Error Message Claims NTFS Files Corrupt, Chkdsk Does Nothing

• Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to access a file on a NTFS partition, a message appears saying that file(s) are corrupt and that you should run CHKDSK.EXE to repair the problem. After running CHKDSK.EXE, the problem reoccurs.

-or-

An application performing a write operation to the NTFS disk hang and other applications may subsequently hang when they attempt to perform disk operations.

NOTE: The file(s) indicated are NOT corrupted. Running CHKDSK.EXE is not successful because CHKDSK.EXE has nothing to repair.

CAUSE

The problem is in the way that NTFS.SYS handles certain internal files structures when multiple attributes are present.

While the problem is extremely difficult to reproduce, it is most likely to affect files with 'extra' data attributes that are located in directories with 'extra' data attributes. Files and directories in Services for Macintosh (SFM) volumes have such extra data attributes, so the problem is more likely to occur on these files. Files with long names in addition to 8.3 names and files manipulated with the POSIX subsystem which may have additional named data streams are more likely to trigger the problem than other NTFS files.

WORKAROUND

When the error message appears, it is usually possible to retry the operation successfully. It may be helpful to give the file a different name, or to copy the file using a different technique.

If your computer hangs due to the application attempting to write to a file, there is no option except to restart the operating system. Although file system corruption is not likely, as with any improper (dirty) system shutdown, user data may be lost.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1. This problem has been corrected in the latest service pack for Windows NT 3.1 and in Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server version 3.5.