Vista Tutorial - "cannot open volume for direct access" - error message re chkdsk

As noted in my longer post above, my problems were attributable to a program
called Haute Secure. Do you have that on your computer?


"tnahowru" wrote:

> Help, i am having the same problem!
>
> "Conley" wrote:
>
> > The chkdsk utility will no longer run. Instead, I get this error message:
> > "cannot open volume for direct access." I found some old KB articles
> > indicating that this problem had come up under Windows XP and was going to be
> > fixed by an upcoming service pack. Why am I getting this error message with
> > Vista Ultimate?

I have been running into the same problem but, unfortunately, in my case
there must be another cause as Haute Secure is not installed on my PC. It has
become a pretty annoying problem: besides getting the error message when
booting up, it turns out that Diskeeper can no longer do a boot-time
defragmentation because it doesn't have direct access, no doubt because of
the same reason. To make matters worse, when trying to do a backup using
Vista's backup module, I get a message there's a problem with my C-drive
(brand-new, by the way, although that doesn't exclude a problem of course),
kindly requesting to run chkdsk... that doesn't work.

There are a few suggestions on the Microsoft sites to solve the problem but
most apply to OSs prior to Vista. The only one that sounds most plausible for
Vista is that a 3rd party virus checker or disk monitor tool are blocking
access to the volume. Disabling an antivirus program doesn't sound like a
healthy decision, though, except to test if this is the cause of the problem.
But then, I have been using Norton AV (Corporate Edition 10.2) before, on
Vista, without running into this problem. Possibly, just possibly, it could
be that after installing and un-installing ZoneAlarm firewall (free version,
v7.1, Vista-ready) and a trial version of Norton Internet Security as
possible alternatives to Vista's built-in firewall, there are still some
leftovers in the registry (although I searched through the registry and
deleted the one ZoneAlarm leftover that I could find).

Prior to doing a clean install and hope for the best, I was wondering if
anyone has had similar problems after having installed ZoneAlarm or Norton IS?

--
Luc


"Rick Rogers" wrote:

> Great feedback, Conley. Thanks!
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>
> "Conley" <Conley@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:A4F66338-ED9E-4846-A44A-1EB12C27617C@microsoft.com...
> >I finally discovered that the source of my problems with chkdsk and
> >Diskeeper
> > was a program called Haute Secure. I had thought that it was a toolbar or
> > BHO that would do nothing if IE was not open and would not in any event
> > dig
> > deep into the OS like an antivirus program. I tried every possible
> > uninstall/reinstall/version rollback on my Symantec software before I
> > grasped
> > at one last straw today and uninstalled Haute Secure. Chkdsk then ran on
> > my
> > next reboot. It turns out that that program is quite powerful and
> > involves
> > some kind of kernel-level driver.
> >
> > System Restore is still not working from within Vista Ultimate, but I
> > have,
> > at all times, been able to run System Restore and Complete PC Restore from
> > the Vista DVD.
> >
> > All of the messing around with the computer seems to have generated some
> > new
> > problems, and I may have to post some new questions on this forum in order
> > to
> > get back to where this all began.
> >
> >
> >
> > "Rick Rogers" wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Conley,
> >>
> >> Raxco, a maker of another disk utility, has this page of programs known
> >> to
> >> cause this issue. You may want to run through the list to see if any of
> >> them
> >> apply:
> >> http://www.raxco.com/support/windows...id=494&issue=3
> >>
> >> There isn't going to be a simple answer here, as under normal
> >> circumstances
> >> the disk checker utility will run fine when scheduled. What you have is
> >> some
> >> program that has altered the system and is gaining access to the drive
> >> and
> >> running prior to the disk checker, thus preventing the exclusive access
> >> it
> >> requires. Deciphering it will require some detective work, and simple
> >> removal of any offending program will not always resolve the problem as
> >> it
> >> may not undo all of the changes that the original installation made. This
> >> is
> >> particularly so if the software was not designed for Vista.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Best of Luck,
> >>
> >> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
> >>
> >> "Conley" <Conley@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:6A5EE865-2655-485E-9F33-B827BDBB6B77@microsoft.com...
> >> > Rick,
> >> >
> >> > I tried this twice, with services enabled and with services disabled,
> >> > and
> >> > I
> >> > saw the same thing both times. After hitting enter at the command line
> >> > for
> >> > chkntfs /d, a new command line appeared (i.e., no text confirming
> >> > success
> >> > with resetting defaults, which may be the normal behavior). I then ran
> >> > chkdsk /r and got the same error message when it tried to run after the
> >> > reboot.
> >> >
> >> > "Rick Rogers" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Hi Conley,
> >> >>
> >> >> Try running chkntfs /d, then chkdsk.
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> Best of Luck,
> >> >>
> >> >> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> >> >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> >> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> >> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
> >> >>
> >> >> "Conley" <Conley@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> >> news:6BE9C169-1A1F-41A5-A037-8638922C1998@microsoft.com...
> >> >> > Per the KB article, I disabled all non-Microsoft services and
> >> >> > rebooted.
> >> >> > (There was very little there except for the antivirus program.)
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I then tried running chkdsk with various combinations of /f, /r and
> >> >> > /x,
> >> >> > and
> >> >> > I got the following results:
> >> >> >
> >> >> > /f No text screen came up
> >> >> > /r The screen with the error message re
> >> >> > "direct
> >> >> > access" came up
> >> >> > /x No text screen came up
> >> >> > /f /x No text screen came up
> >> >> > /r /x The screen with the error message re
> >> >> > "direct
> >> >> > access" came up
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Do you know of anything else that I should be looking for if the
> >> >> > problem
> >> >> > is
> >> >> > not attributable to a boot-loading third-party service or driver,
> >> >> > which
> >> >> > should have shown up on the Autoruns scan?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Thanks for all of your time and effort.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> > "Rick Rogers" wrote:
> >> >> >
> >> >> >> Hi,
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> There's this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555484
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> And as well some disk utilities make system changes that are not
> >> >> >> undone
> >> >> >> when
> >> >> >> they are uninstalled. You might try running chkdsk /x to force
> >> >> >> dismounting.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> --
> >> >> >> Best of Luck,
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> >> >> >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> >> >> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> >> >> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> "Conley" <Conley@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> >> >> news:BBB2E344-1202-418C-94C4-7AFB4AAFD81A@microsoft.com...
> >> >> >> > What do you mean by "disk management software"? How does it
> >> >> >> > cause
> >> >> >> > this
> >> >> >> > issue, and how do you undo the damage?
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> > There was a recent update to Norton Antivirus 2007, but I have
> >> >> >> > uninstalled
> >> >> >> > the program and installed AVG Free, and I still have the same
> >> >> >> > problem.
> >> >> >> > Another possibility would be a rootkit scanner called gmer that I
> >> >> >> > tried
> >> >> >> > out
> >> >> >> > recently. After it caused my computer to freeze, I uninstalled
> >> >> >> > it.
> >> >> >> > I
> >> >> >> > have
> >> >> >> > searched the registry and the file system for any lingering
> >> >> >> > traces
> >> >> >> > of
> >> >> >> > the
> >> >> >> > program and found nothing. I have also run Autoruns, and I saw
> >> >> >> > nothing
> >> >> >> > on
> >> >> >> > the list of what was loading at start-up that struck me as
> >> >> >> > unusual.
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> > "Rick Rogers" wrote:
> >> >> >> > .
> >> >> >> >> Hi,
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> AV programs are not the only problems, any disk management
> >> >> >> >> software
> >> >> >> >> can
> >> >> >> >> cause this issue. In addition, an update to your existing AV and
> >> >> >> >> security
> >> >> >> >> software can cause the issue (have you done any prior to this
> >> >> >> >> problem
> >> >> >> >> beginning?).
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> --
> >> >> >> >> Best of Luck,
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> >> >> >> >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> >> >> >> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> >> >> >> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> "Conley" <Conley@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> >> >> >> news:AA42241E-FC9F-4AF2-B7A9-EC7EC2CE72B7@microsoft.com...
> >> >> >> >> >I have already tried disabling my antivirus progam before
> >> >> >> >> >setting
> >> >> >> >> >up
> >> >> >> >> >the
> >> >> >> >> > scan, and it made no difference - the scan would not run.
> >> >> >> >> > Besides,
> >> >> >> >> > when
> >> >> >> >> > chkdsk was working, it ran without regard to whether the
> >> >> >> >> > antivirus
> >> >> >> >> > program
> >> >> >> >> > was running.
> >> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >> > "Rick Rogers" wrote:
> >> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >> >> Hi,
> >> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> >> Do you have any boot time antivirus scanners running?
> >> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> >> --
> >> >> >> >> >> Best of Luck,
> >> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> >> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> >> >> >> >> >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> >> >> >> >> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> >> >> >> >> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
> >> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> >> "Conley" <Conley@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> >> >> >> >> news:AEBC244A-238C-4B42-B373-47006FFAD833@microsoft.com...
> >> >> >> >> >> > The error message comes up AFTER the scan has been
> >> >> >> >> >> > requested
> >> >> >> >> >> > and
> >> >> >> >> >> > scheduled
> >> >> >> >> >> > and the computer has been rebooted so that the scan can
> >> >> >> >> >> > run.
> >> >> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >> >> > "Rick Rogers" wrote:
> >> >> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >> >> >> Hi,
> >> >> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> >> >> Any volume in use cannot be dismounted, which is required
> >> >> >> >> >> >> for
> >> >> >> >> >> >> chkdsk
> >> >> >> >> >> >> to
> >> >> >> >> >> >> run
> >> >> >> >> >> >> a full check. Normally, one is prompted for it to be
> >> >> >> >> >> >> completed
> >> >> >> >> >> >> on
> >> >> >> >> >> >> the
> >> >> >> >> >> >> next
> >> >> >> >> >> >> reboot, does this not occur for you?
> >> >> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> >> >> --
> >> >> >> >> >> >> Best of Luck,
> >> >> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> >> >> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> >> >> >> >> >> >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> >> >> >> >> >> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> >> >> >> >> >> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
> >> >> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> >> >> "Conley" <Conley@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> >> >> >> >> >> >> message
> >> >> >> >> >> >> news:51C84671-6DAC-4D37-9595-DC559753ECEE@microsoft.com...
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > The chkdsk utility will no longer run. Instead, I get
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > this
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > error
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > message:
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > "cannot open volume for direct access." I found some
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > old
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > KB
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > articles
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > indicating that this problem had come up under Windows
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > XP
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > and
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > was
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > going
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > to
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > be
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > fixed by an upcoming service pack. Why am I getting
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > this
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > error
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > message
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > with
> >> >> >> >> >> >> > Vista Ultimate?
> >> >> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>

I would try a system restore first. If you can't go back far enough to fix the problem, try running System File Check. If sfc detects corrupt system files and cannot repair them, at least it will identify the corrupt files in CBS.log. You can then access good system files from your Vista Install DVD (see tutorial on this website) to copy to your OS to replace the corrupt files. I have had Vista Updates corrupt my autochk.exe system file and my McAfee Security Center.

Thanks, uvbogden, for your feedback. The System File Check did find some
errors, that we successfully repaired and got rid of the error message in the
Backup and Restore Center. It did not, however, resolve the problem with
chkdsk itself, or the fact that Diskeeper 2007 can no longer do a boot-time
defragmentation.

I guess I have no other alternative but to do a clean re-install of Vista
and hope for the best. Should I learn anything during that process or find
out at what precise point in time the problem starts to occur, I'll post it
here.
--
Luc


"uvbogden" wrote:

If you haven't found this already you want to visit:
I finally got CHKDSK to run on reboot. How to troubleshoot the problem.

It was a revelation. I was just checking to find the log described when I spotted 'elrawdsk.log' on root. So I carried out the registry procedure of disabling elrawdsk.sys from loading and... voila.

You may not be as lucky but there's a procedure described that ultimately will bring a successful solution to your chkdsk woes.

I wonder if anyone would be so kind as to lend me a hand in helping me find a solution to this same problem.

I have just taken possession of my dad's laptop. It is running Windows Vista Home Edition. I decided I would run disk defragmentation on the C: drive and this is where the problem arises. It simply won't run the defrag from either the /properties/disk defragmentation, or from the command prompt. It works fine on the partitioned D: drive.

I read a lot of forums and the suggestion seemed to be that I need to run chkdsk. I tried running this from the /properties/error checking and from the command prompt, both attempting this at reboot. However, it simply won't run and each time it tries, I get the message:

Checking file system on C
The type of file system is NTFS
Cannot open volume for direct access
Windows has finished checking the disk

As far as I can tell from reading around, and I may be way off the mark, anti virus and spyware software are two of the main causes of this. I have tried in vein through services.msc to disable everything that I think maybe locking the volume.

I have unistalled both AVG Free and Spybot, I don't believe I have the Crypkey installed, and have checked my drivers for the ikhlayer which I don't appear to have. I even installed Microsoft Onecare to see what that would show, and it says everything is fine.

I have reached the end of my skill level and believe that this is something far beyond what I know. I need some help, and would be grateful for any assistance at all.

From Re: Chkdsk Problem - Windows XP and Vista discussion - lenovo community

"The problem is the tvtumon.sys driver, which is now set to load at the kernel initialization stage. This "locks" the boot drive, and causes chkdsk /f and any other program that requires exclusive access to the drive to fail as part of the BootExecute entry in the system registry. The temporary fix is to change the start value for tvtumon in the registry from 1 (loaded by I/O subsystem) to 2 (loaded by service control manager). This fixes the problem with the chkdsk failing on startup, but I'm not sure what it does to RnR 4.2 functionality.

The specific registry entry is:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\tvtumon\] "Start"=dword:00000001

Change the dword to 2 and you are done. Please do not try this if you do not have experience with modifiying system registry entries."

I had this same problem with my Maxtor One Touch external drive, and tried everything mentioned here. Eventually, I just unplugged the drive, and plugged it back in (while computer still up), and windows re-adjusted itself to recognize the drive correctly. I have no idea, either, what is causing the problem. This isn't the first time I've had to do this.