HOW TO: Run CheckDisk & SafeMode w/GRUB installed

So, I'm trying to run CHkDsk on my main partition due to some file corruption. I currently have Vista Ultimate x64 dual-boot with Ubuntu 8.10. This obviously means that I'm using GRUB.

For some reason I can't use F8 to get into safe mode. Also, when I schedule a chkdsk it only lasts seconds instead of several minutes as it churns through my partition.

I'm unsure how to handle this, and a bit of Googling has left me answerless.

Anyone out there know what's up?

Thanks

 

This link seems to have the best way to go around the issue - running chkdsk from recovery/installation CD
http://helpdesk.wisc.edu/page.php?id=6565

cheers ...

 

Will this corrupt GRUB?

 

Tough question to answer, logically: no. But on the safe side, you might want to back up your grub:
http://ubuntu.wordpress.com/2005/10/20/backing-up-the-mbr/

cheers ...

 

Have you tried first with defragging both partitions? I personally use jkDefrag for it

cheers ...

 

yes, JKDefrag fails. My problem is that a file in my program files folder "COmmon Files\System" is corrupt and "unreadable".

I think this is making jKdefrag crash as well. Trying to restore some options to Office 2007 and that folder is giving it beef.

 

Man, your best bet is probably a clean reformat/reinstall, if such hard corruption occurred. But i would first try a repair and see if Vista can overcome that bad spot. Good lucks.

cheers ...

 

Yeah, I already have a clean format planned over Christmas break. I want to get a fresh image w/o UAC on saved.

But I need to get an add-in installed in Excel 2007 for now.


Thanks.

P.S. To backup GRUB I need to specify the location of /dev/hdx/ , I know this is pretty elementary Ubuntu, but how do I locate "hd?" ...I'm pretty sure mine is "sd?"

Thanks

UPDATE:
here's my fstab:
# Entry for /dev/sda5 :
UUID=45cb1a09-ef3c-4284-99bd-7b451a40ff6a / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1, noatime, nodiratime
# Entry for /dev/sda6 :
UUID=e1bfe985-17bd-4e2d-bc60-e8589aa6dcc5 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/sda2 /media/Files ntfs-3g defaults,locale=en_US.UTF-8 0 0

alternatively Gnome Partition Editor gives me the boot flag on /dev/sda1/ (this, I'm sure is my Vista OS partition)

 

^^ then your MBR is on the /dev/sda (exchange it with the hdx in the example) when you back it up. And don't forget to read the following-up comments in the link, for the restorattion.

cheers ...

 

Dang, I just tried running that and got this message:
-bash: if=/dev/sda: No such file or directory

 

Hah, OK, sorry for my n00b moment there...left the "$" on.

Thanks!

 

I always used to just select my Windows install in the Grub menu then hammer F8.

/shrug

 

I was able to run it by booting with disk.

Didn't hurt GRUB at all.

As far as I can tell, there were some corrupted address links that were removed. The entire "System" folder in Common Files no longer existed after reboot. No doubt some corruption occurred. Luckily that's a folder where stuff is created when needed.

Ciao!

 

The easiest thing is to use the Windows GUI to tell it to run chkdsk at next bootup.

Right-click your drive > Properties > Tools tab > Error checking: Check Now... > Check both boxes and click Start. Then reboot.

 

Yes, I tried this method before posting, and was unsuccessful.