Hey everyone, I'm new to the forums. I recently experienced a computer crash where my XP failed to load and wouldn't let me in using Safe Mode, Last Known Good Settings, or Regular Startup Mode. I believe that my file system was damaged, and I created the 6-disc set for the Windows Setup and ran chdsk through that. It appeared to work because my comptuer restarted fine and let me back on. However, my computer still gives me the message warning: Corrupt File: C:\$Secure. I ran chdsk again through command prompt, but when i run chkdsk, it says something about running in read only mode. Chkdsk appears to fix the file, but after a while, my computer will give me the message about corrupt files. I have Windows XP SP1 Home Edition on a Dell Dimension 8250 Desktop. I have been running Virus scans, spyware scans, whatnot to make sure there are no viruses on my system. What can I do to fix the file system for good? PLEASE HELP. TIA, Evan

C:\$Secure is not an XP file.

Try a Search for it: start > Search

All files and folders

Also Advanced options: System & Hidden

C:\$Secure

If you find it delete it.

If the problem persists I would suggest running a HijackThis log by our Pros in that section:


Please follow the instructions HERE & then post your log in a new thread in the Spyware, Adware, Viruses and HijackThis Logs section.
(Not in this section please).

Please specify what issues you appear to be experiencing along with your log.

Ok, what do I do if i run the complete scan for the file C:\$Secure and nothing comes up, but the computer is still saying it is corrupt?

As a first response you might want to post a HijackThis log for review by our Pros in that section:

Please follow the instructions HERE & then post your log in a new thread in the Spyware, Adware, Viruses and HijackThis Logs section.
(Not in this section please).

Please specify what issues you appear to be experiencing along with your log.

Ok, do you know what Diskeeper is? It seems to be working along with chkdsk, but something tells me its a bad program.

It is a third party Defragmenter program.

http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp

So, that means...good program? Sorry for all the questions, but I am not extremely computer-educated and my computer is showing all the signs of what it did before it crashed and i had to retrieve it from the dead. Now, my computer is wanting to restart. Should I run the HiJack this first, restart it first, or maybe even try a sytem restore to a time before I was having problems?

It means either you bought and installed that program or it was bundled on your Dell.

But that program is legitimate: yes.

A System Restore is always a good try.

If all you have done is run chkdsk then you probably are still having the original issues.

Check Disk is a good tool but it is not going to repair any extensive damage to XP.

Dell links:

http://support.dell.com/support/down...47819&vercnt=1

http://support.dell.com/support/down...&os=WW1&osl=EN

http://support.dell.com/support/topi...30030ABD62041A

I would either try a System Restore or HijackThis

Otherwise there is the Dell Diagnostic and or reinstalling XP.

Ok, I posted my HijackThis log in the forum. I have one more quick question. If worse comes to worse, is there any way to re-load xp to fix my problems and keep the files currently on my computer like music, files, etc.

Microsoft® Windows® XP Reinstall Guide [ All Desktops and Portables ]

http://support.dell.com/support/topi...30030ABD62041A