Chkdsk will Not Run at Startup in Vista

How to Fix Chkdsk will Not Run at Startup in Vista​

   Information

If after you set Check Disk or chkdsk to run at startup it will not run, then this will show you how to fix this problem so chkdsk will run at startup. This problem is usually caused when the autochk.exe file gets corrupted, or the registry BootExecute data value is incorrect.

This is not for if chkdsk cannot finish or stops running.

   Note

• Check Disk uses the file autochk.exe to run chkdsk.
• If you still cannot run chkdsk at startup after this, then you might consider performing a System Restore, Repair Installation, or Clean Installation to fix the problem. See related links below.
• If you had changed your default boot screen, then you will need to temporarily uncheck the No GUI boot to be able to see what is happening when chkdsk is running at boot up. See: How to Enable or Replace the Hidden Aurora Boot Screen in Vista

STEP ONE

Safe Mode Workaround

   Note

This is to see if something may be loading before the check disk program preventing chkdsk from running.

1. Schedule check disk to run using chkdsk /f (STEP FIVE below) in the command promt.​

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2. Run msconfig (step 1 in METHOD TWO at link), and click on the Boot​

tab and click on Safe boot with the minimal button selected. (See screenshot below)​

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3. Restart the computer to hopefully have chkdsk run.​

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4. Set msconfig (step 2 in METHOD TWO at link) to boot normally again.​

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5. If chkdsk still will not run at startup, then proceed with the steps below. If it did, then you're done.​

STEP TWO

Reset chkdsk BootExecute

   Note

• This will reset chkdsk back to it's default setting of not to run at startup.
• This step will also fix the problem of chkdsk always running at startup.
• If BootExecute already has a Data value of autocheck autochk *, then you do not need to do this. (See the Manual Way below to check) Continue to STEP THREE below instead.

Through a Download:​

1. Click on the download button below to download the Reset_chkdsk.reg file.​

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2. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.​

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3. Right click on the .reg file (on Desktop) and click on Merge.​

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4. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.​

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5. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.​

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6. When done, you can delete the .reg file (on Desktop).​

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The Manual Way:​

1. Open the Start Menu.​

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2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.​

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3. Click on the Continue button in the UAC prompt.​

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4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below step 5)​

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HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager​

5. In the right pane, right click on BootExecute and click on Modify.​

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6. Type autocheck autochk * and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: You will be replacing autocheck autochk /p \??\C: with autocheck autochk* instead. If BootExecute already has a Data value of autocheck autochk *, then you do not need to do this. Go to STEP THREE below.​

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7. Close regedit.​

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STEP THREE

Run a SFC /SCANNOW Command

1. Try running a sfc /scannow command to see if it can fix chkdsk.​

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2. When SFC is finished, try running chkdsk again.​

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3. If chkdsk still will not run at startup, then proceed with the steps below. If it did, then you're done.​

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STEP FOUR

Replace autochk.exe File

NOTE: This will show you how to replace your corrupted copy of the autochk.exe file with clean copy to be able to run chkdsk at startup.

1. Be sure that you already have ran a SFC /scannow from STEP THREE above to see verify that the autochk.exe file was foud to be corrupted first in the sfcdetails.txt file. If it's not, then you do not need to do STEP FOUR.​

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2. In Windows Explorer, go to C:\Windows\System32\autochk.exe. (See screenshot below)​

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3. Take ownership of the file autochk.exe at the C:\Windows\System32\autochk.exe location, and "Allow" your user account "Full Control" of it. (See screenshot above)​

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4. Right click on autochk.exe and click on Properties. (See screenshot below step 2)​

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5. Click on the Details tab. (See screenshots below)​

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A) Make note of what File version the autochk.exe file is.​

NOTE: If the File version is blank or you have SP1 installed, then do step 6. If not, then do step 8.​

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6. Download the same version that you have in step 5.​

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7. For the Vista 6.0.6002.18005 SP2 Version of autochk.exe​

NOTE: This is for the 32 bit and 64 bit Vista with SP1 and SP2 installed.​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the 6.0.6002.18005.zip file.​

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B) Go to step 10.​

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8. For the Vista 6.0.6001.18000 SP1 Version of autochk.exe​

NOTE: This is for the 32 bit and 64 bit Vista with SP1 installed.​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the 6.0.6001.18000.zip file.​

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B) Go to step 10.​

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9. For the Vista 6.0.6000.16386 RTM Version of autochk.exe​

NOTE: This is for the 32 bit and 64 bit Vista without SP1 or SP2 installed. This version has been reported to still work with or without SP1 installed, so you may try it if you still have problems with the newer 6.0.6001.18000 SP1 or 6.0.6002.18005 SP2 version.​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the 6.0.6000.16386.zip file.​

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10. Save the ZIP file to your desktop.​

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11. Open on the downloaded autochk.exe.zip file.​

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12. Extract (drag and drop) the autochk.exe file from wihtin the ZIP file to your desktop.​

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13. Right click on the autochk.exe file on your desktop and click on Properties and the Unblock button under the General tab. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: If you do not have the Unblock button, then it is already unblocked. Continue on to step 14.​

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14. Right click on the autochk.exe file on your desktop and click on Copy.​

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15. Go back to the Windows Explore window at C:\Windows\System32\autochk.exe. (See screenshot below step 2)​

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16. Right click on a empty space in the Windows Explorer window and click on Paste. (See screenshot below step 2)​

NOTE: If it will not let you Copy or Paste the new autochk.exe file (on desktop) over, then rename the old one and repeat step 14, then delete the old renamed autochk.exe file afterwards.​

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17. Click on Copy and Replace. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: This replaces your autochk.exe with the downloaded clean one on the desktop that has not been taken ownership of.​

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18. Click on Continue for Access Denied prompt.​

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19. Click on Continue for UAC prompt.​

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20. Close the Windows Explorer window.​

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STEP FIVE

Set Chkdsk to Run at Startup

1. Try the different methods in this tutorial below to run chkdsk to see which one works best for you.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Run Check Disk at Startup in Vista
• How To Perform a Repair Installation For Vista
• How to Do a Clean Install of Vista with a Upgrade Version
• How to Do a Clean Install with a Full Version of Vista
• How to Do a System Restore in Vista
• How to Repair and Verify the Integrity of Vista System Files with System File Checker
• How to Change Vista Disk Check Press Any Key Timeout Value at Startup
• How to Read the Event Viewer Log for Check Disk (chkdsk) in Windows

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Matt. I'm happy to hear that it's all working properly again.

 

[tinman948]

Hello all, I am having this problem also. I got 3 different computers running Windows 7 Ultimate, 2 run x64 and 1 runs x86.

All computer are up to date.

The ver. on the 2 x64 systems is 6.1.7600.16385
The ver. on the x86 is 6.1.7601.17514

The x64 system is the one that's giving me problems.
I thought it would be as copying the 1 good x64 autochk file to the other one x64 system but that didn't work.

Maybe I need ver.6.0.6002.18005.


I ran sfc and it reports the the source file is corrupt also.

What I'm going to do in the meantime is to slipstream sp1 into 7 rtm and see what version is on that copy

 

[Brink]

Hello Tinman, and welcome to Vista Forums.

The versions in this tutorial are only for Vista. They wouldn't work in Windows 7.

For Windows 7 related issues, you might consider posting at our sister site Seven Forums instead.

 

[tinman948]

Yeah, I figured that out.
I got it to run once, got that dirty bit out and come to find out that the 32 bit sys had the correct one.(latest one .17514) Now when I run sfc there is just a hash mismatch when it compares it. They are no longer corrupt.

 

[Brink]

I'm happy to hear that you got the sorted.

 

[Nooch]

Thanks Brink. I used your "safe mode workaround" and CHKDSK ran its course. It takes almost a full 2hrs. The volume I'm told is clean. I'm very curious as to what might be running before chkdsk and cancels it out. All I could get before the screen went to start up was could not access volume directly then booted normally. Nothing much has changed except for window updates occasionally. Many thanks for workaround as I never would have figured to do that in my whole lifetime.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Nooch. I'm glad it could help.

 

[blazintommyd]

How to Fix Chkdsk will Not Run at Startup in Vista​

sfc/scannow has confirmed that autochk is corrupt and can't be fixed. But when I right click to open the zip file from my desktop and click the permissions tro run any of these download versions produce the same message "... cannot be run in Win 32 mode". According to the properties tab on the installed autochk file it was created 6/24/2008 but was modified August 3, 2012. The problem is that SP2 will not install along with several other updates and the backup function produces a corrupt file message. This is how I discovered chkdsk wasn't working. At this point I'd like to just get rid of Vista and install Win 7 is this possible given this sort of file corruption?

 

[Brink]

Hello Tommy, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Sure, you could do a clean install with Windows 7.

Clean Install Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums

or

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version - Windows 7 Forums

 

[Enno]

Hello Shawn, I need your help. Here's the problem and what I've tried, as succinctly as possible:

I have HP Pavilion laptop that won't back up - says file corruption on c:

I've run sfc /scannow (several times, with reboots between)

sfcdetails.txt says autochk.exe is corrupted.

I've gone through your 'Chkdsk will not Run at startup' tutorial and am to where I would extract the downloaded autochk.exe.zip file, but I'm told 'autochk.exe application cannot be run in win32 mode.'

What can I do to get the downloaded autochk file to extract?

BTW I don't have the original vista disks - I apparently missed the recommendation in the instructions that I burn my own discs first thing after I set up the laptop (Feb 2008, I think).

My last successful backup was Jan 2013.

Now what can I do?

many thanks (in advance) for your help!

 

[Brink]

Hello Shawn, I need your help. Here's the problem and what I've tried, as succinctly as possible:

I have HP Pavilion laptop that won't back up - says file corruption on c:

I've run sfc /scannow (several times, with reboots between)

sfcdetails.txt says autochk.exe is corrupted.

I've gone through your 'Chkdsk will not Run at startup' tutorial and am to where I would extract the downloaded autochk.exe.zip file, but I'm told 'autochk.exe application cannot be run in win32 mode.'

What can I do to get the downloaded autochk file to extract?

BTW I don't have the original vista disks - I apparently missed the recommendation in the instructions that I burn my own discs first thing after I set up the laptop (Feb 2008, I think).

My last successful backup was Jan 2013.

Now what can I do?

many thanks (in advance) for your help!

Hello Enno, and welcome to Vista Forums.

You will not be able to directly run the autochk.exe file. That's why you are getting the error.

Instead you must extract (drag and drop) the autochk.exe file from within the downloaded ZIP file to your desktop, unblock the autochk.exe file, and copy it into the "C:\Windows\System32" folder.

After the rest of the steps, see if you are able to run chkdsk.

 

[Enno]

D'oh! Right. Drag and drop. All the other stuff in the tutorial I could do, so why did drag and drop stop me in my tracks?? I do not know.
Anyway, did that, and chkdsk did indeed run, and (since I was then finally able to run a backup) I think it fixed whatever ailed c:.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Enno. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

 

[Enno]

Is there anything I should do to restore the computer to its previous state (i.e. before I ran through the tutorial) such as the regedit step or taking ownership of the autochk file? I did start the computer this morning and found chkdsk was going to run again, which I do not think I mean to do every day. any suggestions?

 

[Brink]

Go ahead and let chkdsk finish running to see if no longer wants to run at startup anymore first.