Hi I was wondering if anybody could help me. When I try to defrag or scandisk I recieve the disk utility has locked this drive message. I have tried starting in safe mode, tried scandisk from DOS, I have tried an enditall programme, I have tried fix disk in DOS (but i did not get all the necessary instructions). I know that I must now use a windows emergencey boot disk, however my parents did not keep all the boot disks when they got this computer. A friend has burnt me an emergencey boot disk CD, but my computer boots from its' hard drive then from a floppy disk but not from a CD. Two questions can I use my friends boot disk, or will this not work? and if so what do I have to change in my bios (set up) to enable me to boot from this CD. I would like to thank anyone who may be able to help me in advance.

if the computer will start normally into windows, you can create your own boot floopy. Go to add/remove programs in control panel. From there, at the top of add/remove is the startup disk tab, click on that and have a blank floopy ready. After you have created the floopy try to restart you computer with the floopy in the drive. choose minimal start, which will bring you to the A prompt. At the A prompt type C:,which will change it to the C prompt. At the c prompt type scandisk/all then hit the enter key. scandisk should run. larry

vites, See if this MS page helps any. Also, this page tells how to make a startup disk. Other names, for the same thing -- boot disk, EBD, emergency boot disk. As larry explained. If you need further help with your issue. Follow up on this question, and will try to give some help. I'll have to admit. I don't quite follow, what you've tried. Good Luck, CrazyOne

I am about to try Larry's sugestion. However, I will explain more clearly, my problem. I can not run scandisk or derfrag because of the DEFRAG00105 error. I have been told by the MS page that this is either to do with a programme i have installed or there is a problem with my FAT. I tried to run scandisk and defrag in safe mode, but I still get the same message. This implies that it is my file allocation table, to double check, I ran an enditall programme so that nothing would interfere with the defrag or scan disk, still the same error. I then tried to run scan disk from DOS, again nothing. So, I am pretty certain that it is my FAT. In order to fix it I must use a startup disk, when the computer reads the disk it will apparently tell me that copy one is faulty and do I wish to replace it with copy two, I assumed that if I use a disk I create it will contain the same errors. The problem is that the partition in the FAT is corrupt (or so I have read), so I followed the instructions to create a partition using fix disk (in DOS); however the instructions were incomplete, knowing I could really mess up my computer I left well alone. Leaving me with only this options, so my friend made me a boot disk on CD but it won't work. I was wondering if I could use this disk, as it is not from my computer and if so do I have to change anything in my set up to change the boot order to boot from my CD. I hope that this explains it better. Thanks for your comments and I will try your suggestions and will Follow up if they do or do not work. Thanks again.

vites, "I then tried to run scan disk from DOS, again nothing" That^^, was done with the computer started with a startup disk? yes-no Also, what did you mean by "again nothing". "so I followed the instructions to create a partition using fix disk (in DOS); however the instructions were incomplete," The first part of that. Where did you get those instructions from? Again, where did you get these instructions, and what do you mean by incomplete. There is no reason, none provided so far, that would warrant need of a CD boot disk. Just use the floppy boot disk, startup disk EBD, that you made with your computer. Do you have any Symantec/Norton products/programs installed on your computer? That question also applies to any you've installed, and removed. CrazyOne ...fishing, is MORE relaxing ;-) no phone calls, emails. Even mail for that matter ;-)

No, this was not done from a start up disk. When I say again nothing, I mean it still won't scandisk or defrag; I just get the same message. I know the poroblem lies with either my FAT table or a Norton application. I have Norton internet security 2005, I have looked to see if this contains speed disk, but I can't find any evidence that it does. I ran the enditall programme to stop anything like this running in the back ground. I have downloaded a boot disk from the internet, at the A:> prompt I typed scandisk and I just received another A:> prompt. Forget anything that I have done in the past. Let us start at a new page, let's say I have the error message and starting in safe mode is not helping with my problem. Thanks again anyone who has posted a response

Hello vites, Give this a try. Start the computer with a startup disk. You can use the one made by your computer. After typing the following line/command, press Enter. scandisk c: If you get the message about the FATs. (Link above^^) Type; Y, to answer Yes. If it doesn't respond by just typing Y, press Enter after doing so ;-). "No, this was not done from a start up disk." If it wasn't, then you weren't in true DOS, instead windows. whoops Sorry, we are starting over ;-) right Good Luck, CrazyOne