Err Msg: ScanDisk Has Restarted 10 Times Because Windows...

ID: Q222469

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you use ScanDisk in Windows 95 or Windows 98, you may receive the following error message:

ScanDisk has restarted 10 times because Windows or another program has been writing to this drive. Quitting some running programs may enable ScanDisk to finish sooner. Do you want to continue receiving this warning?


CAUSE

This issue can occur if Windows or another program writes to the hard disk while ScanDisk is scanning that disk.


RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the following methods. After you use each method, run ScanDisk to see if the issue is resolved. If the issue still occurs, continue to the next method.

Close All Open Programs

To close programs that are currently running, follow these steps:
  1. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE.


  2. In the Close Program dialog box, click any program in the list, except Explorer or Systray, and then click End Task. If you are prompted to click End Task again, do so.


  3. Repeat steps 1-2 for each program listed in the Close Program dialog box, except Explorer and Systray.


    4. NOTE: Explorer and Systray are Windows components that Windows requires to function properly.

  4. Follow these steps to set the screen saver to None:


    1. Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.


    2. Click the Screen Saver tab.


    3. In the Screen Saver box, click None.


    4. Click OK.


Restart in Safe Mode

To restart the computer in Safe mode, click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart The Computer, and then click Yes. When you see the Starting Windows 95 message, press the F8 key, or press and hold the CTRL key in Windows 98 when the computer restarts, and then choose Safe Mode from the Startup menu.

Restart to a Command Prompt

To restart to a command prompt and run ScanDisk in real mode, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode, and then click Yes or OK.


  2. At the MS-DOS prompt, type scandisk, and then press ENTER.



STATUS

This behavior is by design.


MORE INFORMATION

The first time this error message comes up you are given the option to continue to receive the warning message or to suppress this error message in the future. You are also given the option to Cancel. If you answer yes to continue receiving the error message, the message will display again if ScanDisk is unable to complete a disk scan after 10 passes. However, if you click No, and do not want these messages, ScanDisk will continue running until it either completes, or is cancelled.

Additional query words: loops restarts 


Keywords          : kbenv kberrmsg kbtool win95 win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:95
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: April 27, 1999