How to Disable Autochk During a Windows NT Reboot

ID: Q173322

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When a Windows NT-based computer is shut down improperly (for example, by a power failure), Autochk scans the hard disk the next time you start Windows NT.

This operation may take a long time on large hard disks, which may not be appropriate in some production environments.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

A hotfix is available to modify Autochk so that you have 30 seconds at startup to choose not to run Autochk during the present startup. If you cancel Autochk, it is automatically rescheduled to run the next time you start Windows NT.

WARNING: Autochk runs because it has detected that the computer was not shut down properly or because it has detected problems with the file system. Preventing Autochk from running may cause additional file system problems to occur that can lead to data loss. Microsoft does not recommend disabling Autochk from running unless you have a full backup of the volume.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

To disable the 30 second countdown after installing the hotfix add the following registry entry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CCS\Control\Session Manager\AutoChkTimeOut

REG_DWORD: 1

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4.

REFERENCES

For additional information about the Microsoft Windows 2000 Autochk feature, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q218461 Enhanced Chkdsk, Autochk, and Chkntfs Tools in Windows 2000

Additional query words: cancel disable autochk.exe chkdsk

Keywords : kbenv NT4SP4Fix kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00.sp4 ntfilesys NTSrvWkst
Version : winnt:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbprb