during boot chkdsk automatically runs to completion then pc freezes

[cbroady49]

Dell xps400 running windows XP media center 2005.  I tried safe mode it still goes into chkdsk same result

[Allan]

Boot to the recovery console and run chkdsk /r

[cbroady49]

Sorry to ask but how do I get to the recovery console?

[Allan]

Boot to the XP CD and choose the first repair option

[cbroady49]

I cannot get it to look to the CD drive to boot

[Allan]

Go into the bios and make the cd drive the first device in the boot order. Save the change and exit and reboot

[cbroady49]

Got to prompt typed chkdsk /r.  Response was invalid switch /r.  It is suggesting scandisk.

[cbroady49]

Do I need to tell it to run chkdsk on drive c?

[Allan]

There is no scandisk in XP. I'm not sure what you're doing, but it doesn't sound like you're booting to the recovery console. And if no drive is specified in the checkdisk command, it will default to the system drive (c:)

[luck of the irish]

have you tried running sfc /scannow

[cbroady49]

I am using a CD titled drivers and utilities, dell dimension and xps resource CD that came with the PC.  It seems to be having a problem with the /r switch.  Should I run it without that switch?  Or maybe a different switch?

[Allan]

Are you getting to the recovery console? You can try chkdsk /f

Running without a switch is worthless - it doesn't do anything. And you can ignore the post about sfc /scannow

[cbroady49]

Tried /f    it tells me that I cannot chkdsk a network drive

[cbroady49]

How would I know if I am at the recovery console?

[Allan]

You need to boot to an XP CD and follow my instructions above. Alternatively, you can create a recovery console cd:
http://forums.pcpitstop.com/index.php?/topic/150212-boot-to-recovery-console-wo-xp-cd/