Stacker Conversion: ScanDisk Repeatedly Says Run CHECK /F
PSS ID Number: Q107161
Article last modified on 11-16-1993
PSS database name: O_MSDOS

6.20

MS-DOS


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The information in this article applies to:

 - Microsoft MS-DOS operating system version 6.2
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you run the MS-DOS 6.2 DoubleSpace Stacker-compressed drive
conversion routine, you may encounter a loop in which SCANDISK
/CHECKONLY detects a physical error on the hard disk drive and
recommends you run CHECK /F (a Stacker program). Since CHECK cannot
fix physical errors, the next time you run the conversion routine,
SCANDISK /CHECKONLY generates the same error.

NOTE: If you are using Stacker version 2.x, the Stacker conversion
routine calls SCHECK /F instead of CHECK /F. Both are Stacker program
files.

CAUSE
=====

This situation occurs only if a physical sector on your hard disk
drive is unreadable.

RESOLUTION
==========

To work around this problem, use ScanDisk to mark the unreadable
sector as bad (unusable) and attempt to recover any lost data.

WARNING: Before you run ScanDisk to repair the physical drive, back up
your program and data files. Although data may already be lost, you
should make a backup in case CHECK is unable to correctly read and
repair the SVF after the bad sector is marked as unusable.

To do this:

1. Copy SCANDISK.EXE to the host drive.

2. Unmount the Stacker-compressed drive.

3. Run ScanDisk. For example, type "scandisk c: /surface" (without the
   quotation marks) at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.

4. Remount your Stacker-compressed drive.

5. Run CHECK (or CHECK /F if necessary) to repair and correct any
   problems in your Stacker-compressed drive.

You should now be able to successfully run the Stacker conversion
routine.

Additional reference words: 6.20 bad

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.