren't
locked, it isn't fixing either of these problems, and Norton seems to not be
able to unlock a drive, and has to reboot also, but then Norton doesn't even
run, Scandisk does instead, and again, doesn't notice anything is wrong.

I also turned off the system totally for the first time in about three
months, and pulled the power on both external HDs, yet Windows is still
thinking there's "20.8GB" free.

And why do I have some file I can't delete?

What are viable hard drive scanning tools for XP? This seems to be like OSX
now, with the "Disk Doctor" program that doesn't seem to do anything.

--

GoodCow =)

[johnf]

Re. 1) - good luck. I've had two of those for months, asked on various NGs
quite a few times, but no nibbles at all.
Both mine are labelled 'search[1]'. You can move them around or put them in
a different folder, but delete? No way.

--
Johnf

> Right now I have the following two errors:
>
> 1) A file which is zero bytes, which I can't delete, after numerous
> reboots and attempts to fix it.
> "Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk."
>
> 2) The fact that XP seems to be braindead when it comes to deleting huge
> files, and noticing that there's a huge gap in the free versus used disk
> space. I have my 200GB firewire drive which I do weekly backups to, all
> in big 80 to 100 gig RARs. I delete the last backup to make way for the
> new one, and XP won't notice that 80 friggin gigs are free unless I
> reboot and stuff. But for some reason, it's not noticing at all now. I
> have:
>
> "Free space" *cough* 20.8GB, Total Size: 186GB
> Select all, properties -> 11 files, 6 folders, 84.8GB
>
> Scandisk is useless as always... even with the reboot so the drives
> aren't locked, it isn't fixing either of these problems, and Norton
> seems to not be able to unlock a drive, and has to reboot also, but
> then Norton doesn't even run, Scandisk does instead, and again, doesn't
> notice anything is wrong.
>
> I also turned off the system totally for the first time in about three
> months, and pulled the power on both external HDs, yet Windows is still
> thinking there's "20.8GB" free.
>
> And why do I have some file I can't delete?
>
> What are viable hard drive scanning tools for XP? This seems to be like
> OSX now, with the "Disk Doctor" program that doesn't seem to do
> anything.
>
> --
>
> GoodCow =)

[Phillip Roncoroni]

"johnf" > wrote in message
...
> Re. 1) - good luck. I've had two of those for months, asked on various NGs
> quite a few times, but no nibbles at all.
> Both mine are labelled 'search[1]'. You can move them around or put them
in
> a different folder, but delete? No way.

I can't even move mine. =(

--

GoodCow =)