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Corrupted folder

I left my computer running overnight to complete an OCR process on some files. When I returned in the morning the system had locked up, forcing a hardware reset. Scandisk reported errors when it ran and asked if I wanted to fix the problem. I replied yes. Scandisk appeared to fix the problem, placing the corrupted data into a folder named "DIR00001". When I attempt to examine the contents of this folder using Explorer my system hangs up! I have tried deleting the folder by right-clicking and choosing delete, but Explorer reports the file is either read-only or in use by another program. I tried changing the properties using Explorer and ATTRIB under the DOS session. Both cause a system hang. I have tried using Norton Disk Doctor, which runs for a few minutes then reports it has run out of memory. Even running it under a safe mode does not work. I have tried Nuts & Bolts disk utility. It runs through its process, but does not fix the problem caused by the corrupted directory. Does anyone know how I can delete this corrupted file short of having to do a format on my C: drive?

johnsavior

Hi ccrook,

I hope this metahod could help you :

1. Goto DIR00001 and print list of corrupt file there.

2. If you have Norton Editor or PC-Tools that run under DOS, find "DIR00001" and "all file name corrupt as on list print".
Try to find with mode ROOT begin from track 0 sector 0.
You can also use DEBUG.EXE, but it is more difficult to use than Norton Editor or PC-Tools, because you must know 1st sector of ROOT FILE as reference for command below :

L 100 2 <1st_sector_of ROOT FILE> 7F

L = load to memory
100 = begin from offset 0100(hex)
2 = drive C (HDD)
7F = load 127 sector begin from <1st_sector_of ROOt FILE>

3. Replace first character on every file you've found with E5(hex), for example :
DIR00001 will appear in hex : 44 49 52 30 30 30 30 31
so replacing become in hex : E5 49 52 30 30 30 30 31

E5(hex) meaning file is deleted.

Good luck.

bparnes

Have you tried booting from a floppy and using pure DOS commands to attempt to remove the folder (known as a "directory" in DOS)?

Have you also tried to run SCANDISK again (from a DOS prompt) to make sure that your file system really is not still messed up?

Bob Stone

Go to DOS prompt, type
attrib C:\dir00001 -r -a -s -h/s
Then
deltree c:\dirooo01
should kill it

Ajnin

You have to either reboot to DOS or boot up to the command prompt by pressing F8 as the computer is booting up. then you should be able to use the deltree command.
Regards

jimmyyoon

When you boot your system, press F8 and choose safe mode in dos, by pass all the programs and drivers by answering no to everything.
then, go inside the directory and type
attrib -r *.*
del *.*
cd ..
attrib -r directoryname
rd directoryname

ccrook

ASKER

Thank-you all for the advice. Unfortunately, I had to resort to a hardware upgrade before I could resolve the problem. Reason: The corrupt folder was more than 58MB in size, on a system with only 32MB of RAM. Scandisk and all other disk utilities would report "out of memory" before they could resolve the problem. Therefore, I increased the RAM to 128MB, ran Scandisk from the DOS prompt, using the AUTOFIX/NOSAVE options. It took a while for Scandisk to fix the problem but it finally did. Then, I was able to use DELTREE on the corrupt folder. Presto! No more corrupt folder. I followed up with Norton to make sure of no other problems. Everything is now O.K.

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Bob Stone

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ccrook

ASKER

Answer accepted