"Autochk program not found" window won't start

Hi everyone,
I have looked into different threads that has to do with autochk problem
but it seems that mine came about differently.
Yesterday night my gf was running so sort of anitspyware or anitvirus program
and upon completion it ask her to delete a few things ( i wasnt there so
i dont know what was deleted) But after the program ask to have the window restarted the nightmare begun, every reboot an error msg would show
" autochk program not found - skipping autochk" in a blue screen with the windowxp logo. and if i leave it alone it would just restart and restart. It wont start in safe mode, and i have tried the suggestion of using a Windowsetup disc to copy the autochk file in either recovery mode or repair mode but when i did it is says "Access Denied" why is that? what other way can i at least boot into window and get her pics and files out be4 reformatting the stupid thing? she has two partitions C and D - C contain windows (w/ pics and file on desktop) and D drive is just photo and files no OS.
She has a Sony Desktop and i think she running on a Win XP service pack 1.
Any help would be great!!!!!! Thanks everyone

Many options to backup

Live BootCDs ie Ultimate Boot CD; or even Ubuntu
Then just save all files to a USB drive

or

Remove the Harddrive, and plug it in as a secondary drive to a working computer

Then just re-install Windows (but remove the partition(s) when prompted in Windows setup)
Then update to SP2 Then update to SP3

Here's a whole bunch of mirrors for the latest Ultimate BootCD (one is bound to work )

http://pharry.eu/data/ubcd411.iso
http://www.fulminati.org/ubcd-zip.php
http://www.mordum.org/ubcd411.iso
http://ftp.cc.uoc.gr/mirrors/linux/ubcd/ubcd411.iso
http://modzer0.cs.uaf.edu/~dev2c/ubcd411.iso
http://ubcd.infojpg.com/ubcd411.iso
http://ultimatebootcd.simplecdn.net/release/ubcd411.iso

What that means is that your drive is corrupted. I'm trying to save a guy in the malware thread who's just about to have the exact same problem. It's not uncommon after thrashing a harddrive with malware cleanups to have this happen.

Do NOT reinstall. Do not bother with UBCD. You don't need to do any of that. Your drive is corrupted, that's why it's trying to run the chkdsk utility. Chkdsk is looking for autochk to do it's job and can't find it because the drive has no idea where it parked it right now.

Presuming your CD drive is drive D:, do the following.

Put your XP disk in the drive.
Restart your computer.
Boot off the CD
Type R to go to the Recovery Console.
It may drop you to a C: prompt right away, it may ask you to log in to a Windows install.
If it's there, choose "D:\MiniNT"
At this point you'll get a prompt
Type in chkdsk C: /r <enter>
It shouldn't ask for the autochk if you logged into the right Windows.
If it does ask for the location type in D:\i386 <enter>

Go find something to do for two hours.

When it's done it will tell you that it found and fixed one or more errors on the volume.

Type in exit <enter>

Reboot normally. If it still fails, repeat the steps.

If the chkdsk utility simply says "finished checking the volume" then you may need to use the "fixboot c:" command at the prompt.

If that fails, let me know and I'll tell you what to do next to get it booting properly again

Believe me, I do this several times a day (obviously.. I just typed that all out from memory, and I can't remember my own name half the time). There's no need at all to wipe your computer.

Really that's not correct, and certainly unwise to support this way
I have informed the member how to backup their data, before running any possible repair. This is the best and only first step.

No. It's not. I get your angle... But we've demoed enough drives today, wouldn't you say?

The chkdsk utility won't hurt it. Worst case scenario it puts the entire documents folder in a "Found" folder for later retrieval. If the drive is severely damaged such that chkdsk fails, your idea won't work anyways.

The error he's getting is a corrupt MFT (Master File Table). Piece it back together and Windows fires back up, files and all.

That reminds me of a story. I had "techs" give similar advice to a client. One of their techs said "you can recover the data". Two of them said "no you can't". The computer sat in their shop for two months.

The client brought it to me. It had the exact same error the OP has. I had it fixed, with my directions, in an hour. That's only one of many examples.

As they say, deeds speak.

Please note CheckDisk can be easily destructive on a users entire drive (incuding all data) There are many warnings before using CheckDisk

In this case Backup is the best approach

adweston I have said this before to you. I cannot explain to you in detail, the reasons for why my technical suggestions are valid (and 100% required) Even though the majority of your posts say how you have done this before numerous times; obviously you still have limited knowledge. I cannot put this any nicer.

Actually I take great offence to that, considering that everything I've offered so far has met with positive results/feedback and been sufficiently backed up with correlating data.

Claims of "I'm right, but I can't explain why" aren't exactly productive. Actually, I find it appalling but I guess because you're "staff" you can get away with it whereas I'll merely have you threaten me with another "warning".

You have not been officially "warned" yet!

Here is the golden rule on every forum in the world
Do not post a totally opposite suggestion to a support users already replied response (unless that response is wrong)
Backing up will never be counted as wrong

As for me not explaining "why"
The main reason why members come here, is for answers not explanations
There is no way I can explain all the things I suggest to a member, on the multiple threads that you have questioned me. By pure forum structure this is a trust situation, where the not knowing member must trust the experienced support replies. Learning can be accomplished by going to the many member guides area: http://www.techspot.com/vb/menu31.html

Any further discussion on this type of debating experience and knowledge, should be made in the Meeting Spot as a new thread by you. Not debated on user's threads. Please note, you were the one who posted on this thread originally, telling the member not to follow my advice. Do not do that again.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265

Argue with them. I've had enough of this.

Thank you tech support of the forum i have tried the CD but i cant work them right, and adweston i wanted to try your method but when i got into Recovery Concole, it did ask me to log into window and there was a ("D:\MiniNT") so i chose the only one choice there "1: C:\windows
it then ask my for admin pw and i just press enter . then it was a C prompt
C:\Windows> from there i typed what u told me C:\WINDOWS>cskdsk C: /r
but after i prss enter it said "parameter not valid" what does that mean??
and so after that i try the "FIXBOOT" command, and it ask me if i want to creat a new boot sector in C:/ should i choose yes? if that doesnt work what else can i do?
DO you have a messenger or some sort so we can chat online for help?
I have MSN and AIM : let me know please thanks

Please note all help is freely supplied on the forum

Please try this:

Manual steps to run Chkdsk from My Computer or Windows Explorer

• Open My Computer, and then right-click the hard disk that you want to check.
• Click Properties, and then click Tools.
• Under Error-checking, click Check Now. A dialog box that shows the Check disk options is displayed

Use one of the following procedures:

• • To run Chkdsk in read-only mode, click Start.
• • (tick) To repair errors without scanning the volume for bad sectors, select the Automatically fix file system errors check box.
• • To repair errors, locate bad sectors, and recover readable information, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box.

Note If one or more of the files on the hard disk are open, you will receive the following message:

Click Yes to schedule the disk check, and then restart your computer to start the disk check.

Wait until Chkdsk finishes Checking / Repairing any faults
Windows will then either restart your computer or continue loading Normally.

--------------------------

After that, you could do a Drive Diagnostics too

Hey i tried every step until use "FIXBOOT"
i did that step it ask me if i wanted to creat a new boot sector i typed "y" what do i do then?? same thing happens i cant get the coputer to boot, is there some setting i have to go thru after i creat a new bootsector? thanks for your help

Hmm it sounds a bit of a concern
By the way, did you end up backing up first ?

Also try chkdsk C: /f

on the recovery console command line
And if that doesn't work, try chkdsk /? (to get all the commands)

Oh and no need to do those big quotes anymore

I really appreciate you tring to help me with this but i cant even boot up my window how am i gonna click MY COMPUTER or Window explorer? if there is a way please let me know

I have try so many program but i dunno what to do with them without further assisstant. what am i suppos eto get from the programs? being able to boot window normally then back up? or the program helps me back up the files 1st? i have no clue, could u explain what the programs do in detail please?? just choose one you think best would be greatly appreaciated thanksss

read: How to use the Recovery Console
Scroll down until you see that title
Then run CHKDSK C: /F (as stated above a few mins ago)

Also use reply, NOT quote (3rd time telling you this )

oh when i typed chkdsk C: /f it said the parameter is not valid......what to do what to do???

I posted above what to do
By the way, you do actually want help don't you ?
Because, you may need to slow down and read what I've posted

Did you backup?
Do you still want to re-install?
Have you read how to get into the Recovery Console?
...

i have read that link before, I cant run windows at all, i cant CLICK "start" then click "RUN"
and let me double check when i type in the "chkdsk C: /f" it is after ( C:\WINDOWS> chkdsk C: /f) like this??

I have been in Revoery Console my friend, as i have posted, i have try running "chkdsk C: /r" already without luck. and what am i suppose ot do after i type "chkdsk C: /?" and i have read ALL of your post. and if i can boot it up normally without wiping my system is the best. Wiping out is the LAST thing i want to do. And i would love to know how to backup my files with those program u have suggested. but just tell me how they work plz.