C:\I386

Question

I'm really hoping that someone can help me.  This is my situation.......   Some time ago now a DRIVERS folder appeared on my C:\ drive (this actually happened after the youngest member of our family (2yrs old) went on a click and drag spree).  Unfortunately, my account has administrator privileges in which ALL folders are displayed including the system folders and explorer was open at the time.    Inside the DRIVERS folder are several other folders:- AUDIO, MODEM, NETWORK, SonyUSB, SYSTEM, VIDEO all of which have many files inside them.  Although I am not too knowledgable where pc's are concerned I have done a bit of investigating inside the folders on the local drive and wonder if this DRIVERS folder would have originated from the I386 distribution folder.  The reason I ask is that there is an empty DRIVERS folder (same upper case) in the path C:\I386\$OEM$\$1\DRIVERS.  I also wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that I am unable to run the 'Check Disk' tool.  When I attempt to run the tool it I check both options and say 'yes' to running the check disk at reboot.  When I reboot, the computer loads the normal Dell screen with the boot options and setup options in the right hand corner.  Next comes the Windows XP Home Edition title screen set on a black background and then a blue screen which says:   Checking file system C: The type of file system is NTFS Cannot open volume for direct access Windows has finished checking the disk   It then loads the normal 'Welcome Screen'   Now, every time I start or reboot the system the computer goes through exactly this same process.   These problems may or may not be related but maybe someone out there has the answer.  Please.........any help is very much appreciated.   Thanx:smileywink:   Dell Dimension 4600 Pentium 4 CPU 3.06GHz 256MB RAM Windows XP Home Edition 2002 SP1

Hydralisk00222 · Answer

the drivers folder resides on the C:\ root folder. it does not come from the I386 folder. Dell planted that folder for you for easy access.

JRosenfeld · Answer

I agree with Hydralisk your folder structure is quite normal (by which I mean it is the same as mine :-)).

The chkdsk error message is a separate issue; see if this helps

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;823439&Product=winxp

PS I just realised that just tells you to install SP2. If you already have that it won't help much

The problem arises if some app is installed, whose service grabs hold of the drive before chkdsk starts (it needs exluisive access to the drive). That was the case, for example, with one very buggy version of Zone Alarm (v 5.0, I think).

So you would need to see what you have starting and see if stopping something from loading in boot up would resolve the problem.

As an alternative, to check your system files, in Windows, click start, run, type sfc /scannow {space betweem c and /}, click OK. It may ask for your XP CD.

Message Edited by JRosenfeld on 06-15-2005 11:44 PM

PPS To stop chkdsk from starting (or trying to) at each bootup, see some suggestions here:

http://forum.osnn.net/archive/index.php/t-76499.html

Message Edited by JRosenfeld on 06-15-2005 11:48 PM

kayjay1 · Answer

Sorry for not getting back earlier and thanks guys for your responses.  You've put my mind at rest knowing that this folder is meant to be on the C:\ drive.

Windows General

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